The construction of the Archdiocese of Singapore’s 33rd parish church has begun following the groundbreaking ceremony led by Cardinal William Goh.
The Church of St. Jude Thaddaeus in Tengah is expected to be completed by December 2028. The announcement was made during the ceremony held last month at the Tengah Garden Avenue site, according to a report by Catholic News SG, the official news service of the Church in Singapore.
About 80 people attended, including members of the church building committee, priests of the archdiocese, contractors, and several Catholic residents from nearby housing estates who gathered at the site entrance.
After Cardinal Goh blessed the location where the columns supporting the main church hall will stand, Fathers Adrian Danker, Aloysius Ong, Benedict Chng, and Jude David sprinkled holy water on the four corners of the 2,973.2-square-meter plot.
“This land belongs to Christ,” Cardinal Goh said during the ceremony. “We want to sanctify and consecrate this land so we can truly say: Jesus is the foundation of this place.”
Updated renderings of the church façade and interior were also unveiled, showing design changes made after the earlier plans were released last year. The revisions include Gothic-inspired arch motifs and a cross above the entrance staircase.
Mr. Theodore Chan, senior director of CIAP Architects, said the design team introduced the changes to make the building’s Catholic identity more visible.
The updated façade gave the church an unmistakable “Catholic vibe”, which he said the earlier design did not adequately show.
Mr. Chan, who also chairs the Catholic Architectural Guild, said the 800-seat church will feature stained glass windows and a long central nave to accommodate liturgical processions.
St. Jude Thaddaeus, venerated as the patron saint of desperate situations and hopeless causes, was confirmed as the parish’s patron following a survey of 1,500 people last year.
The choice was affirmed by Cardinal Goh and the College of Consultors, a group of seven priests who assist him in administering the archdiocese.
Fundraising for the project will be led by Fr. Michael Sitaram, who currently serves as parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. He is expected to visit parishes to seek donations for the new church.
“I hope the faithful in Singapore will donate generously to support the creation of a new beacon of hope in Christ for thousands of young families in Tengah and beyond – Catholic and non-Catholic alike,” Fr. Sitaram said, adding that contributions can be made through PayNow or by cheque.
Catholic News previously reported that the project is expected to cost $42 million, to be raised through contributions from the Archdiocese, its existing parishes, and fundraising efforts.
Once completed, the Church of St Jude Thaddaeus is expected to serve about 130,000 residents in Tengah, including an estimated 9,000 Catholics.
