Testimony by Ace Adam Tan, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

Since my teenage years, I have been a devoted Buddhist. After my wife and I got married, she eventually converted to the Catholic faith. From then on, our home had two altars — one with a statue of Guan Yin, and another with a portrait of Mother Mary. Our two children followed their mother and were brought up in the Catholic faith. I always respected their belief and supported them.

In fact, I often joked with my wife. I would tell her, “Next time when we pass on, we probably won’t see each other anymore. I will be in the Western Paradise, and you will be in Heaven together with the children.” We laughed about it many times.

But everything changed last year in March. I suddenly fell very sick. I had a high fever, difficulty in breathing, non-stop coughing, and severe chest pain. I kept going in and out of clinics, and within just one week, I lost about 8 kilograms. Then the X-ray results came back. The doctor told me there were two nodules in my lung — measuring about 1.3 cm and 0.8 cm on the right side of my chest. My family doctor advised me to admit myself to Thomson Hospital for a detailed check-up. But to be honest, I was very afraid, and I was reluctant to go.

Then one particular night around 3am, my condition became very bad. My breathing was difficult, the coughing would not stop, and the chest pain was intense. At that moment, I really thought I might die. I don’t know why, and I don’t know how, instead of going to my Guan Yin alter, but I found myself kneeling in front of the altar of Mother Mary in my house. For the first time in my life, I poured out my heart to her. I cried and prayed. I told her that if that night she was going to take me away, I only had one request — I wanted to see my wife and my children. I wanted to be with them… and I hoped that even after this life, I could still be with them. So I begged Mother Mary to intercede for me with her beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

At that moment, when you are really facing life and death, something becomes very clear. You suddenly realise that nothing in this world really matters anymore… except your loved ones. Not your house. Not your car. And not the amount of money you have in the bank.

And obviously… Mother Mary did not take me with her that night.

The next day, I admitted myself to Thomson Hospital for a full check-up. While I was going through the tests, my wife went to Novena church to pray for me. The results came back the next day. And amazingly… the two nodules had completely disappeared. The specialist explained that an X-ray only shows silhouettes. What appeared earlier might have been air bubbles in the lung, which can sometimes happen, especially for smokers. The chest pain was diagnosed as muscle cramps. After less than a week of painkillers and muscle relaxants, I recovered. Medically there may be an explanation. But deep in my heart, I believe it was God’s grace shown upon me and my family.

After I was discharged, I told my wife that I wanted to attend RCIA. I will never forget the tears in her eyes when she heard that. She later told me that she had been praying for my conversion for the past 24 years. So I truly believe that night, it was the love of God that touched my heart. That is what brought me to RCIA. And through RCIA, I have come to understand more about God’s love, His mercy, and His presence in our lives.

I would just like to say this to everyone: Never ever lose our faith in God. Even when you feel that you are at the lowest point in your life. Because sometimes, it is precisely in our weakest moment that we encounter His grace the most.

Testimony by Adrian Lew

My Journey to RCIA: A Gentle Invitation
My journey to RCIA began not with a sudden epiphany, but with a quiet stirring in my heart, orchestrated through a series of seemingly coincidental events. Within just a few months, the passing of a friend and an aunt triggered deep questions within me about life, death, and salvation. Around the same time, a colleague unexpectedly invited me to lunch and shared his own journey to faith. Then, my son innocently asked if I knew how to recite the Hail Mary, while our family simultaneously navigated a stressful health struggle.These discrete events unfolded in rapid succession, prompting me to finally take a step forward to know Jesus. I discovered that RCIA at the Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM) was starting almost immediately—a perfect timing that could only be God’s grace. As Father Peter beautifully reminded us in an early session, we were not there by chance; we were there because we had already encountered Jesus. I realized these milestones were His personal invitation, gently drawing me closer.

The Breakthrough: A Moment of Comfort
The turning point in my faith journey came during a time of acute personal anxiety. I was facing an upcoming medical procedure and feeling incredibly nervous and worried. While attending Mass, Father Venus unexpectedly offered a blessing for those about to undergo surgery.It was a surreal, profound moment. I felt Jesus speaking directly to my heart, assuring me that I was not alone.That blessing brought an overwhelming sense of comfort and peace, transforming my anxiety into trust. It was a tangible breakthrough where the knowledge of God’s love became a felt reality.

