HISTORY

A Brief History of Interreligious & Ecumenical Dialogue in Singapore

Introduction: A Fourfold Path of Encounter

In a nation shaped by cultural diversity and religious plurality, the Catholic Church in Singapore has walked a path of dialogue marked by grace, faithfulness, courage, and humility. From its early presence in the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) in 1949 to the establishment of AIRDECS in 2024, this journey reflects a deepening understanding of and commitment to building the Kingdom of God. It is a pilgrimage of encounter, shaped by the leadership of its bishops and the faithful witness of clergy, religious, and laity.

The Church’s interfaith and ecumenical involvement and growth may be traced through four distinct stages, each revealing a growing depth of engagement and a widening circle of collaboration.

Archbishop Olçomendy (seated third from right) with religious leaders (circa 1950). Photo: Archdiocese of Singapore Facebook

Stage One: Foundations of Encounter (1949–1977)

From Observer to Full Member of the IRO

The journey began in the aftermath of the Second World War, when religious leaders in Singapore and Johor Bahru came together to form the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) on 18 March 1949 1. Bishop Michael Olçomendy, MEP, then bishop of Malacca 2, attended as an observer, recognising the importance of interfaith cooperation in a society seeking healing and peace.

The origin of the ecumenical movement in Singapore may be traced to 1964, when the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, provided the theological and pastoral impetus for formal dialogue with other Christian communities. According to Father Michael Arro, MEP, who has been active in the ecumenical scene, the news was enthusiastically received by various Christian churches. Two large rallies were organised, one of which was held at the former National Theatre and drew a crowd of approximately 3,000 people.

The promulgation of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, Nostra Aetate, in 1965 marked a turning point for interreligious dialogue, affirming the Church’s belief that all people share a common origin and destiny in God. That same year, the Catholic Church became a full member of the IRO. Its membership signalled the Church’s commitment to fostering peace in a multi-religious society and its desire to walk alongside others in mutual respect.

Upon Archbishop Olçomendy’s death in 1977, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew publicly acknowledged his contribution to religious harmony—a testament to the Church’s quiet but steady presence.

Stage Two: Active Participation and Leadership (1977–2000)

Organised Programmes and Expanded Representation

Archbishop Gregory Yong served as archbishop of Singapore from 1977 to 2000. During this period, the Church’s participation in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue deepened.

Ecumenical Charismatic prayer sessions were held and attended by two bishops, including Archbishop Yong.

The Jesuits were active in ecumenical engagement. During Irish Jesuit Father John Wood’s tenure at the Church of St Ignatius, ecumenical outreach began with Christian churches in the area. The first to join these efforts was the International Baptist Church (IBC) across the road, and a joint Christmas choir was organised. This was carried out with the help of Ms Terese Huang, then President of the Evangelisation Committee of the parish.

In January 1990, Father Wood initiated the first Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service in Singapore. This ecumenical prayer session comprised a talk, hymns, intercessory prayers, and fellowship. Since 2013, the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been organised by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue (ACCED) within the octave of 18 to 25 January each year, with various Christian churches hosting each service.

In 1990, the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) was enacted to safeguard interreligious space and prevent religious conflict. It came into force in 1992 and was amended in 2009.

In 1992, the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony (PCRH) was officially established, and Archbishop Yong’s leadership helped integrate Catholic values into national dialogue on religious coexistence.

In 1994, Archbishop Yong appointed Sister Theresa Seow, FDCC, as the archdiocese’s representative to the IRO, where she served tirelessly and passionately (1994–2004; 2008–present). Other dedicated representatives appointed were Brother Joseph McNally, FSC, and Father Frans de Ridder, CICM. Their presence reflected the Church’s growing confidence and willingness to contribute actively to interfaith initiatives.

This stage was marked by a spirit of collaboration and trust. The Church’s presence in the IRO became more visible and respected, contributing meaningfully to Singapore’s efforts to build a harmonious society.

Representatives of the Catholic and Muslim faiths at the joint Hari Raya- Christmas celebration in December 2001. L-R: Msgr Eugene Vaz; Mr Maarof Salleh, President of the Islamic Religious Authority of Singapore; Archbishop Nicholas Chia, and Mufti Syed Isa bin Mohd Semait of Singapore. Photo: Catholic News

Stage Three: A Ground-Up Movement (2001–2013)

Formation of IRED and the Four Forms of Dialogues

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, who served from 2001 to 2013, placed dialogue at the heart of his episcopal ministry. He encouraged Catholics to become acquainted with and respectful of different religions, focusing on shared values. He served on both the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.

In 2001, the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (renamed in July 2022 as Harmony Circles)—promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)—were launched to promote grassroots interfaith engagement.

