Over 1,200 catechumens and candidates prepare to join the Catholic Church in Singapore, marking the largest influx in a decade.
Newsroom (25/03/2026 Gaudium Press) The Catholic Church in Singapore is preparing to welcome its largest group of new members in ten years, a powerful sign of revived faith and evangelization across the island nation. More than 1,200 catechumens and candidates are set to enter the Church this Easter, marking a milestone for the Archdiocese of Singapore.
According to the Office for Catechesis (OFC), 978 catechumens and 155 candidates participated in the English-language Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion in late February at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Church of Christ the King. An additional 111 catechumens and six candidates attended the Mandarin Rite of Election on March 1, highlighting the Church’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
A Journey Toward Easter
The Rite of Election, traditionally held on the First Sunday of Lent, marks the final leg of preparation before baptism and full communion with the Church during the Easter Vigil. It is a deeply symbolic rite: catechumens—those not yet baptized—and candidates—those already baptized in other Christian communities—write their names in the “Book of the Elect,” a gesture of commitment and faith.
Fr. Terence Kesavan, Director of the OFC’s Catechetical Ministry, reminded participants that faith begins with a response to divine invitation. “You have made a choice to come to church and to learn more of God and the faith,” he said. “But today, we are celebrating God’s choice: God is choosing you.”
Fr. Kesavan encouraged participants to view Lent not simply as a period of sacrifice, but as a transformative journey of the heart. “The more important question,” he noted, “is whether these practices help us become who God wants us to be.”
Deepening Faith Through Scripture
In his homily, Cardinal William Goh emphasized Scripture as the foundation of a mature faith. “If you want to be strong in your faith, you need to spend at least half an hour each day reflecting on the Word of God,” he said.
He called this Lent a time for humble reflection and healing. “Let us take time during this preparation period for Easter to acknowledge our sinfulness and brokenness in all humility without excuse or self-justification. Only then will we be free from our past and share in His life of joy, love and peace.”
Stories of Conversion and Commitment
For many of the soon-to-be Catholics, the journey to faith has been deeply personal. Dr. Susanna Bay, a 55-year-old academic, grew up Protestant but felt drawn to Catholicism through her experiences in marriage formation programs. Inspired by her Catholic peers, she joined the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program—alongside her mother.
Another candidate, 22-year-old National Serviceman Wang Xi Heng, originally from China, discovered the faith through his landlady. Settling into a new country proved difficult, but he found solace in the rhythm of the Mass. “At first, the Mass felt confusing,” he reflected. “But over time, it became a source of strength for me.”
Their stories, though unique, share a common thread—faith found through relationship, curiosity, and quiet courage.
Evangelization in a Modern City
While no formal research has been conducted on this growth, Fr. Kesavan believes it reflects renewed energy in evangelization, especially among Singapore’s youth, and the spiritual ripple effect of Pope Francis’ 2024 visit to the nation.
“It is through the evangelization efforts of the Catholic community that people are touched and inspired to want to follow Christ,” he said. “These efforts—big and small—remind us that the Church grows not only through programs, but through personal witness.”
As the Archdiocese prepares for this Easter’s Vigil, hundreds of new Catholics will stand before the altar, each carrying their own story of faith, struggle, and hope. Their journeys signal not only a numerical milestone, but a testament to the quiet revival of belief in one of Southeast Asia’s most diverse and dynamic cities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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