ALUMNI | LUMEN
23 were “ stricter than national service ”. There was no rule against the maximum number of pushups one may be punished with or the amount of time one could be required to march under the hot sun . “ SJI was also pretty poor ; it didn ’ t have many resources and we had to make do with many things . A lot of things had to be hands on .”.
After school activities may seem to be a much more intense time compared to now but Fr Joachim feels that it was infinitely more meaningful . It eventually became “ one of the greatest blessings for us ( them )” and taught them things applicable to this very day . The discipline instilled in him was longer lasting and more concrete . Additionally , he commented how the discipline in these uniformed groups was vital in the decision making of the leaders found in them . CCAs used to be run completely by such students leaders who acted independently and only consulted teachers when needed . Leadership
The presence of the Chapel radiated the school with a unique type of energy . As students walked by , they could not help but stare in awe at the majestic architecture and artistic stained glass that gave the Chapel a distinctive appeal to even non-Catholics .
used to be appointed not because power had to be allocated but because things needed to be done . This created an ideal environment for students to really step up and do things for the CCA that would leave a lasting impact . In the end , Fr Joachim expressed that : “ the leaders of that time really were leaders ,”, the people whom he looked up to for inspiration .
Many may wonder , how was Fr Joachim
called to become a priest in the first place ? It may be hard to believe but Fr Joachim grew up in a non-Catholic household . Nevertheless , he was drawn to the Catholic faith after receiving a Catholic education at SJI . He expressed his great admiration for the La Salle Brothers who would preach to the students and the lay teachers who taught catechism . In fact , he was extremely grateful for the layout of the Bras Basah campus which had the Chapel situated at the heart of the school premises . It was “ built in the most central
part of the school , where students had to walk past to get to the canteen .” The presence of the Chapel radiated the school with a unique type of energy . As students walked by , they could not help but stare in awe at the majestic architecture and artistic stained glass that gave the Chapel a distinctive appeal , even to non-Catholics . It was these features that prompted Fr Joachim to take his first step into the Chapel . After learning more about the faith and witnessing the baptism of his teacher , Fr Joachim was inspired to be baptised a Catholic as well . Before long , Fr Joachim grew closer and closer to God as a young teen which became the foundation for his faith today .
Currently , Fr Joachim ’ s focus is the families of his congregation . He recognised that there was a lack of help in providing proper counseling or marriage preparation for the members at his parish . He felt that it was important to guide couples before they enter into marriage , “ so that they know what to prepare ”. As they say , prevention is indeed better than cure . A word of advice he gives to all newlyweds is to always talk with one another , even if it includes arguing . As he very aptly put it : “ quarrels show that you are being honest with each other .” He insists that arguments can make any relationship stronger because it fosters a love that can hold fast even in the face of adversity . The greatest form of love is sacrifice after all . Fr Joachim has sacrificed so much time for the betterment of families around Singapore . His work is something truly reflective of the Josephian identity of being a man for others as he teaches conflict resolution techniques to help couples build stronger bonds of love .
“ One way to enjoy school ... is to do well ”, Fr Joachim is the literal manifestation of work hard and dedication . For a man who barely made it to the ‘ O ’ levels , he pushed himself to soar to greater heights . At long last , he obtained a Masters degree abroad , something that he never imagined he could do . He would like to tell every Josephian that “ You must believe in yourself . That is what my teacher told me . That was the statement that changed my life .”
Facing page ( top ): Fr Joachim Chang , Class of 1981 , celebrated his 20th Sacerdotal Anniversary on 20 June 2018 .
Facing page ( bottom ): He is now the Parish Priest at the Church of the Transfiguration in Sengkang
This page ( top left ): When in SJI from 1976 to 1981 , he was an integral member of the SJI Military Band
This page ( insets ): Living the faith and answering his priestly vocation