Life After the Sacraments: Moving Forward in Faith
Now, having encountered Jesus and received the Sacraments, I feel a profound shift within my heart. The sacraments are not a finish line, but a beautiful beginning. I am filled with a deep desire to know Him more intimately and to continuously grow my relationship with Him.I now understand that drawing closer to Jesus means striving to be like Him, and that this mission starts at home. My focus is now on my wife and my son. Together, we are working to build the domestic church within our family, anchoring our lives on a strong foundation of faith, love, and grace.

Testimony by Augustina Chua, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

I was born into a humble Taoist family. My dad runs a provision stall in the wet market, and our family was deeply involved in 7th month rituals. Praying to deities for good business and protection was part of our daily life. Taoism wasn’t just a belief—it was our identity and responsibility.

Naturally, my family was against Christianity. Growing up, I never imagined I would one day be Catholic. My family was also extremely strict. There was little room for mistakes, and I grew up trying to be the perfect child. But inside, I struggled.

13 years ago, I got married to my husband Sam who came from a Catholic family but was not a cradle Catholic. About 4 years ago, in 2022, he got himself baptised after attending RCIA here at CDM. We also agreed to baptise our two boys, then 5 and 7 years old, in the same year.

His conversion became a turning point in our marriage. We are very different in personality, and for many years, we struggled to understand each other. We argued often, sometimes every week. Looking back, it was honestly a miracle we made it through. But something changed in him during RCIA. He became more patient. He started to really listen. He let go of his self-pity. And for the first time, I felt heard. That change stayed with me.

Sam invited me to attend Mass with him and the children. At first, I went out of obligation—to support him and be an example for our kids. But deep down, I wasn’t ready. I still identified myself as a Taoist, and I had many questions—questions about the faith that I didn’t fully understand. Some Sundays, I went reluctantly.

But something kept happening. Every time I attended Mass, I would feel overwhelmed and start tearing especially during Our Lord’s Prayer. I didn’t understand why. At one point, I avoided attending mass as I didn’t want to keep feeling this way.

Two years ago, I was travelling alone for work in Melbourne. On a quiet Sunday, I found myself searching for a church and ended up attending Mass at St Francis Church in the city. There was a deep sense of peace. I still teared, but for the first time, I wasn’t there out of obligation. I chose to go.

The real turning point came last year, around Mother’s Day. The night before, I had a big argument with my elder son, Ryan. We both went to bed angry. The next morning, Ryan went for his altar server duties, while I attended Mass later. I was still feeling upset.

After Mass, I was browsing some rosary bracelets being sold outside. Ryan walked up to me and said, “Mama, do you like this one?”

I said, “Yeah, it’s quite nice.”

“I buy for you, Mama.” he said smiling. I was dumbfounded. It was as if nothing had happened the night before. The bracelet cost $38, which is a lot for a 10-year-old. I’ve worn it almost every day since. If anyone had watched the movie Inside Out, that was a core Mother’s Day memory.

Forgiveness did not come easily in the family I grew up in. But through my son, I experienced a kind of grace I had never known before. That night, as I shared this with my husband, I found myself in tears again. I felt God’s mercy & forgiveness—through my son.

Father Peter later told me that God reaches our hearts in different ways. And that moment, for me, was one of them.

That same night, I signed up for RCIA. I knew I needed to understand who God is. Over the past 10 months, this journey has been a deeply meaningful one. Walking alongside my sponsors and fellow catechumens, I’ve come to understand not just the theories, but also the love and grace that God offers.

Testimony by Daphne Elizabeth Toh, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

In my 30s, I was married and with two girls. That marriage ended after 9 years. I struggled alone. Secretly drowning myself in work, cigarettes and alcohol to get through each day. I was desperate to numb the pain to look “fine” on the outside, but inside, self-destruction was par for the course, because I felt I deserved punishment – In my mind, “I failed as a mother, I had failed my children”. But it was also my love for them that carried me through the darkest periods – they were, and always will be my strength, purpose, and joy.

