Parish Missionary Groups & Parish Group System

Parish Missionary Groups

ACMA promotes mission at parish level by forming Parish Missionary Groups (PMG). The groups are found in the Blessed Sacrament Church (Gospel Messengers), at St Joseph ’s Church (Bukit Timah), and at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Epiphany Group).

These groups are lay volunteers that discern the mission needs in their parish with the Parish Priest, goes about organizing its projects and activities, enthuse the parish to pray for mission, to participate in mission, and to support missionary works. The PMG at each parish is autonomous but we share our experiences and encourage each other through ACMA. The mission activities organized in the parish caters to the mission needs of the parish and the charisms of the PMG members

One annual project is to get the whole parish to make a prayer commitment to evangelise one non-Catholic. They do so by hanging a pledge card with names of non-Catholics written on them onto a Christmas Tree during Advent. Other projects are mission awareness trip to neighbouring countries (such as Karimun, East Malaysia , Thailand , etc), conducting the Alpha Programme for non-Catholics, outreach to old age homes, outreach to the neighbourhood, etc. Forums are also organized on World Mission Sunday for the parishioners to dialogue and understanding better their missionary role as Catholics.

Parish Group System

The Parish Group System (PGS) started in 1990 in the parishes of St Teresa, Queen of Peace, and Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are basically cell groups gathering in church or the homes of its members every 2 weeks to pray, listen to the word of God, share our Christ experience, and fellowship with one another. Our meeting format is basically:

1. Songs of Praise and Thanks to God
2. Opening Prayer
3. Scripture Teaching / Teaching Tapes or Videos
4. Reflection and Sharing on the teaching, on our recent Christ experience, or on how we bring Jesus to others
5. Announcements of Parish Activities and next meeting
6. Intercessory Prayer
7. Closing Prayer
8. Closing Hymn

At the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the PGS has been renamed as Small Christian Communities (SCC) and are home based cell groups. Though it is now autonomous, it is still affiliated to the PGS and shares the many programmes and activities organised by both sides. The SCC will be reaching out to its neighbourhood to bring the love and compassion of Christ to the many non-Catholics and Catholics who are not in any ministry, especially to those who are sick, old and infirmed, in need of assistance and support, and dysfunction families. Faith and action in Christ is the basic mission for all Catholics.