By Christopher Khoo
SINGAPORE (SE): The two huge Christmas trees in front of the sanctuary of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Singapore have seen star-shaped objects being hung on their branches. They are more than mere ornaments; they are actually thanksgiving prayers or petitions.
Parishioners started writing these prayers and hanging them on the trees after assistant parish priest, Father Xavier Nathanial, encouraged them at the end of the lunchtime Mass on December 17 to take the star-shaped cards from several baskets in front of the sanctuary, write thanksgiving prayers on them, and hang them on one of two Christmas trees in front of the sanctuary.
Many responded and within minutes, many cards were seen hanging on the trees’ green branches.
A sign placed in front of the sanctuary reads “Our Tree of Prayer & Thanksgiving”, and urges parishioners to “take a moment to give thanks to God for his faithful presence through the year”. It encourages them to hang their thanksgiving prayers or petitions on the trees “as a sign of our shared prayer and gratitude.”
Christopher Khoo is a Singapore-based freelance journalist and educator
