- Church of Saint Francis Xavier (Singapore)
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Church of Saint Francis Xavier Location 63A Chartwell Drive, Singapore 558758 Country Singapore Denomination Roman Catholic Churchmanship Roman Rite Membership 5,000 Website http://cms.sfxchurch.sg/ History Founded 1957 Dedication Saint Francis Xavier Dedicated 11 January 1959 Consecrated 11 January 1959 Relics held Relic of Saint Francis Xavier inside the altar table Architecture Status Parish church Functional status Active Completed December 1958 Specifications Capacity 2,500 Materials Concrete Administration Diocese Archdiocese of Singapore Division Serangoon District Clergy Priest(s) Rev. Fr. John Bosco Pereira Assistant priest Rev. Fr. Brian D'Souza Laity Servers' guild Saint Francis Xavier Altar Servers Society The Church of St Francis Xavier is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Singapore, established in 1959 to cater to the needs of the residents of Serangoon Gardens as well as the neighbourhoods of Braddell Heights and Serangoon. Following Major renovations in the year 2000, the church now serves about 5,000 parishioners and is one of the larger Christian churches in the serangoon district.
File:Church of saint francis xavier.jpgChurch Exterior
church Interior
Mass Times / Services
Saturday Sunset Mass: 5:30pm
Saturday Novena: 4:45pm
Sunday Mass 1: 7:00am
Sunday Mass 2: 9:00am
Sunday Mass 3: 11:00am
Sunday Mass 4: 5:30pm
Weekday Morning Mass: 6:30am
Weekday Evening Mass: 6:30pm
Charismatic Praise & Worship:8:00pm (every 4th Monday)
Divine Mercy: 5:30pm (Every Fri, except 1st Fri.)
Sacred Heart Devotion: 5:30pm (1st Fridays)
Holy Hour Devotion: 8:00pm (1st Thursdays)
Public Holiday: 8:30am (no evening Mass)
HISTORY
In 1957, the then archbishop of the Singapore, His Grace Michael Olcomendy, inaugurated the Church of St. Francis Xavier Building Fund in the hopes of meeting the growing Catholic community of Serangoon Garden Estate. A committee led by Rev Fr Phillippe Meissonier chose the site of 63A Chartwell Drive, to be the location of the church that would hold a congregation of 1,000 people, a presbytery for two priests, servant's quarters and a parish hall.
On the 11 January 1959, the church was consecrated and officially named after St Francis Xavier (the patron saint of missionaries) with the Rev Fr Rene Challet and Fr Henry Saussard being its first priests. By 1997, the parish hall and presbytery were rebuilt and expanded with a columbarium and chapel were installed.
The main church underwent significant renovation in the year 2000, with air-conditioning and stained-glass panels installed. Seating capacity was also increased to 2000 as by then the church population had grown significantly. However the church still retained its distinctive design and bell tower which has become an icon of the church being a visible landmark of Serangoon estate. In 2004 the Parish Centre & car park was completed and official opened by His Grace Archbishop Nicholas Chia on 15 August.
The Parish celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009.
References
http://www.veritas.org.sg/parish_detail.php?OrganisationID=26
Categories:- Churches in Singapore
- Roman Catholic churches in Singapore
- Churches in Singapore by denomination
- Roman Catholic Church in Singapore
- Christianity in Singapore
- Religion in Singapore
- Roman Catholic dioceses in Singapore
- Roman Catholic dioceses in Asia
- Roman Catholic Church
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