Interreligious Christmas Celebration (December 2025)
- victorteh5
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Joy comes from gratitude says Cardinal Goh
Interreligious and ecumenical guests enjoyed a pleasantly cool evening at the 11th Archdiocesan Interreligious Christmas Celebration after a heavy afternoon shower on Dec 26, 2025 washed away much of the day’s stifling heat.
Hosted by Cardinal William Goh at the Church of Saint Bernadette, the event was organised by the Archdiocesan Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism Centre of Singapore (AIRDECS) and the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD) and attended by some 140 people, including the representatives of nine religions.
After parish priest Father Aloysius Ong presented the parish’s rich history and significant milestones, the religious leaders of Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism and the Baha’i Faith each spoke briefly on gratitude, the theme chosen for the evening.
Facets of gratefulness
Mufti of Singapore Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir said gratitude is a recognition of human incompleteness and frailty.
“We need God, our parents and family, our neighbours and friends,” he said. “In a world that is increasingly marked by an irrational fear of others, we fail to see what others have done for us.”
President of Parsi Zoroastrian Association of South East Asia, Singapore Mr Hormuz Avari shared that in Zoroastrianism, gratitude is a core ethical principle and central part of righteous life.
“Gratitude is the mother of all virtues, without which all virtues are likely to change to vices. The concept of gratitude is intertwined with ethical conduct, reverence for the Divine and a sense of reciprocity,” he said.
Joy from gratitude
Cardinal Goh, in his reflection on the topic, chose to highlight the difference between happiness and joy.
“When Jesus was born, the angel announced to the shepherds: ‘I bring you news of great joy,’ not: ‘I bring you news of great happiness,’” he said.
Happiness and joy are often thought of as the same thing, but this is not the case, said the Cardinal.
“Joy is a ‘higher level’ of happiness. Happiness, however, is tied to circumstances or events, does not last long, and is not constant,” he said. “Joy does not depend on external circumstances; it is about remembering. It continues even when the event is over, for joy has to do with wonderment and gratitude.”
Cardinal Goh then shared what Christmas means to Christians.
“It is about God becoming man,” he said. “The Father loves us so much that He gave us His Son to show us the face of God – it is a personal gift of Himself. When we think of how God is revealed in Jesus, we are filled with gratitude, for we are unworthy of this gift.”
He went on to explain that one could experience the joy of gratitude by the giving of oneself to others.
“As God gave His only Son, our response therefore must be to give of ourselves to others,” said Cardinal Goh. “Gratitude must exist in both the giver and receiver – we give because we receive.”
The gathering then observed one minute of silence while praying for world peace and gratitude in the hearts of all people, before the combined parish choirs presented a collection of Christmas carols.
Much to be thankful for
In his closing address, Monsignor Peter Zhang CDD, Vicar-General for Interreligious and Ecumenical Relations, said the past year gave both nation and Church much to be grateful for: Singapore’s 60th anniversary as a nation; the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate – the milestone Vatican II document calling for mutual respect, sincere dialogue and collaboration among people of different faiths; and the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea where the Creed shared by Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestant communities was formulated to safeguard the Christian faith.
Venerable Miao Mu, Abbess of Fo Guang Shang (Singapore) and Mr Saw Cheng Boon, President of Buddha’s Light Association (Singapore), both attending the event for the first time, said they appreciated the opportunity to share in the occasion.
“While each faith expresses gratitude in its own distinctive way, it remains a core principle practised by all,” said Venerable Miao Mu.
“This meaningful exchange highlighted the common ground among different religions, fostering mutual understanding and religious harmony, beautifully reflecting the spirit of peace and unity central to the Christmas celebration,” she added.
Mrs Sarojini Padmanathan, Chief Executive Officer of the Hindu Endowments Board, said the event provided a meaningful opportunity for the many faith communities to connect.
“Listening to leaders share about what gratitude means within their respective faiths spoke volumes, beautifully underscoring the importance of thankfulness in a multi-racial, multi-religious society such as ours,” she said, adding that she found Cardinal Goh’s reflection on the topic especially profound.
Mr Sheikh Mohamad Farouq, Associate Research Fellow, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore Research Programme in the Study of Muslim Communities of Success said he was genuinely moved by the spirit of openness and respect amongst those at the event.
“Seeing people of different faiths come together to celebrate Christmas reminded me how shared values like gratitude, compassion, and hope can truly unite us,” he said.
The event concluded with the song “Let there be peace on earth” in line with Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for December 2025 – that all who live in conflict and war may become seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.
View more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCF6U3
Written by AIRDECS for Catholic News