Commemorating National Day 2021

(photos: ‘together’ by Fr Adrian Danker, SJ)

This National Day will be muted and sober again as we stay safer in this pandemic. This has been a long, exhausting, painful, even heartbreaking time. Is there cause to celebrate?

In SJI, we reflected on two reasons to celebrate.

First, "Together, Still." In spite of the pandemic, we are still alive and well, safe and healthy. And we still have family, friends, and the SJI community who care, encourage and support us onward. On birthdays, we celebrate God's blessings with a meal together. SJI's ND celebrations included a school-wide breakfast - a choice of bento boxes of local fare -- for everyone because we are SJI! (Breakfast was eaten observing SMM.)

Second, "Together, for better." We build up Singapore together. I challenged Josephains to "...commit yourselves to this task. We, your teachers and parents, are doing this now – for the nation and for you. On the road ahead, we need you to come on board with your gifts. ...So, don’t just receive; give. Don’t just take; share. Don’t complain; improve. Don’t be a keyboard warrior; be the change you want to see. Don’t think of yourself always; put others first each time. Let us make the change ... in our distinctively Josephian way – by being a blessing to all as Jospehians for others [and] the common good, 'regardless of race, language or religion.'" Our support staff and school leaders modelled the way by packing all 2300 bento boxes into bags for our classes for our SJI ND breakfast.

Let’s live and act for the better for everyone in SJI and around us. Then we make true these words in our Anthem to advance our nation onward — Majulah Singapura!

Happy National Day!