I will soon be depositing the final printed copy of my dissertation with the Seminary. I thought that it would be appropriate to post up the contents of the acknowledgement page on this blog as well. Appreciations are, after all, meant to be shown in the open.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dei gratia

It is difficult to note in mere writing one’s heartfelt gratitude towards people who have deeply affected his life formation; it seems almost too flippant.

The following communities and individuals have definitively moulded my personhood through shared experience as well as spiritual and scholarly guidance:

Holy Mother Church: For waiting, receiving, and embracing. May the full unity of the Body of Christ - an irrevocable characteristic of the Church, symbolised by Christ's seamless garment - be one day realised in a visible way through our persistent prayers.

Trinity Theological College, Singapore: For teaching me. I have come to realise that not all seminarians have the luxury of being proud of their alma mater. I do.

Church of the Visitation, Malaysia: For being a sanctuary of refuge to all who need a place of safety, regardless of who they may be. For being my spiritual home.

Brothers and Sisters of the Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis: For being companions on my journey towards perfect union with God. Special acknowledgement goes to my fraternity, the fraternity of St Elizabeth of Hungary.

My religious friends: For being sacramentals that inspire me to radically embody the life of the Kingdom. Special acknowledgement goes to the Franciscan friars (OFM Caps and OFM) in Malaysia and Singapore and the Discalced Carmelite Sisters in Seremban.

Supporting ecclesial communities: For great generosity in sustaining my goal to find my vocation within the scheme of God’s Kingdom. Special acknowledgement goes to the Church of the Good Shepherd (Anglican) in Singapore and Hebron Presbyterian Church in Malaysia.

Emmy, my wife: For being there, for believing, and for loving. For wholeheartedly embracing the call to do the dance of life with me.

Dad and Mum: For faithfully being proud parents when I have often felt like you had no reason to be. This is for you.

Sheree, my sister: For being the mouthpiece for the words I badly needed to hear throughout life’s trying seasons. For being someone that nobody else can be.

Chayim and Carissa, my two dogs: For being the ever-present source of simple joy and an abiding reminder of my responsibility of representing God to all creation.

Charis (July 2003 - May 2005), my deceased dog: For living. For being an indelible memory.

Revd Michael Chua, my parish priest (and very much more): For acting impersona Christi throughout my seasons of desolation. For being the eikon of Christ I so needed to see.

Revd Dr Simon Chan, my spiritual father: For simply being who you are, that I too might desire to be. For faith and friendship in life’s journey.

Mr Anthony Yeo, my counsellor: For upholding the conviction that the dignity of the human person is of utmost consequence despite the brokenness of humanity.

Dr Roland Chia, my thesis supervisor: For such astonishing patience and gentle trust whilst accompanying me throughout this arduous journey of scholarly labours.

To all my friends, for keeping faith with me. For helping me to experience the mysteries of God surrounding me, through you. Thank you all, for being such sources of inspiration to my theological imagination, for the privilege of dreaming together with you.

Pax et bonum!
Sherman Kuek, SFO