On 12 February, the parish of St Ignatius, Singapore, marked its 60th Jubilee. It was the fruit of the Irish Jesuits who were first diverted to Singapore to start the mission by default when their intention to go to China was no longer possible with the Communist takeover in 1949.
Early Church History
When Singapore’s Catholic Bishop, Msgr Michael Olcomendy, wanted the Jesuits to set up a school in the British colony, the Jesuit superiors in Rome felt they could not comply. But how could they refuse a Bishop? By avoiding a meeting, they thought. Hence when Fr Paul O’Brien, SJ, the Hong Kong-based Vice-Visitor with authority over Jesuits in Southeast Asia, had to travel to Rome, he was instructed to avoid Singapore. Before his journey back, he decided to go to France. When changing trains, he entered a car which had just one other passenger — the Bishop from Singapore!
Eventually, Fr O’Brien’s visit in February 1951 led to the setting up of a Jesuit-run hostel for students from Malaya at the Teachers’ Training College. Fr Patrick Joy SJ arrived from Hong Kong in November as the local Superior to oversee the building and management of the hostel. A 4-acre plot was bought in Kingsmead Estate with funds from various sources, including the Free Asia Society in the US. The hostel, which could house up to 85 students and eight Jesuits, was blessed by then Archbishop Olcomendy on 16 August 1954. Mass was said in one of the rooms for priests and hostelites, and before long, Catholics from the neighbourhood joined in. It was a small group and there was no offertory collection. Then one Sunday, at the end of Mass, a lady took off her beret, passed it round for a collection, and emptied it on the table where Fr Joy was investing. That was taken to be the official start of the parish. As the numbers grew, Mass moved to the porch outside for the 100 or so people.
Fr Joy was anxious to build a church near Kingsmead Hall where there was no nearby church. Fr Thomas Doody SJ came from Hong Kong to help and proved to be a brilliant fundraiser, thanks to his good-naturedness and fluent Cantonese which endeared him to many parishioners. A 35,665 sq ft plot next to a cluster of wooden houses was purchased at $1/per sq ft, where for years later, the residents were served by the St Vincent de Paul Society.
On 12 February 1961, Archbishop Olcomendy presided at the blessing and opening of the Church of St Ignatius. The church, which could accommodate 550, had wide doors on three sides. Most remarkable was the absence of pillars which offered a view of the altar regardless of where one sat. A church bulletin was launched in 1962. With Vatican II, on 29 November 1964, the priest said Mass in English for the first time, facing the congregation.
By then, the parish had grown to 1,200 and various activities were organised by the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Legion of Mary, and a Ladies Choir. A simple breakfast of sandwiches with tea or coffee was offered at a cluster of table and chairs in the foyer, organised by a group of ladies. Yet another group of parishioners launched catechism classes for children from the nearby kampong and for those who attended non-Catholic schools.
A major highlight in the church calendar since is the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, marked by Triduum Masses, and parish socials, which began as simple barbecues in the early years but grew into sit-down affairs with performances by parishioners and, occasionally, priests. A major shift took place in 1978 when a group of young Redemptorist fathers were invited to conduct a parish mission. It had a great impact on the faithful. “The decibel of the weekend Masses was greatly increased,” said Fr Kevin O’Dwyer SJ, then the parish priest. Neighbourhood groups were formed and awareness grew as to what it meant to be a Catholic community and a Catholic family. A second parish mission led by Fr Tom O’Neill SJ was held in late 1985 to prepare for the Silver Jubilee.
A series of 18 Parish Renewal Experience (PRE) programmes from 1984 to1988 also helped to foster a sense of community among parishioners and encouraged greater involvement in church activities. The result was a blossoming of new activities. More volunteers became catechists and lectors, and a new ministry, the Lilies of the Valley, was set up to offer prayer services for families of parishioners who had passed on. By then, more space was needed in the church so the parish hall was expanded. The Sacred Heart Hall was built in 1988 and 1989, adding classrooms, a multi-purpose hall, a meeting room, and a prayer room. In December 1990, Kingsmead Hall was turned into a Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling, with one wing reserved for the Jesuits Novitiate and another for the Jesuit community residence.