Divorced, pushing 40, with 2 young children, and scarred. I couldn’t dream of a second chance. But I did meet someone. He is smart, kind, generous – easy to love. But I wasn’t. I still needed my drink. Bit by bit, he helped me pick up the shattered pieces of myself. He showed me, when people are at their worst, that is when we need to see the best in them – that grace and compassion, changes you.

We married in 2020, and my husband, Adrian, who is Catholic, hoped to have our union recognised by the Church. So in 2022, after seeing Fr Venus, we started proceedings with the Ecclesiastical Tribunal. That journey took 2 excruciating years. Waiting for the Vatican’s reply was like waiting for PSLE results, and they don’t tell you the release date. Finally, on 4 May 2024, surrounded by family and friends, we had the honour of having Fr Venus preside over our convalidation.

Home is filled with family, laughter and healthy chaos, but also our fair share of disagreements, hurtful words and “I’m sorry-s”. I carry with me a deep gratitude of how blessed life had turned out. I thought “maybe it’s really God?”. I wasn’t religious. Many questions followed… so I signed up for RCIA in search of answers. I started Day 1 in trepidation. I was afraid that I would abandon it midway. Adrian would assure me – “if you ever feel you’re not ready, it’s okay to step away. I’m not going to love you any less.” It was his way, his faith, of giving me the peace and space to encounter Christ my own way.

My journey had its challenges, and two stood out. One was selecting my Godparent – it felt impossible to find one, let alone the right one. One day, Adrian confidently announced he had the perfect godparent – they had met during a missionary trip. She also happened to be one of the lectors who did the breaking of word with us. Adrian setup the date, and we spent 20 minutes trading laughs. The second challenge was closer to home – Growing up, in a Buddhist family exploring the Christian faith was a sensitive topic. I hoped to seek my mum’s permission, and it was important she felt at ease. It turned out, we managed to find some rare private time together. She had her reservations, naturally, but she gave me her blessings – as I quietly celebrated, a part of me knew that she could still change her mind… and if she did, I would have paused my journey. Even then, I felt immense peace. That was the pivotal moment that I realized I had learned to let go and let God lead.

My personal encounter with God was gentle, slow, and revealing… a journey of mistakes, heartaches, lessons learnt, second chances, and victories… and it will continue as such. Even as recent as this week, I wasn’t sure whether I would be here today. But I am here. I arrived, not of my own might or will. But my parents, my family, my work, and so much more… they are all God’s gifts. He provides in abundance beyond our imagination and prayers. I am blessed to know Him… and to experience His love and grace each day.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the RCIA ministry’s dedicated team of sponsors. Our parish priests, seminarian brothers, lectors, parishioners, all who sacrificed their precious Saturday afternoons. My RCIA mates, their companions, without fail, held a safe space for us to share our private lives openly and vulnerably – I am grateful to each and every one of you for making this journey one that will be remembered for lifetime.

Testimony by Jennifer Gabrielle Loy, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

My journey to the Catholic faith was not a straight path, but one that God patiently guided over many years. I was first introduced to Catholicism during my time in Catholic Junior College. Surrounded by Catholic friends, I admired the values they lived by—their kindness, compassion, and sense of purpose. Although I was drawn to what I saw, I did not pursue the faith at that stage of my life.

Years later, I met my husband, who had attended Catholic schools throughout his education. Although he is not Catholic, his close Catholic friends and the influence of their faith inspired in me a deeper desire to know God. However, when my father passed away unexpectedly, I was overwhelmed by grief. In my pain, I questioned God’s presence and struggled to understand His plan, and my journey of faith was put aside.

Life moved on with marriage, work, and raising children. Then came one of the most difficult periods of my life—a painful family dispute that lasted five years. The experience left me emotionally exhausted and deeply hurt. During those difficult times , I turned to God in prayer, asking for strength, wisdom, and hope. While the conflict was eventually resolved, the emotional wounds remained, and I found myself searching for lasting peace. It was during this time that I realised life’s challenges never truly disappear. No matter how strong or capable we think we are, there are moments when we cannot carry our burdens alone.

Joining RCIA became an opportunity for me to reconnect with God, find healing, and grow into a better person through faith. One of the most impactful moments in my RCIA journey came during an early session about the existence of God and the identity of Jesus. For much of my life, I believed that I had overcome every hardship through my own determination and resilience. I took pride in my ability to persevere.

