Singapore Catholic Church History

When did Catholicism begin in Singapore?

• 1095

• 1517

• 1821

• 1965

Answer explanation

1095 - Start of First Crusade

1517 - Protestant Reformation

1821 - First known missionary to Singapore

1965 - End of Second Vatican Council

Who was Singapore's first missionary?

• Bartolomé de Las Casas

• Charles Borromeo

• Jorge Mario Bergoglio

• Laurent Marie Joseph Imbert

Answer explanation

Bartolomé de Las Casas - Protested against indigenous slavery

Charles Borromeo - One of the prominent figures of the Catholic Reformation period to counter Protestant influence

Jorge Mario Bergoglio - Pope Francis' real name

Laurent Imbert - Tasked to report on the Catholic situation in Singapore while en route to China and Korea. He established the first known official record of Catholics in the new settlement of Singapore.

The Church of the Good Shepered has a direct link to him.

Who took over the mission work from Father Imbert?

• The Portuguese

• The British

• The Dutch

• The French

What is the 1832 Excommunication?

• The abandonment of Singapore for a year by the Catholic Church

• A conflict of jurisdiction between the MEP and the Portuguese

• The College of Malacca declaring that the Catholic Church in Singapore was illegal

• The recognition of Eastern Orthodoxy in Singapore over Western Roman Catholicism

What is the lasting mark of the conflict between the MEP and Portuguese missions?

• A Catholic school

• A Catholic church

• A Catholic mission

• A Catholic neighbourhood

When was the first Catholic Chapel built?

• 1833

• 1853

• 1870

• 1935

• 1963

Answer explanation

1833 - Catholic Chapel on Bras Basah Road (When the Catholic population grew in 1847, and the Chapel was renamed into a church. Can you guess its current name?)

1853 - St Mary's Chapel (Bonus Award if you can guess the current name of this chapel - it was renamed and rebuilt in 1901 to accommodate the growing Teochew population in Singapore)

1870 - Church of Sts Peter and Paul

1935 - Novena Church (Bonus Award if you can guess its actual name)

1963 - St Anne's Church

Who is recognised as one of Singapore's first founding Fathers?

• Anatole Manduit

• Maia

• Pierre Paris

• Jean-Marie Beurel

What major event happened between 1849 to 1851?

• World War I

• Pushback from Chinese secret societies in Singapore

• Religious riots between Catholics and Muslims

• Abandonment of Singapore by the Catholic Church

Which is the first Catholic all-boys school in Singapore?

• Catholic High School

• St Joseph's Institution

• Holy Innocents High School

• Montfort School

• Hai Sing Catholic School

Which is the oldest CHIJ School in Singapore?

• Toa Payoh

• Katong Convent

• St Nicholas Girls' School

• St Joseph's Convent

• St Theresa's Convent

Answer explanation

CHIJ Toa Payoh's current location was only built in 1983. It moved here from another location. Which location is this?

(Bonus award)