Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore
Encyclopedia
The Archdiocese of Singapore (Latin
: Archidioecesis Singaporensis) is an exempt archdiocese of the Latin Church
of the Catholic Church. Its territory includes all of Singapore
. Its current archbishop
is the Most Reverend
Monsignor
Nicholas Chia Yeck Joo
, D.D.
, S.T.L.
. The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Singapore.
The archdiocese is made up of five districts covering the entire city-state of Singapore
. They are the City District, East District, West District, North District and the Serangoon District.
As an exempt diocese, the archdiocese is not a part of an ecclesiastical province
, but comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See
. The archdiocese is a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
.
(other being Diocese of Cochin) to the Archdiocese of Goa.
The diocese of Malacca was transferred to the Vicariate Apostolic of Ava and Pegu in 1838 and then the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam in 1840. In 1841, the Church was placed under the jurisdiction of the Vicariate Apostolic of Western Siam that was erected from the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam. Initially called the Vicariate Apostolic of Western Siam, the name was changed to the Vicariate Apostolic of the Malay Peninsula and finally the Vicariate Apostolic of Malacca-Singapore.
In 1888, the Church was once again placed under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Malacca when the Diocese was revived. The Diocese of Malacca was raised to the rank of an archdiocese in 1953. In 1955, the Archdiocese of Malacca was split and an ecclesiastical province
was formed in its place comprising the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore
as the metropolitan see and the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur
and Diocese of Penang
as suffragan dioceses
.
In 1972, the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore was split into the Diocese of Malacca-Johor and the Archdiocese of Singapore with the Archdiocese of Singapore coming under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See
.
Of the thirty churches, three City District churches namely, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Saint Joseph's Church and the Church of Saint Alphonsus are not parishes. The 31st church, the new Church of Divine Mercy, costing an estimated $14 million to build (excluding the cost for the lease of land of $12 million for 30 years) and equip is expected to be ready by January 2010. Situated at 19 Pasir Ris Street 72, it will serve Roman Catholics from the East District.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Archidioecesis Singaporensis) is an exempt archdiocese of the Latin Church
Latin Church
The Latin Church is the largest particular church within the Catholic Church. It is a particular church not on the level of the local particular churches known as dioceses or eparchies, but on the level of autonomous ritual churches, of which there are 23, the remaining 22 of which are Eastern...
of the Catholic Church. Its territory includes all 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...
. Its current 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...
is the Most Reverend
Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...
Monsignor
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Nicholas Chia Yeck Joo
Nicholas Chia
Most. 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...
, D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, S.T.L.
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
. The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
The 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....
is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Singapore.
The archdiocese is made up of five districts covering the entire city-state 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...
. They are the City District, East District, West District, North District and the Serangoon District.
As an exempt diocese, the archdiocese is not a part of an ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
, but comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. The archdiocese is a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei is the episcopal conference of the Catholic bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei...
.
History
The Roman Catholic Church in Singapore was initially under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Malacca ,which was established on February 4, 1558 as a suffraganSuffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
(other being Diocese of Cochin) to the Archdiocese of Goa.
The diocese of Malacca was transferred to the Vicariate Apostolic of Ava and Pegu in 1838 and then the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam in 1840. In 1841, the Church was placed under the jurisdiction of the Vicariate Apostolic of Western Siam that was erected from the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam. Initially called the Vicariate Apostolic of Western Siam, the name was changed to the Vicariate Apostolic of the Malay Peninsula and finally the Vicariate Apostolic of Malacca-Singapore.
In 1888, the Church was once again placed under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Malacca when the Diocese was revived. The Diocese of Malacca was raised to the rank of an archdiocese in 1953. In 1955, the Archdiocese of Malacca was split and an ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
was formed in its place comprising 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....
as the metropolitan see and the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia. It was erected as the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur by Pope Pius XII on February 25, 1955, and was elevated to the rank of a Metropolitan Archdiocese on...
and 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:...
as suffragan dioceses
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
.
In 1972, the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore was split into the Diocese of Malacca-Johor and the Archdiocese of Singapore with the Archdiocese of Singapore coming under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Ordinaries
- Vicariate Apostolic of Malacca-Singapore
- (1841-1844) Bishop Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy (Vicar Apostolic of Siam from 1834-1841)
- (1845-1871) Bishop Jean-Baptiste Boucho
- (1871-1877) Bishop Michel-Esther Le Turdu
- (1878-1888) Bishop Edouard Gasnier
- Diocese of Malacca
- (1888-1896) Bishop Edouard Gasnier
- (1896-1904) Bishop René-Michel-Marie Fée
- (1904-1933) Bishop Marie-Luc-Alphonse-Emile Barillon
- (1934-1945) Bishop Adrien Pierre Devals
- (1947-1953) Bishop Michel Olçomendy
- Archdiocese of Malacca
- (1953-1955) Archbishop Michel Olçomendy
- Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore (Metropolitan See)
- (1955-1972) Archbishop Michel Olçomendy
- Archdiocese of Singapore
- (1972-1976) Archbishop Michel Olçomendy
- (1977-2000) Archbishop Gregory Yong Sooi NgeanGregory YongGregory 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....
