With concurrent mass across 32 churches
The Catholic Church in Singapore has since grown beyond 300,000 strong. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
At 6pm on Saturday (Dec 11), bells in all 32 Catholic churches across the island rang in unison, sounding the close of year-long celebrations commemorating the Roman Catholic Church's 200th anniversary in Singapore.
Father Laurent Marie Joseph Imbert is believed to be the first Catholic missionary here, having landed on Singapore's shores on Dec 11, 1821.
Four days later, he wrote to Bishop Esprit Marie Joseph Florens, the Apostolic Vicar of Siam who had sent him to Singapore: "I have reached Singapore on 11th instant, and have visited according to your Lordship's request the Catholics of this new settlement. There are only 12 or 13 in number and seem to lead a wretched life." The Catholic Church here has since grown beyond 300,000-strong, and has made its presence and contributions to Singapore felt.
Singapore Catholic Church concludes bicentennial celebrations
The Good Shepherd Catholic Cathedral of Singapore. (Arcidiocesi di Singapore)
The Catholic Church in Singapore last week brought to a close its year-long celebrations of 200 years in the city-state. Bells in all 32 Catholic parish churches across the island pealed simultaneously for a minute at 6 pm on Saturday followed by Holy Masses.
All churches took the cue from the main Mass celebrated by Archbishop William Goh of Singapore in the Good Shepherd Cathedral the oldest Catholic Church in the country.
The year-long bicentennial celebrations which kicked off on 13 December 2020, concluded on Saturday with simultaneous Masses in the 32 parish churches of Singapore. Singapore-200-years-celebrations-mass-bells.
Catholic Church in Singapore
The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Catholic church in Singapore
The Catholic Church in Singapore is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. About 5.7% of Singapore's populace, or about 300,000 people, are Catholics. Catholicism is practiced mainly by people of Chinese (including Peranakan) descent, along with a Eurasian (including Jenti Kristang), Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, and white European minority.
Catholicism in Singapore has its roots from the Portuguese established Diocese of Malacca soon after Affonso de Albuquerque's conquest of Malacca in 1511. It is believed that the first Catholic priest set foot in British Singapore in 1821 to attend to the needs of the growing community consisting largely of Europeans and some Chinese; however, it is probable that there had been Portuguese missionaries operating out of Malacca in Singapore during the Portuguese period, 1511–1641, prior to the British conquest. Acknowledged as the founder of the Catholic Church here, Father Jean-Marie Beurel was notable for initiating the building of several Catholic churches, such as the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and for establishing the first Missionary schools in Singapore. Of the initial Missionary schools, Saint Joseph's Institution, founded in 1852, was in the care of the Lasallian Brothers while the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, founded in 1854, was in the care of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus. These institutions catered to students of all faiths and backgrounds and many of the non-Catholics subsequently became converts.
Historically, Catholic communities were divided along racial lines - centred along the entire length of Queen St in town:
- The vast majority of Catholics in the early years of Singapore would comprise the Eurasians, who were chiefly located in the Waterloo St and Serangoon Road areas and were members of St Joseph's Church (143 Victoria St, rear of Queen St), the former Portuguese Mission church, along with two schools, St Anthony's Boys School and St Anthony's Convent.
- The Europeans congregated at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. (1A Queen St)
- Tamil Catholics, added the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes on Ophir Road, at the other end of Queen St.
- Chinese Catholics in the city area were found at Sts Peter and Paul (Queen St), and the Sacred Heart Church (Tank Road). Conversion to Catholicism among the Chinese community in the 19th century was met with disdain among Chinese immigrant societies in Singapore. Many of these Chinese Catholic converts, a large number of whom were wealthy plantation owners, were frequently subjected to harassment from Chinese Secret Societies[citation needed]. These were mainly located in the Upper Serangoon and Hougang areas where the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in what was traditionally a Teochew speaking heartland.
