Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

Last updated
Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
OLPS Church - Feast Day 2015.jpg
Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
1°19′14.4″N103°55′07.3″E / 1.320667°N 103.918694°E / 1.320667; 103.918694
Location31 Siglap Hill, Singapore 456085
Country Singapore
Denomination Roman Catholic
Churchmanship Roman Rite
Membership9,860
Weekly attendance8,000
Website www.olps.sg
History
Status Parish church
Founded1961 (1961)
Dedication Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Dedicated7 October 1961
Consecrated 1961
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Style Modern
Completed1961
Specifications
Capacity1,600
Number of floors4
Materials Concrete
Administration
DivisionEast District
Diocese Archdiocese of Singapore
Clergy
Priest(s) Rev. Fr. Kenny Tan
Assistant priest(s) Rev Fr Edmund Chong
Rev. Fr. Dominique Demé
Laity
OCIA coordinator RCIA Ministry
Music group(s)Ave Maria Choir, Cantores Dei Indonesian Choir, COOL Choir, El Shaddai Choir, Himig Pinoy Chorale, Lux Mundi Choir, Cantate Domino Choir, Mandarin Choir, St Anne Choir, St Cecilia Choir, St Pius X Choir, Vox Cordis Chorus
Parish administratorParish secretariat
Servers' guildSt. Pius X Altar Servers Society

The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, also known as OLPS Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Singapore. It is located at Siglap Hill, Singapore, within the Siglap housing estate, near the Kembangan MRT station.

Contents

History

It took almost seven years from conception to planning before OLPS Church was built in 1961. The idea to build a church beyond the Katong area was first given serious consideration in 1954. It was then felt that the Church of the Holy Family, Singapore could not accommodate the growing number of worshippers living in Katong and the then rural Siglap where more people were making their homes.

In 1955, Fr. Rene Ashness, Holy Family's parish priest launched the project by appealing for donations to have a church built in the Siglap area. Fr. Paul Munier, who became Holy Family's parish priest in 1957, continued with the appeal for donations. The members of the Church Building Committee went from house to house during their spare time to seek donations. They collected a sum adequate to buy 53,300 sq. feet of land at progress payments. The final cost for the building and professional fees was S$283,391.78.

The OLPS Church was blessed and declared open for worship on 7 October 1961 by Michael Olcomendy, Archbishop of the Malacca-Singapore Archdiocese. In the following years the parish population increased to some 8,500, and it was desired to provide catechism and kindergarten education for a growing number of children; there was consequently the need for more classrooms and amenities.

In 1993 plans were made to build a 3+12-storey extension to the church, housing additional classrooms, AVA rooms, a library and a small auditorium. Fr. John Lee, the parish priest, undertook this project and formed the Building Extension and Finance Committee to monitor the technical aspects of the extension and to source funds.

For almost two years, Fr. John Lee held meetings and discussions with the authorities, the architect, engineers and other professionals before calling for tenders. The first pile was sunk on 13 May 1996, and work progressed steadily. The new extension was ready for use in August 1997. A time capsule was installed at the foyer of the annex building with memorabilia pertaining to the church, to be opened in 2061 when the church celebrates its centenary.

Having completed the church's annex building, the renovation of the church building and the presbytery was necessary. It was decided to reconstruct rather than renovate the presbytery. The old priests' house was demolished in November 1998, and the priests were able to move into the new presbytery on 23 December 1999. It was officially blessed by Archbishop Gregory Yong on 22 January 2000. The presbytery houses an Adoration Room, "The Sanctuary", opened to parishioners on 2 February 2000 on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Tenders for renovation of the church building were called in August 1999 and renovation works took from December 1999 to 2001.

The church is now air-conditioned, yielding seating space of 1,600. The space on the ground floor was also expanded to provide better facilities, and a new kitchen, meeting rooms and a store-room for the SVDP Conference were built. There is a columbarium for 2500 niches.

Origins of the Name

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary as represented in a celebrated 15th-century Byzantine icon. Desprestaur.jpg
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary as represented in a celebrated 15th-century Byzantine icon.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is the Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary as represented in a Byzantine icon from the 15th Century. The icon has been in Rome since 1499, and is permanently enshrined in the church of Sant'Alfonso di Liguori.

In the image, Mother Mary wears a dress of dark red that represents the Passion of Jesus, a blue mantle that represents her virginity, and a cloaked veil, which represents her pure modesty. She is looking towards the faithful, while pointing at her son, Jesus Christ, who seems frightened by the instruments of crucifixion while a sandal slips off his foot. The angel on the left is St Michael, who carries the lance and sponge of the crucifixion of Jesus while on the right is St Gabriel, depicted as carrying nails and a 3-bar cross used by Popes at the time. The Virgin Mary has a star on her forehead, signifying her role as Star of the Sea while the cross on the side has been claimed as referring to the school which produced the icon. In the painting, Mary's veil and her face itself are rounded, to indicate her holiness, as a halo was not commonly painted around the head in those days. The artist also made the size of the mother disproportionate to that of her son to emphasise the significance of Mary in the icon.

The Greek inscriptions read MP-ΘΥ (Μήτηρ Θεοῦ, Mother of God), ΟΑΜ (Ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ, Michael the Archangel), ΟΑΓ (Ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ, Gabriel the Archangel) and IC-XC (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Jesus Christ), respectively.

Feast day

The feast day of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is on 27 June and the church celebrates its own feast day on 27 June if it falls on a Sunday, or around that date, depending on the scheduling of other events.

Triduum

Past feast days

Each year, a different theme is given for the feast day which helps the congregation focus on different aspects of their faith.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annunciation</span> Announcement of the conception and birth of Jesus to Mary

The Annunciation is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Christian Messiah and Son of God, marking the Incarnation. Gabriel told Mary to name her son Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of Sorrows</span> Marian title

Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows, and Our Lady of Piety, Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which Mary, mother of Jesus, is referred to in relation to sorrows in life. As Mater Dolorosa, it is also a key subject for Marian art in the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucharistic adoration</span> Christian rite

Eucharistic adoration is a Eucharistic devotional practice primarily in Western Catholicism, but also to a lesser extent in certain Lutheran and Anglican traditions, in which the Blessed Sacrament is adored by the faithful. This practice may occur either when the Eucharist is exposed, or when it is not publicly viewable because it is reserved in a place such as a church tabernacle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of Perpetual Help</span> Title of the Mary, the mother of Jesus

Our Mother of Perpetual Succour is a title of the Mary, mother of Jesus in Catholicism associated with a 15th-century Byzantine icon and a reputed Marian apparition. The image has been enshrined in the Church of San Matteo in Via Merulana since 27 March 1499, and is today permanently enshrined in the Church of Saint Alphonsus of Liguori in Rome, where the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help is prayed weekly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simeon (Gospel of Luke)</span> 1st century prophet of the New Testament

Simeon at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:25–35, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth, i. e. the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Singapore</span> Part of the worldwide Catholic Church

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.

The Church of the Risen Christ is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located at Toa Payoh Central in the Toa Payoh Housing Estate and was founded in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Holy Trinity, Singapore</span> Roman Catholic church in Singapore

Church of the Holy Trinity is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. Its current address is 20 Tampines Street 11, Tampines New Town, Singapore 529455. It currently has an approximate population of 13,720, the largest parish in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Holy Family, Singapore</span> Church in Singapore

The Church of the Holy Family, also known as Holy Family Church and Katong Catholic Church, is a Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Singapore. It is located at Chapel Road, off East Coast Road, and has one of the largest parish populations in the archdiocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville</span> Minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in Asheville, North Carolina

The Minor Basilica of St. Lawrence the Deacon & Martyr is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, United States. The church was designed and built in 1905 by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino along with his fellow architect R. S. Smith and the Roman Catholic community of Asheville. Pope John Paul II elevated the status of the church to minor basilica in 1993. It is a parish church, located within the Diocese of Charlotte. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only basilica in western North Carolina. Its dome, inspired by the Basilica de los Desamparados of Valencia, has a span of 58 by 82 feet, and is reputed to be the largest, freestanding, elliptical dome in North America. The architectural style is Spanish Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Singapore</span> Historic site in Upper Serangoon Road

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located in Hougang, the North-East Region of Singapore, and is within the Serangoon District. It is well known as the oldest Catholic church for the Teochew community in Serangoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Michael's Church, Mumbai</span> Church in Mumbai, India

St. Michael's Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Mahim suburb of Mumbai (Bombay), India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Anthony's Parish (Karachi)</span> Church in Karachi, Pakistan

St. Anthony's Parish is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in Pakistan.

St Michael's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church located in 30 North Street, Nowra, New South Wales, Australia. Part of the Diocese of Wollongong, the Gothic Revival church is home to St Michael's Parish, Nowra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cainta Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Rizal, Philippines

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, popularly known as Cainta Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church located along Andres Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal, in the Philippines. The church also operates a neighboring school, Cainta Catholic College. From its time of erection as a parish in 1760 until 1983, it belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila. It was placed under the newly created Diocese of Antipolo in 1983, which is now headed by Ruperto C. Santos. It belongs to the Vicariate of Our Lady of Light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy</span> Church in Kerala, India

St. Mary's Forane Church, Chalakudy, is one of the 10 Foranes or deaneries under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda, which was established in 1978 by the bifurcation of Thrissur Diocese. Prior to that, Chalakudy was part of Thrissur diocese, the most ancient Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Thrissur diocese has since been elevated to an archdiocese, Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, within which comes the Irinjalakuda diocese. There are 16 parishes under the Chalakudy Forane. The people of Chalakudy, mainly in business or service sectors, belong to middle or upper-middle-class families. Chalakudy is one of those areas in Kerala with a high concentration of Christian population, most belonging to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iconostasis of the Cathedral of Hajdúdorog</span> Largest Greek Catholic icon screen in Hungary

The iconostasis of the Cathedral of Hajdúdorog is the largest Greek Catholic icon screen in Hungary. It is 11 m tall and 7 m wide, holding 54 icons on five tiers. Creating such a monumental work of art requires a number of different craftsmen. Miklós Jankovits was hired by the Greek Catholic parish of Hajdúdorog in 1799 to carve the wooden framework, including the doors and the icon frames of the iconostasis. Mátyás Hittner and János Szűts could only start the painting and gilding works in 1808. The last icon was completed in 1816.

Christ the King Church, Jog Falls was established in 1959. It is located in Jog Falls, Sagara, Shimoga District, Karnataka state of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aloysius McVeigh</span>

Sister Aloysius McVeigh, R.S.M., was an artist, iconographer and teacher. She was from Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bydgoszcz</span> Catholic Church, Bydgoszcz, Poland, 20th century

The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a wood and brick Catholic church, located on the southern heights of Bydgoszcz in northern Poland, at 16 Ugory street.

References