Gregory Yong
Encyclopedia
Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean D.D. D.C.L was the second Roman Catholic Archbishop
of Singapore
. Archbishop Gregory Yong died on 28 June 2008 of a heart failure.
Archbishop Yong was born into a Hakka family in Taiping
, and received his education in St. George's Institution and St. Michael's Institution
in Ipoh
, Malaya. He was an exceptional boy, and liked to role-play as a priest and pretend to hold Mass in his games.
In January 1941, he entered the Minor Seminary
and in 1944 graduated to the Major Seminary. He was officially ordained
in 1951 and posted to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Singapore
. In 1953, he left for studies in Rome
where he was conferred a Doctorate
in Canon Law
, the very first local priest
to achieve the distinction. Back in Singapore in 1956, he was sent as assistant Parish Priest to the Church of the Sacred Heart
. In the following year, he joined the teaching staff of the Minor Seminary. After a short stint as assistant Parish Priest at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he was appointed to a teaching position in the Major Seminary, again, the very first local priest to be thus honoured. On July 1, 1968, he was consecrated Bishop
, and took over the Diocese Of Penang
from Bishop Francis Chan who had died on October 27, 1967.
On February 3, 1977, he was appointed to succeed Archbishop
Michel Olçomendy as the first of the local clergy
to lead the Church in Singapore. On April 2, 1977, he was officially installed as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore. He was the second Archbishop
of the Archdiocese of Singapore, which was formed in 1972 when the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore
split and held the office until retiring on October 14, 2000 and was succeeded by current Archbishop Nicholas Chia
It was also poor health that prompted his retirement, as he had a heart attack and had to be admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital
for a heart bypass surgery in June that year. Archbishop Yong's last public media appearance was in May 2004, when Yong was summoned as a prosecution witness in the trial of Catholic priest Joachim Kang, who was convicted and jailed for misappropriation of S$5.1 million in church funds. In spite of his poor health, he made light of his ailment when the prosecutor asked if he needed a break. 'I'm okay and can carry on,' he replied, and then asked the judge if she was all right too, sparking laughter in the solemn courtroom.
He died on June 28, 2008 at St Joseph's Home, Singapore of a heart failure.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Archbishop Gregory Yong died on 28 June 2008 of a heart failure.
Archbishop Yong was born into a Hakka family in Taiping
Taiping, Perak
Taiping is a town located in northern Perak, Malaysia. With a population of 191,104 , it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital. Taiping took over Kuala Kangsar's role as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh...
, and received his education in St. George's Institution and St. Michael's Institution
St. Michael's Institution
St. Michael's Institution is a school in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. It is situated on Jalan S.P. Seenivasagam, formerly Clayton Road. Within the same premises are two primary schools, St. Michael's I and II. The school has a long history full of events such as the annual drama play, which was first...
in Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, Malaya. He was an exceptional boy, and liked to role-play as a priest and pretend to hold Mass in his games.
In January 1941, he entered the Minor Seminary
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
and in 1944 graduated to the Major Seminary. He was officially ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in 1951 and posted to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. In 1953, he left for studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he was conferred a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, the very first local priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
to achieve the distinction. Back in Singapore in 1956, he was sent as assistant Parish Priest to the Church of the Sacred Heart
Church of the Sacred Heart, Singapore
The Church of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic church in the Museum Planning Area of Singapore.- History :The Church of the Sacred Heart was built in 1906 by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and completed in 1910...
. In the following year, he joined the teaching staff of the Minor Seminary. After a short stint as assistant Parish Priest at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he was appointed to a teaching position in the Major Seminary, again, the very first local priest to be thus honoured. On July 1, 1968, he was consecrated Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, and took over the Diocese Of Penang
Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang is situated in the northern region of Malaysia covering 5 states, namely Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan. It was created in 25 February 1955 together with the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.-History:...
from Bishop Francis Chan who had died on October 27, 1967.
On February 3, 1977, he was appointed to succeed Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Michel Olçomendy as the first of the local clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
to lead the Church in Singapore. On April 2, 1977, he was officially installed as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore. He was the second Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of Singapore, which was formed in 1972 when the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore
Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore
The Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore was an archdiocese in Malaysia and Singapore.-History:It was established as the , and elevated to Archdiocese level in 1953....
split and held the office until retiring on October 14, 2000 and was succeeded by current Archbishop Nicholas Chia
It was also poor health that prompted his retirement, as he had a heart attack and had to be admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Mount Elizabeth Hospital is a 373-bed private hospital in Singapore operated by Parkway Health. It was started in 1976 and officially opened in 8 December 1979....
for a heart bypass surgery in June that year. Archbishop Yong's last public media appearance was in May 2004, when Yong was summoned as a prosecution witness in the trial of Catholic priest Joachim Kang, who was convicted and jailed for misappropriation of S$5.1 million in church funds. In spite of his poor health, he made light of his ailment when the prosecutor asked if he needed a break. 'I'm okay and can carry on,' he replied, and then asked the judge if she was all right too, sparking laughter in the solemn courtroom.
He died on June 28, 2008 at St Joseph's Home, Singapore of a heart failure.
See also
- Archdiocese of Singapore
- Cathedral of the Good ShepherdCathedral of the Good ShepherdThe Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located in the Museum Planning Area within the Civic District and affords a welcome respite from the city....
- Archbishop Nicholas ChiaNicholas ChiaMost. Rev. Monsignor Nicholas Gerald Chia Yeck Joo D.D., S.T.L. is third and current Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore and the first Singapore-born clergyman to hold the office...