Catholic and Protestant groups jointly represented Christianity for the first time at Singapore’s national festival promoting racial and religious harmony.
Early this month, the Archdiocesan Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism Centre of Singapore (AIRDECS) and the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) operated a joint Christian booth at Harmony Fest! 2026, Catholic News SG reported.
The collaboration marked the first united Christian presence at the annual festival since its launch in 2023. Christianity was not featured in the inaugural event, while only Catholics were represented in 2024.
Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth organized the festival to open Racial and Religious Harmony Month, observed each July. This year’s event, themed “Interweaving: SG in Harmony,” featured exhibits and artifacts from 10 faiths.
The Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue and the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue supported the booth.
A central panel outlined core Christian beliefs, including the Holy Trinity and the Apostles’ Creed. NCCS displayed several versions of the Bible, a cross and a hymnal, while AIRDECS presented a Catholic Bible, a crucifix, sacramentals, statues, saint cards and icons.
Catholic and Protestant youth staffed the booth and engaged visitors. Activities included an online quiz about the Catholic faith and a drawing board featuring Proverbs 15:13: “A happy heart makes a cheerful face.”
Joshua Tan, a volunteer from the Church of Saint Francis Xavier and a full-time national serviceman, described members of other Christian communities as having “displayed great friendliness.”
“I also enjoyed conversing with curious passers-by, many of whom asked thoughtful questions about the Catholic faith,” Tan said.
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam attended the opening ceremony as guest of honor.
The program included a silent interfaith prayer, with each participating faith represented onstage by a senior member and a young person.
Brian Theng of the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue represented Christianity alongside a senior Methodist layperson.
“It enabled me to express both Christian unity and interfaith harmony, as I joined others in prayer for Singapore’s continued peace and social cohesion,” Theng said.
Richmond Sng, 24, a final-year undergraduate from the Church of the Holy Spirit, said volunteering allowed him to represent both Catholics and the wider Christian community.
“I’m continually grateful for the opportunities to bring our wider community in Singapore closer together – whether by exploring our diverse religious sites or forging deep friendships that transcend race and religion,” Sng said.
