To grow in knowledge, you must teach: Cardinal Goh

Apr 03, 2025

By Joshua Chan
Cardinal William Goh urged those graduating from the Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore (CTIS) class of 2025 to use what they learnt to teach in their parish’s catechetical programmes.

“When you start imparting your knowledge, that’s when you really learn, and if one does not teach, he will forget what he has learnt,” said Cardinal Goh, who taught theology at the seminary for over 20 years.

“The money spent on subsidising your fees comes from donations from the People of God,” he added, “so there is a great responsibility on your part to use your studies for the benefit of everyone.”

Some 60 people – graduates, staff, and guests – attended the March 22 ceremony held at the Saint Francis Xavier Seminary Building in Upper Bukit Timah.

The Archdiocese subsidises some two-thirds of the course’s actual fees, said CTIS Rector Monsignor James Yeo. Lay students pay around $1,700 for the Certificate in Theology programme, which comprises some 192 hours of lectures over six courses on subjects such as moral theology and Scripture.

Forming lay Catholics
English certificate course valedictorian, Mdm Sherry Sim, said her faith grew from the enthusiasm and energy of the other students.

She also found the programme thought-provoking and transformative, even though she had found it difficult to understand certain concepts in courses such as Christian philosophy.

“The lecturers’ abilities to present complex ideas in accessible and fun ways, and the presentations from my classmates helped me grasp the subject matter better,” said Mdm Sim, who works part-time for the Archdiocesan Emergency Response Operations (AERO) Council which oversees the Church’s safety and security protocols.

The mother-of-four, who also serves as a youth catechist and in the audio-visual ministry at the Church of the Holy Spirit, said she hopes that what she learnt at CTIS will help her better engage the young people she catechises.

Searching for meaning
Electronic commerce executive Agnes Lin, who topped the Mandarin certificate class, said she was initially disillusioned with the materialistic rat race and was going through an existential crisis.

“A thought came to my mind one night,” said the 33-year-old, who lives in Ipoh, Malaysia. “Everyone studies to enter society, but few study to know God.”

She signed up for the course, and over some 18 months, attended online lectures with classmates from Singapore, Malaysia, and China.

“Throughout this period of studying, every step of learning, thinking, absorbing, and applying knowledge filled the emptiness in my search for the meaning of life,” said Ms Lin, who travelled from Ipoh with her husband to attend the graduation ceremony.

“Now I have the answer: I am a child of God. I live for God. He is the meaning of my life,” she said.

CTIS was established in 2013 to give Catholics systematic theological formation. To date, some 675 students from Singapore and other countries have graduated from its English- and Mandarin-language theology programmes.--catholicnews.sg