Concept

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Singapore

Résumé

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Chinese: 圣母圣诞堂) is a Roman Catholic church in Singapore. It is located in Hougang, the North-East Region of Singapore, and is within the Serangoon District. It is well known as the oldest Catholic church for the Teochew community in Serangoon. Before the arrival of pioneer priest Father Ambrose Maistre in 1852, there was already a significant Catholic community in Aukang (Teochew moniker for Hougang) or Kangkar, the area surrounding Serangoon River. He went on to set up a station to serve the Catholics in this rural district and the first baptism took place in 1853. An attap (thatched roof) chapel and small presbytery was also erected after Father Maistre acquired approximately 37-acres of land from the British East India company. It was later converted into a small brick church named St Mary's Chapel. The remainder of the land acquired was allocated to parishioners in the area for their settlement. The parish consisted mainly of Teochew farmers and fish dealers residing in Serangoon, Hougang and Punggol. Earliest statistics recorded the presence of approximately 700 Chinese in the region. The first settlers were Chinese Catholics who hailed from Siam and Malacca whereas later migrants were mainly from Teochew Swatow in Southeastern China. Most did not migrate as a family or clan, and therefore, shared no common ancestors. While some converted to Catholicism after arriving in Singapore, missionary activities of the Dominican and Franciscan friars in Southeastern China as early as the seventeenth century meant that many already embraced the faith before their migration. Moreover, the pioneering priests were able to forge strong ties with the Teochews residing in Hougang. It is believed that the similarities the Teochews and French priests shared – being “good conversationalists who enjoy social events” – led the Teochews to be open to evangelisation. As such, conversion of new settlers was successful as the need for an expansion of the church became apparent between 1894 and 1896.

Source officielle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity_of_the_Blessed_Virgin_Mary,_Singapore

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