Soon after completing the Church, Fr Lee asked the Archbishop to be free of the responsibilities of being a parish priest. He wanted to set up a spirituality and retreat centre and the Archbishop gives him the green light to start St Francis Xavier Minor Seminary. On September 14, 1997, Fr Michael Arro arrived at St Michael's. "I was sent [...]
1 John 4: 15 to 19 states: Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to [...]
On July 7, 1991, the parishioners of the Church of St. Michael attended the Eucharistic Celebration in the old church building for the last time. In the last week of July 1991, it was demolished to make way for the new building. The current building of the Church of St. Michael officially opened on 2 May 1994, after renovation works [...]
The term, "Sea Change" can be traced etymologically to its first use in 1610, when William Shakespeare wrote and produced the play, The Tempest: “Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade/ But doth suffer a sea-change/ Into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs [...]
As Pope Francis has said, “Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy”. Lent is a time when we scrutinize areas of our lives that are facing spiritual death. In recognizing the malnourished state of our spiritual self, we can work on reviving it during this season. Upon reflection, I realized that I have not been [...]
A Time To Break Down A Time To Build Up WHY REBUILD THE CHURCH? The old church was built on swampy ground in 1961 and rested on a pile foundation of bakau wood. Over the years, as a result of soil settlement, the poor quality foundation caused the church to sink gradually. Severe cracks started to appear on the floor [...]
Purchased in 1961 by the late Archbishop Olcemendy, the site of the Church of St. Michael then comprised an old two-storey bungalow with an outhouse and a number of rooms independent of the main house. The bungalow served as a place of worship on the ground floor with the priests' quarters located on the first floor. Sunday and weekday masses [...]
Mid-1950s: The need for a parish At this time, it's clear that a parish was needed: there was no place of worship for Catholics between town and Paya Lebar. And the new estates of Jalan Bahagia and Whampoa were in the pipeline. A proposal was put forth by Fr Philip Meissonier from the Cathedral and Mgsr Noel Goh, the parish [...]
Have You Invited Your Friend or Colleague to Discover About Jesus? RCIA Journey 2021, held Thursdays at 8pm: There is still a possibility of bringing your friend or colleague to discover about Jesus. Do you know of others who are wondering what is the purpose of life? Or what are one's identity based on? Share Our Own Faith Story Giving [...]
The year is 1961, exactly 60 years ago. The area that is St Michael's is one huge swamp, extending beyond what's now the CTE. Kampongs, mud tracks and clucking chickens are a common sight. Families sit around radios, not TVs, listening to The Beatles and Elvis. Street lighting is non-existent and Serangoon Road is still a dual carriageway. Where St [...]
