What the Church Does

Go therefore and make disciples of all nationsMatthew 28:19

The mission of the Catholic Church has remained the same since Jesus gave this command to His disciples over 2,000 years ago.

In Singapore today, this mission is carried on by 160 priests and an estimated 373,000 Catholics, who serve God through 32 parishes and numerous commissions, councils, offices and other organisations in the Archdiocese of Singapore.

However, much of the Church’s work often goes unnoticed. On top of the common ministries we find in our parishes – choir, lectors, catechesis, and so on – the Church also serves many areas at an archdiocesan level. This includes education, families, youths, evangelisation, migrants, and social mission, to name a few.

The Impact of the Catholic Church in Singapore at a glance:

Education

51 Catholic schools, serving over 45,000 students regardless of race, language, or religion
Over 160 Catechists trained and certified since 2013 to teach children and youths about the faith at 28 parishes
An average of 80 graduates receive a certificate, diploma, or Baccalaureate in Catholic Theology each year

Families

An average of 400 Catholic marriages are solemnised annually
Over 9,700 participants comprising children, youths, couples, parents and families, attended some 140 programmes and activities of various Catholic organisations in 2015
Over 780 participants benefitted from Natural Family Planning programmes offered across 14 parishes in 2015

Youths

An average of 3,400 youths receive the sacrament of confirmation each year
Over 10,000 youths and young adults are reached through various retreats, programmes, courses and other initiatives of Catholic organisations each year

Evangelisation

Over 300,000 Catholics in Singapore
32 parishes in the archdiocese
An average of roughly 1,000 converts are baptised each year

Migrants

Over 4,700 migrants found welfare assistance through archdiocese
Over 155,000 meals distributed to foreign workers since 1998
Over 7,700 foreign domestic workers benefited from skills upgrading courses since 2015

Social Mission

Over 40 Catholic charities and other social groups in Singapore
Over 50,000 beneficiaries regardless of race, language or religion
Over 40 overseas humanitarian missions are organised every year by various Catholic organisations

*Data collated in 2016 from Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS), Archdiocesan Commission for Families (ACF), Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI), Caritas Singapore, Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS), Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore (CTIS), Chancery, and Office for Young People (OYP).

How is this accomplished

Directed by the same pastoral vision of the archdiocese, Catholics in Singapore—from priests, to religious and the laity—work together through organisations and projects to advance the mission of the Church.

Vision of the Archdiocese

Learn more about the vision of the archdiocese and your role in it.

Organisations

Find out how archdiocesan organisations work as many parts of the same body.

People

From our priests to the religious and the laity, we are all co-responsible for the mission of the Church.

Projects

Learn how the projects and initiatives of the archdiocese develop strategies, provide resources, and deliver outcomes.

“The Church’s fundamental function… is to point the awareness and experience of the whole of humanity toward the mystery of God” St John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis