Catholic missionary work must be grounded in love for God to remain meaningful and enduring, a missionary priest told participants at a major humanitarian forum held in Singapore.
Speaking to some 500 attendees at the Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS) Humanitarian Forum and Fair, Vincentian Father Michael Payyapilly reflected on the distinct identity of Catholic humanitarian service.
“What sets a Catholic missionary apart from a secular humanitarian?” he asked.
Fr. Payyapilly pointed to the Gospel of John, where Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”—a passage he said reveals the foundation of all Christian mission.
“Every good we do has to come from our love for God; only that will sustain us through any crisis and make our outreach fruitful,” said the priest, who serves as director of the Divine Retreat Centre in Pantasaph, Wales.
His remarks were part of the event’s opening segment, as reported by Catholic News Singapore, the official news outlet of the Catholic Church in Singapore.
“We like to think we are changing lives each time we reach out to the poor,” Fr Payyapilly said. “Instead, the poor are instruments God is using to mould us because we are weak and there is so much in us that needs to change.”
The full-day forum brought together local and international speakers for a series of talks, panel discussions, and a closing Mass celebrated by Cardinal William Goh of Singapore.
The event was aimed at encouraging volunteer engagement in overseas mission work and building partnerships among Catholic humanitarian groups.
In his homily, Cardinal Goh urged CHARIS member organisations to collaborate more closely and avoid working in isolation.
“We are serving the same group of people, the poor and marginalised, so share your gifts and expertise and learn from each other so that we may be positive witnesses of the Gospel,” he said.
The fair featured 23 Catholic organisations offering mission opportunities in countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Booths displayed outreach initiatives and welcomed those interested in joining future trips.
