CHOICE FAQs

This FAQs was adapted from the websites of CHOICE KL & CHOICE Singapore

What is CHOICE?

CHOICE is a weekend experience, to give young single adults the opportunity to meet like-minded people, and be able to look at the various relationships in our lives e.g. family, friends, Church etc, in a relaxed and informal environment.

Tens of thousands have attended a Choice programme Weekend in more than 10 countries including Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, USA and UK. It is about people: the important people in our lives, how we communicate with them; and it is about ourselves: the decisions we make, making a commitment to be free. I

Who is CHOICE for?

CHOICE in Malaysia is for Working Adults age 23 to 40, for those of us who would like to take a break from fast-paced urgency-driven activities in favor of time to reflect, recharge and consider what matters most, in life, in the next month, in the next year. It is open to anyone, Christians & Catholics, Buddhists, all faiths and free-thinkers. This is because the content of the program is universal in nature, focusing on communication skills, people and choices. Participants often come with working colleagues and their classmates from various faiths.

Is a CHOICE Weekend suitable for non-Catholics ?

The CHOICE Weekend is a Catholic program that focuses on the relationships in our daily lives, with family, friends, loved ones and God. It is NOT a program to Convert non-Christians. As this is a Catholic program, there are elements of practices of the Catholic faith throughout the program including reading from the Bible, and Mass. For participants who are not of the Catholic faith, extra sensitivities are taken to ensure that the participant is comfortable and is able to understand the program

Isn't CHOICE a sort of match-making program?

Not at all. The emphasis is to love, not to look for love. The program is applicable to everyone including priest and religious.

What happens on a CHOICE Weekend?

We would love to tell you what happens in a CHOICE Weekend, but we really do not want to spoil the experience for you. The CHOICE weekend is best experienced, when you come with minimal expectations of the weekend. What we can say is that it is a retreat from our everyday hectic lives, to reflect and reconnect with God. The CHOICE weekend is NOT a counseling experience, nor is it a "match-making" weekend, nor recruitment for vocations nor a conversion/introduction to Catholism weekend.

Why the name CHOICE?

The choices we make in our lives determine the direction of our lives. All that goes on around us frequently lead us to lose sight of what is really important in life - love. Do we make our decisions based on love? Not the kind of love that is shown on TV but the kind that makes us loving - the kind of love prescribed by Christ - being patient, humble, understanding, never jealous, always encouraging, giving special care to your enemies, bearing the faults of others, forgiving, etc. How we make our choices does affect others around us, directly or indirectly. The aim is not just to improve decision making but to lead our hearts beyond materialism, status, money, power, fame, laws based on fear, and even our ideas about love.

Who runs CHOICE?

CHOICE is run by volunteers, Catholics from all over , from various parishes, and all walks of life and a myriad of backgrounds. There are priests, nuns, brothers, couples and singles. Most if not all are former Choicees (those who have completed the weekend program)

Is CHOICE a local program, or is it international?

CHOICE began in the United States in 1976. It was brought to Singapore in 1981. Choice has spread to many countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. While there are standard programs and formats, Choice in each country is local in nature appropriate to the needs of the society. Choice Singapore however is also part of Choice Asia which is made up of the countries stated above. Choice Asia do come together to share experiences and keep in touch with each other.

What do I need to bring for CHOICE ?

Please remember to bring along any necessary toiletries I.e soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush and towels. If you are on medication, please bring it along as well. You do not need to bring your Bible or Rosary.

Where is CHOICE held?

The venue for each CHOICE Weekend may change. Please always refer to the website (www.choicekl.org) or check with any of our team to confirm the venue Do note that the weekend is residential and commences at approx. 7.pm on Friday and ends at around 7.pm on Sunday.

How much does CHOICE cost?

The cost for each weekend varies based on locations, states or languages.. Our CHOICE Team, takes a lot of effort in ensuring that the CHOICE weekend is affordable to as many potential participants. The registration fee is used to cover the cost of accommodation , food and materials.

What if I cannot afford the registration fees but I still want to attend CHOICE?

Please contact any of the recruitment team, or approach your Parish Priest, and explain your situation. No one should be prevented from coming to a CHOICE weekend because he/she can't afford it. All request made to the CHOICE team is treated in confidence. Info on the contact persons can be found at www.choicekl.org

I would like to speak to someone from CHOICE. Why can't I find any phone numbers on your website ?

We apologise for not posting up any phone numbers on our website for the well-being of our team members.

If you would like to contact us, please do send us an email at info@choicekl.org. One of our team members will be in contact with you shortly.

Note: Please direct any inquiries or registration through www.choicekl.org. This blog is only meant to share my experiences where CHOICE is concerned. Thanks