Catholic Church in Singapore
Church of St. Teresa
Church of St. Teresa In Kampong Bahru, Singapore. It was gazetted as a National Monument by the National Heritage Board on 11 November 2009.
TypeNational polity
ClassificationCatholic
OrientationAsian Christianity, Latin
ScriptureBible
TheologyCatholic theology
GovernanceCBCMSB
PopeFrancis
Apostolic NuncioMarek Zalewski
ArchbishopWilliam Cardinal Goh
RegionSingapore
Language
HeadquartersCathedral of the Good Shepherd
SeparationsProtestantism in Singapore
Official websitecatholic.sg

The Catholic Church in Singapore is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. In 2016, the Catholic Foundation of Singapore reported the Catholic population in Singapore to be over 373,000.[1]

According to the 2020 census, 18.9% of Singaporeans identify as Christians – 37.1% of which identified as Catholic and the 62.9% as 'Other Christians' (chiefly Protestants).[2]

It is currently led by Cardinal William Goh, the 4th Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore.[3]

History

Catholicism in Singapore has its roots from the Portuguese presence in Asia. It is believed that the first Catholic priest set foot in Singapore in 1821, two years after Stamford Raffles' landing, to attend to the needs of the growing community consisting largely of British colonialists 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.

Founder

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.[4] These institutions catered to students of all faiths and backgrounds and many of the non-Catholics subsequently became converts.

Subdivisions

Historically (prior to independence in 1965), 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 British and other 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 fellow Chinese and working class organised gangs. 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.

Japanese occupation

During World War II, in an attempt to manage the growing needs of the local people in Singapore, many Catholics of Eurasian and Chinese ethnicity were deported to Bahau, also aptly called "Fuji Village" at that time, to be self-sufficient in their own food supply.

Contemporary era

In 2005, Singapore held an exhibition, dubbed Journey of Faith, on artefacts from Vatican City in the Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Building, Catholic-oriented artifacts, focusing on art and history, were put on display from June to October 2005.

The Catholic Church in Singapore was under dual jurisdiction for most of its history, one tracing authority from the Vicariate Apostolate of Siam down to the present Archdiocese of Singapore and the other with the authority from the Portuguese Mission first from the Archdiocese of Goa and then the Diocese of Macau. This was a legacy of the padroado pronouncement in the 16th century. Dual jurisdiction was ended in 1981, when the Portuguese Mission handed over St Joseph's Church to the Archdiocese of Singapore and, thus, the whole island of Singapore was brought under the Archdiocese of Singapore.

On 29 May 2022, Pope Francis announced that Archbishop of Singapore William Goh would be appointed as a cardinal in August of that year, making him the first native Singaporean cardinal in history.[5]

List of Catholic churches in Singapore

List of foreign Catholic communities in Singapore

  • Indonesian Catholic Community in Singapore (KKIS - Keluarga Katolik Indonesia di Singapura)[24]
  • Indonesian Charismatic Catholic Holy Spirit Prayer Group (KKIHS - Karismatik Katolik Indonesia Holy Spirit)[25]
  • German-speaking Catholic Parish of Saint Elisabeth in Singapore (Deutschsprachige Katholische Gemeinde Sankt Elisabeth)[26]

Education

The Catholic Church operates kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and a junior college, Catholic Junior College. Some schools are operated by the archdiocese and others are under the trusteeship of various religious orders such as the Lasallian Brothers and the Sisters of the Infant Jesus.

See also

Further reading

  • One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore, by Song Ong Siang ISBN 0-19-582603-5
  • Journey of Faith: Art and History from the Vatican Collections by Asian Civilisations Museum ISBN 981-05-3505-8
  • Syonan: My story the Japanese occupation of Singapore ISBN 981-204-360-8

References

  1. ↑ People. (n.d.). Catholic Foundation. Retrieved 14 July 2022, from https://www.catholicfoundation.sg/what-the-church-does/people/
  2. ↑ Census of Population 2020 - Religion. (June 2020). Singstat.Gov.Sg. Retrieved 14 July 2022, from https://www.singstat.gov.sg/-/media/files/visualising_data/infographics/c2020/c2020-religion.pdf
  3. ↑ Kurohi, Rei (29 May 2022). "Catholic Archbishop William Goh to be appointed S'pore's first cardinal in August". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Book and The Cathedral: The Catholic News". Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "Pope announces 21 new Cardinals from around the world". Vatican News. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Church of Divine Mercy | Church of Divine Mercy Singapore". Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Catholic Church of St Bernadette in Singapore". Stbern. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  8. ↑ admin. "Home". Church of Saint Michael | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Catholic Church | Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace | Singapore". Queen of Peace. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  10. ↑ "Church of St Stephen – 30 Sallim Road". Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Blessed Sacrament Church – We are the Body of Christ". Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Church of St Francis of Assisi". www.csfa.sg. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Church of The Holy Cross - Home". www.holycross.org.sg. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  14. ↑ ChurchStAnthony. "Home". Church of Saint Anthony. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Catholic Church of Christ The King - Singapore". Christ the King. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Parish of St Ignatius - Home". stignatius.org.sg. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Home". www.holyspirit.sg. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Church of St Francis Xavier". Church of St Francis Xavier. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Church of St Vincent de Paul - Singapore". Church of St Vincent de Paul. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  20. ↑ "St. Joseph's Church (Bukit Timah)". St. Joseph’s Church (Bukit Timah). Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary". Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  22. ↑ Stanneweb. "Church Homepage". St Anne's Church. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "Home | Church of the Transfiguration - Singapore". Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  24. ↑ "Indonesian Catholic Community (Keluarga Katolik Indonesia di Singapura)". Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  25. ↑ "Karismatik Katolik Indonesia Holy Spirit". Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "Deutschsprachige Katholische Gemeinde – Sankt Elisabeth – Singapur". Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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