- (2001-present) Archbishop Nicholas Chia Yeck JooNicholas 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...
Statistics (2006)
- Roman Catholic population: 220000
- Churches: 30
- Seminary: 1
- Diocesan Priests: 74
- Religious Priests: 69
- Religious Brothers: 69
- Religious Sisters: 138
- Candidates for the Priesthood: 6
- Baptisms: 3676
- Catechumens: 2160
- Marriages: 821
- Charitable and Social Institutions: 18
- Educational Institutions: 52
Churches
- City District
- 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....
- 'A' Queen Street - Saint Joseph's ChurchSaint Joseph's ChurchSaint Joseph's Church is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located along Victoria Street in the Rochor Planning Area, within the Central Area of Singapore's central business district....
- 143 Victoria Street - Church of Saints Peter and Paul - 225A Queen Street
- Church of Our Lady of LourdesChurch of Our Lady of LourdesThe Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Catholic church in Singapore. It is located at Ophir Road in the Rochor Planning Area, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district.-History:...
- 50 Ophir Road - Church of the Sacred HeartChurch of the Sacred Heart, SingaporeThe 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...
- 111 Tank Road - Church of Saint Teresa - 510 Kampong Bahru Road
- Church of Saint Alphonsus (Novena Church) - 300 Thomson Road
- Church of Saint Bernadette - 12 Zion Road
- Church of Saint Michael - 17 Saint Michael's Road
- Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
- East District
- Church of the Holy FamilyChurch of the Holy Family, SingaporeThe Church of the Holy Family, also known as Holy Family Church and Katong Catholic Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Singapore. It is located at Chapel Road, Singapore, and has one of the largest parish populations in the archdiocese.-History:The church itself was founded in...
- 6 Chapel Road - Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace - 4 Sandy Lane
- Church of Saint Stephen - 30 Sallim Road
- Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour - 31 Siglap Hill
- Church of the Holy TrinityChurch of the Holy Trinity, SingaporeChurch of the Holy Trinity is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore.Its current address is 20 Tampines Street 11, Singapore 529455. It currently has an approximate population of 13720, the largest parish in Singapore-History:...
- 20 Tampines Street 11 - Church of Divine Mercy - 19 Pasir Ris Street 72
- Church of the Holy Family
- West District
- Church of Saint Ignatius - 120 King's Road
- Blessed Sacrament Church - 1 Commonwealth Drive
- Church of St Mary of the AngelsChurch of St Mary of the AngelsThe Church of St Mary of the Angels is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located at in the Bukit Batok Planning Area, within the West Region of Singapore.- History :...
- 5 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 - Church of Saint Francis of Assisi - 200 Boon Lay Avenue
- Church of the Holy Cross - 450 Clementi Avenue 1
- North District
- Church of Saint Joseph - 620 Upper Bukit Timah Road
- Church of Saint Anthony - 25 Woodlands Avenue 1
- Church of the Holy SpiritChurch of the Holy SpiritChurch of the Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit Church may refer to:* Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit...
- 248 Upper Thomson Road - Church of the Risen ChristChurch of the Risen ChristChurch of the Risen Christ is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located in the Toa Payoh Housing Estate and was founded in 1971.-Construction:...
- 91 Toa Payoh Central - Church of Our Lady Star of the SeaChurch of Our Lady Star of the SeaThe Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore and comes under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Singapore. The church is located at Yishun Street 22.-History:...
- 10 Yishun Street 22 - Church of Christ the King - 2221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
- Serangoon District
- Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryChurch of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryThe Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Catholic church in Singapore. It is located at Upper Serangoon Road in the Hougang Planning Area, within Singapore's North-East Region....
- 1259 Upper Serangoon Road - Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - 24 Highland Road
- Church of Saint Francis Xavier - 63A Chartwell Drive
- St Anne's Church - 66 Sengkang East Way
- Church of Saint Vincent de Paul - 301 Yio Chu Kang Road
- Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
See also
- Archbishop Nicholas Chia Yeck JooNicholas 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...
- Archbishop Emeritus Gregory Yong Sooi NgeanGregory YongGregory 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 Emeritus Michel Olçomendy
- 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....
- List of Roman Catholic churches in Singapore
- Roman Catholicism in SingaporeRoman Catholicism in SingaporeRoman Catholicism is practiced by about 4.6% of Singapore's populace, or about 210,000 people. Roman Catholicism is practiced by people of Chinese and Eurasian descent, along with a Filipino, Indian and European minority.- History :...
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses
- Archdiocese of Malacca-SingaporeArchdiocese of Malacca-SingaporeThe Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore was an archdiocese in Malaysia and Singapore.-History:It was established as the , and elevated to Archdiocese level in 1953....