The New Millennium
With the ever-growing congregation, then parish priest Fr Leslie Raj SJ embarked on a new church building project at the close of the second millennium. Priests and congregation alike envisioned a new building that would allow deep appreciation of the Roman Catholic liturgy, as well as enable full and active participation of the parishioners in all the church’s activities. The task was demanding of the Building Advisory Committee comprising parishioner volunteers who were experts in the various disciplines for finance, architecture, engineering and communications. A columbarium committee and a carpark committee were also set up. The fund-raising committee had the monumental task of raising the estimated $14 million needed for the project. While members sourced for big donations, activities were organised for all parishioners to contribute and take ownership of the new church. By the end of 2001, $3 million had been raised from the sponsorship of items, such as religious artifacts, sacred space, and outright donations. A 40th anniversary dinner raised $593,000 and in August 2001, a charity golf tournament added another $190,000. There were numerous smaller projects including sales of festive cookies, St Ignatius teddy bears, and the sale of a Christmas CD by a parishioner country singer. Donations came in from all walks of life. With some cost savings from the project, the full $12.3 million was raised before construction was completed. Archbishop Nicholas Chia officiated at the dedication of the new church on 12 February, 2004.
Renovations were added towards the end of the decade to make space for more classrooms, with covered walkways and wheelchair friendly access. There was also a new adoration room, a new canteen, and a commercial grade kitchen, which enabled parishioners to run a soup kitchen and serve breakfast on Sundays. A Social Mission Core Team was set up by then parish priest Fr Philip Heng SJ to spearhead the social dimension of the parish. It started with a bang with an up-market bazaar that raised over $350,000 to fund the ambitious projects for the poor and needy.
2011 saw the 50th anniversary of the parish and a beautiful commemorative book documented life in the parish up until then. Over the years, church activities continued to flourish with RCIA/ RCIY and Bible Study, instruction, and Sacraments for foreign domestic workers; Bible Study (Road to Emmaus); expanded Catechism (CGS) and dedicated Youth programmes/activities; Sick and Elderly (PaCES) activities with D’Fellowship Dementia Support; Social Mission Fund; and seasonal activities (Lenten Fish Fry, Advent wreath Making, Feast Day Food and Fund fairs).
Jubilee Year Celebrations (26 July 2020 – 31 July 2021)
The Jubilee year opened on 26 July in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, hence we could only hold a small but significant Mass attended by 50 people, and celebrated by Archbishop Marek Zalewski, Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore. It was live-streamed on YouTube. There was also a week-long online retreat via Zoom, Following Ignatius’ Footsteps in Daily Life, by Fr Hung Pham SJ, attended by more than 400 regional participants. In October, the beautiful Jubilee Door of Grace was completed and the receipt of the papal indulgence for the Jubilee year was announced. The Door recalls God’s infinite mercy and grace, and for all to always turn back to God and seek him. The motto for the Jubilee: ABOVE ALL, SEEK GOD is a reminder to find God above all our trials in life. In December 2020, nearly 300 parishioners participated in an Advent Prayerthon, a 60-hour prayer marathon marking the 60 years of the parish’s existence.
In line with the Jesuits’ Universal Apostolic Preference (UAP) of Walking with the Poor and the Excluded, the Jubilee committee hopes to raise $60,000 from the sale of commemorative souvenirs, comprising T-shirts and umbrellas for their adopted charity, Morning Star Community Services.
A Memorial Wall honouring the Jesuit priests’ contributions to the development of the parish church was unveiled on 12 February, after the Jubilee Mass. Coincidentally, the church’s 60th birthday fell on the first day of Chinese New Year making it a double celebration!
In the works are an archival video featuring the milestones of the Church of St Ignatius, and a musical based on the life of St Ignatius, which will premiere in the church on 31 July 2021, with the Jubilee Finale Mass to be celebrated by the Most Rev Archbishop William Goh of Singapore. This will mark the close of our Jubilee year and celebrations.
Our Prayer for the Future
The parish of the Church of St Ignatius will carry the torch of faith so courageously and generously brought to them by the early missionaries and our own Irish Jesuits. We will share it with the community in Singapore and the wider region in carrying out the mandate to bring the Good News to everyone who have yet to encounter Jesus Our Lord.
Fr Colin Tan SJ
Parish Priest of the Church of St Ignatius, Singapore
This article was first published in “The Jesuits in Asia Pacific 2021”. To download the report click here.