But that session changed my perspective. As I reflected on my life, I began to recognise God’s presence in ways I had never seen before. Through every loss, struggle, and moment of despair, He had been quietly guiding, protecting, and sustaining me. What I once attributed solely to my own strength was, in fact, supported by His grace.

I came to understand that life’s difficulties are not meaningless obstacles. They can become opportunities to grow, to deepen our faith, and to draw closer to God.

Encountering Jesus and receiving the sacraments has transformed my heart in ways I never expected. During the Easter Triduum, I was deeply moved by the reality of His love and sacrifice. The greatest gift I have received is a profound sense of peace. Today, I no longer feel that I must face life’s challenges alone. At my baptism, I experienced a joyful calm—a feeling of finally coming home. As a child of God, I now walk forward with trust, knowing that His love and guidance are with me every step of the way.

Testimony by Matthew Hendry Zeng, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

For many years I have been attending Sunday Mass occasionally with my wife, who is a cradle Catholic. I wanted to learn more about the faith, but I kept delaying it because of personal reasons and excuses. In 2023, things changed when I was laid off from a company where I had worked for almost ten years. I felt lost, as if I had lost part of my identity. It was a difficult period, but I saw my wife praying for me every day and trying to keep me positive. I believe her prayers helped me get through interviews and finally land a job at a new company. That experience made me realize how much I depended on God, even when I did not notice it. Near the end of 2024, I had a big argument with my wife, and she reminded me of my promise to learn more about the faith. That night I found the RCIA registration form for Church of Divine Mercy and decided to register for the next intake even though I was worried about the commitment.

When RCIA started, I had no expectations. I took it one week at a time. After a few sessions, I began to enjoy it. The topics were interesting, and the sharing from sponsors and fellow inquirers touched me. Hearing about their struggles and how God had worked in their lives made me feel more grateful for my own life. I started to look forward to every Saturday afternoon. When we were put into a small group, I grew closer to the others, and we began to walk in faith together. The sponsors were also kind and welcoming. They did not judge us, and they helped answer our questions with patience. At first, I was also worried that my planned family holiday would clash with the sessions. But none of the dates did, and somehow I was able to attend all of them. I feel that God had a hand in this. It was one of the small signs that kept me going.

There were many memorable moments during the ten months of RCIA, leading to my baptism at Easter this year. The trip to Assisi Hospice opened my eyes to the dignity of people who are suffering. The Day of Recollection gave me quiet time to reflect and pray. But the sessions on the Scrutinies struck me most. They helped me look at my life honestly and feel God’s love even in my weakness. For the first time, I understood that God does not wait for me to be perfect. He meets me where I am.

I also want to thank the RCIA sponsors for making the sessions thoughtful and interactive. We did not just sit in class. We went to places we might never have visited on our own. As the sponsors and priest often say, there are no coincidences. I believe God used RCIA to teach me my vocation: to bring my family closer to Him. Since RCIA, I have enrolled my son in catechism class and we now go to Mass every week as a Catholic family. For now, I want to deepen my faith and live well as a father and husband, trusting God will continue to guide me one step at a time.

Testimony by Raphael Lim, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

Growing up, I was never particularly exposed to the Christian faith. My parents were Buddhists and later became freethinkers. While I had always been interested in the spiritual side of life—believing in the possibility of an afterlife, ghosts, and realities beyond what we can see—I never truly subscribed to the idea of God. Christianity felt distant to me, and I doubted that I would ever be devoted enough to commit myself to a life of prayer and faith. I also felt that I was too attached to worldly pursuits and secular desires to ever become a “holy” person. If someone had told me just a year ago that I would eventually become Catholic, I would have thought they were joking.

Yet God has His ways.

In 2025, my family went through a difficult period. My father developed new health problems that significantly affected his quality of life. As my mother continued working, much of the responsibility for caring for him fell on me. I became his primary source of emotional support while also trying to manage the demands of university life. There were moments when his recovery seemed uncertain, and I often felt exhausted, overwhelmed, and discouraged. At times, I began to lose hope.

It was during this period of struggle that my aunt (now my Godmother) introduced me to Jesus. Feeling desperate and with nowhere else to turn, I opened my heart to Him. In my sleepless nights and moments of uncertainty, I found comfort in prayer and in the belief that God had not abandoned us. Trusting in His plan gave me the strength to persevere and helped me believe that the sacrifices I was making for my father were meaningful.

When my family’s situation eventually improved, I felt a deep desire to respond to the grace I had received. I wanted to learn more about the faith that had sustained me during one of the most challenging periods of my life. That desire led me to join RCIA, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the past year, one of my biggest takeaways has been the opportunity to clear up many misconceptions I had about Christianity and the Catholic faith. Before RCIA, much of what I knew came from assumptions, stereotypes, or second-hand impressions. Through RCIA, I discovered the richness of the Church’s teachings and gained a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. Just as importantly, I found a welcoming and supportive community that accompanied me throughout my journey.

I am eternally grateful to have been called by the Lord and to have received His sacraments. While I know there is still much for me to learn and much room for growth, I am confident that, with God’s grace and the support of this community, I am in good hands.

To anyone who is considering joining RCIA, whatever your reasons may be, I encourage you to take that step. Come and see. You may discover, as I did, that God has been calling you all along.

Testimony by Renato Dedhi Sujatmiko, neophyte from CDM RCIA J17

My life began in an atmosphere of security, love, and provision. Almost everything I needed was made available to me. My mother supported my curiosity with books, tools, and opportunities, while my father—quiet but steady—appeared at the most critical moments. Only later did I realise how deeply their presence shaped my sense of safety. My mother prayed and fasted for me, especially on my weton, my birthday according to the Javanese calendar. I did not understand it then, but now I see how her faithful prayers quietly accompanied my achievements.

As I grew older, I adopted a rational, secular worldview. Surrounded by diverse cultures and religions, I relied on logic, effort, and planning. Faith slowly faded into the background—not rejected, but set aside as unnecessary for navigating life.

Then loss arrived. My father died in 2006, and my mother in 2021. After my mother’s passing, life felt strangely heavy. Family tensions, parenting challenges, and marital struggles intensified. I felt as though the center of my life had collapsed.

In 2024, I was diagnosed with stage IIIB cancer. The news plunged me into fear and a sense of being cursed. My technical mind responded by planning: wills, medical directives, cremation arrangements, financial contingencies. Spirituality felt distant; survival and responsibility dominated my thoughts.

But during the drafting of my will, a Protestant lawyer prayed with me and spoke in tongues. That moment awakened a long-buried memory from childhood—an intuition that the spiritual world was real. This encounter cracked open a door I thought had long been sealed.

I began visiting churches, receiving prayers and practical help from many Christians. Their sincerity touched me, yet fear still lingered. Death felt close, unpredictable, and terrifying. I wondered why my life had unravelled so suddenly.

Everything changed when I entered the Church of Divine Mercy, just minutes from my home. There, I remembered a forgotten line from the Hail Mary which pierced my heart: “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” I realized that I had been preparing for death only through logistics, not through faith. The prayer revealed that no one faces death alone—God’s mercy and Mary’s intercession accompany every soul.

Hearing the hymn Eternal Comfort during a session on the divine mercy chaplet. I learned the promises of Divine Mercy brought me profound peace. For the first time, I accepted my illness and stopped seeing my cancer as a curse. I began to believe in eternal life and in a God who walks with me even through suffering.

This led me to join the RCIA. Through the journey, I rediscovered prayer, learnt the sacraments, and the meaning of faith as a relationship rather than a ritual. I learned that salvation is not earned by strength or control, but received through openness to grace. My baptism became a new beginning—not an escape from problems, but a new way of walking through them.

I also found community in Cancer Support Groups at the Church of the Holy Family and the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There, among others who shared my fears and fragility, I discovered joy, solidarity, and hope. Their simple advice—pray faithfully, pray for others, pray together—became a source of strength.

Looking back, I now see my life differently. It was never built solely on my abilities. It was sustained by my parents’ love, by the prayers of many, and by God’s mercy quietly guiding me through every season. Cancer confronted me with death, but Divine Mercy taught me that death is not the end. Today, I live not just to survive, but to pray, accompany others, and share hope. I stand not because I am strong, but because God’s mercy has found me again.