After a decade, more than 1,200 catechumens and candidates prepare to enter the Church, as the Archdiocese of Singapore highlights growing interest in the faith.
By Fr. Mark Robin Destura, RCJ The Catholic Church in Singapore is preparing to receive its largest group of new Catholics in the past ten years this coming Easter. According to the Office for Catechesis (OFC), around 978 catechumens and 155 candidates participated in the English-language Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion held on February 21 and 22 at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Church of Christ the King. About 111 catechumens and six candidates took part in the Mandarin Rite of Election last March 1. The journey toward Easter The Rite of Election, typically celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, marks the final stage of preparation for those entering the Church. Catechumens, those not yet baptized and candidates, already baptized in other Christian traditions, are formally presented to the Church as they prepare to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. During the liturgy, catechumens approach the altar to inscribe their names in the “Book of the Elect,” signifying their commitment to follow Christ and their readiness to be fully initiated into the Church. “God is choosing you” According to the report of the Catholic News Singapore, OFC Catechetical Director Fr. Terence Kesavan reminded the participants that faith is ultimately a response to God’s initiative. “You have made a choice to come to church and to learn more of God and the faith,” he said. “But today, we are celebrating God’s choice: God is choosing you.” He also encouraged the faithful to see the Lenten season not only as a time of sacrifice but as an opportunity for deeper conversion. “The more important question,” he said, “is whether these practices help us become who God wants us to be.” Strengthening faith through Scripture Reported by the Catholic News Singapore, in his homily, Cardinal William Goh urged the catechumens to deepen their relationship with God through daily reflection on Scripture. “If you want to be strong in your faith, you need to spend at least half an hour each day reflecting on the Word of God,” he said. Stressing this season of Lent he said, “Let us take time during this preparation period for Easter to acknowledge our sinfulness and brokenness in all humility without excuse or self-justification. Only then will we be free from our past and share in His life of joy, love and peace.” Stories of conversion Among those preparing to enter the Church is Dr. Susanna Bay, 55, from the Academe who said she had long felt drawn to Catholicism despite her Protestant background. Encouraged by Catholic friends and her experiences in marriage formation programs, she eventually joined the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) together with her mother. Another candidate, Mr. Wang Xi Heng, 22, a National Serviceman originally from China, shared how he encountered the Catholic faith through his landlady after struggling with cultural adjustments. “At first, the Mass felt confusing,” he recalled. “But over time, it became a source of strength for me.” Evangelization and witness Fr. Kesavan noted that while no formal study has been conducted, the increase in numbers may be linked to active evangelization, especially among young people, as well as the positive impact of Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore in 2024. “It is through the evangelization efforts of the Catholic community that people are touched and inspired to want to follow Christ,” he said. As Easter approaches, the Archdiocese of Singapore prepares to welcome this new generation of faithful each with their own story of faith, conversion, and hope.