The Archdiocese of Singapore has unveiled a 10-year pastoral plan that warns of falling Mass attendance and a higher divorce rate among Catholics compared to other religions.
The plan, Communion in Mission, was released on Sept. 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It sets out the Church’s priorities for the next decade, following consultations with more than 1,000 clergy, Religious, laity, schools, and parishes.
As of 2020, the Catholic population numbered about 395,000—6 percent of Singapore’s residents. While the community grew by 5.8 percent between 2010 and 2020, many Catholics admitted they no longer go to Mass.
A major study in 2016 showed that 64.2 percent of Catholics in the city-state were not accounted for in surveys or parish life. A 2023 report found 41 percent of non-practicing Catholics had not attended Mass in more than a decade.
The pastoral plan also noted a sharp increase in Singapore residents aged 15–29 reporting no religious affiliation in 2020. Observations across parishes revealed that up to half of young Catholics stop attending Mass after receiving confirmation.
Foreign Catholics, however, have boosted numbers. From 2021 to 2023, non-residents grew to about 30–36 percent of the total Catholic population.
The plan flagged divorce as another concern. In 2020, 4.69 percent of Catholics were divorced or separated—a rate higher than most other religions in Singapore.
Cardinal William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore, said he hopes the plan “will provide us with a common language and tools to make meaning of the situations we face.” He added that it would serve “as a rallying call for unity across the Church” and “guide us towards fullness of life in Jesus Christ.”
The plan outlines five priorities: lifelong formation for mission; building communities of faith; enhancing co-responsibility between clergy and laity; strengthening unity in diversity; and embracing synodality.
Implementation of the first two priorities will be the focus for the next three years. The Archdiocesan Curia will report progress in an assembly scheduled two years from now, while biennial conferences will share updates with parishes and Church entities.
The full and summary versions of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan are available at catholic.sg/pastoralplan2025.
(Christopher Khoo is a Singapore-based freelance journalist and educator.)