Unprecedented were the joint Hari Raya and Christmas celebrations in 2001, during which the exchange of gifts representative of goodwill and alliance was made between Archbishop Chia, the President of Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), and the Mufti of Singapore.

In the post-9/11 years, Sister Theresa Seow became the first woman to serve as IRO President (2003–2004), a landmark moment in interfaith leadership.

In 2005, marking the fortieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Archdiocesan Council for Inter-Religious and Ecumenical Dialogue (IRED) was founded. It was a grassroots initiative led by women religious—most notably Sister Maria Lau, IJ—with the active participation of lay collaborators such as Ms Janet Lim and Mr Lawrence Chong. This marked a significant move toward an organised framework for dialogue. Sister Maria Lau later served as IRED chairperson, leading with vision and humility.

Meetings were held in the Archbishop’s House, with Archbishop Chia’s full support. IRED combined interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, creating a unified Catholic platform for engagement. The guiding principles of IRED were drawn from the Church’s understanding of the four forms of dialogue 3 : the dialogue of life, the dialogue of action, the dialogue of theological exchange, and the dialogue of religious experience.

The Catholic Church in Singapore deepened its engagement with other religions by attending one another’s religious celebrations, visiting religious institutions and places of worship, conducting interfaith panels, participating in joint prayers for peace, providing formation sessions for Catholics on the Church’s teachings on dialogue, breaking fast with Muslims during Ramadan, and participating in a Walk for Peace and Harmony.

The Harmony Games began in 2008, under the auspices of the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony, with the primary aim of bringing together Singapore’s diverse faith communities through friendly competition and bonding activities. Each year, a different member organisation leads the event. The Catholic Church organised the Harmony Games in 2015 and again in 2024.

In 2009, Sister Maria Lau founded the IRO’s Women of Faith group, further enriching interfaith collaboration. She became the second woman to serve as IRO President (2012–2013).

Archbishop Chia regularly and wholeheartedly supported IRO events. He was honoured with the IRO Award in 2012 for his steadfast commitment to religious harmony.

In April 2013, Mr. Gerald Kong was appointed as the first full-time lay archdiocesan Pastoral Coordinator for Inter-Religious and Ecumenical Affairs, ensuring institutional support and continuity.

In the same month, the IRO presented a festival of sacred music from the ten religions, with Mr. Lawrence Wong as Guest of Honour. In May 2013, youth from six faith traditions 4 came together for the first time, travelling to China and Hong Kong on an IRO Inter-Faith Learning Journey to understand the religious landscape and build bonds of friendship.

Archbishop William Goh (centre) with Rev John G Mathews, Vicar of Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Singapore (left) and Bishop Terry Kee of the Lutheran Church in Singapore (right) at the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship - Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Singapore in 2017. Photo: VITA Images

Stage Four: Institutional Maturity (2013–Present)

Formation of ACCIRD, ACCED, and AIRDECS

With the appointment of Archbishop William Goh in 2013, the Church entered a new phase of maturity.

Archbishop William Goh continues to actively contribute to interreligious harmony in Singapore. He serves on the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony, the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, and the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony (under MCCY).

Vicars General—Monsignor Philip Heng, SJ (2013–2020); Monsignor John Paul Tan, OFM (2020–2022); and Monsignor Peter Zhang, CDD (2023–present)—were appointed by Archbishop Goh to establish and oversee interreligious and ecumenical relations. This underscored the Church’s dedication to fostering meaningful interfaith and ecumenical encounters.

In September 2013, recognising the distinct theological approaches of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue and the real challenges in implementation, Archbishop Goh restructured IRED into two councils: the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD) and the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue (ACCED). Each council was tasked with developing initiatives appropriate to its field.

ACCIRD organised events such as the annual Archdiocesan Interreligious Christmas Celebration (since 2013), Harmony Games 2015, interreligious panels on topics such as birth, marriage, death, and service to the poor, as well as visits to religious places of worship preceded by preparatory sessions on Church teachings.

In November 2018, the Second Christian-Taoist Colloquium was held in Singapore, reflecting the growing openness to theological exchange in the local Church and marking the archdiocese’s first ever collaboration with the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Taoist Federation of Singapore.

In the ecumenical arena, several Ecumenical Charismatic Healing Services were held from 2013 to 2016. These events involved ACCED, the Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE), the Ad Hoc Protestant Team, and Alpha Singapore. At each service, Archbishop Goh, a Methodist bishop, and a Lutheran bishop led the prayers, healing, and final blessing. Catholics and Protestants flocked to these services for spiritual support.

Since 2014, ACCED has organised the annual Ecumenical Easter Lunch, an informal gathering with Christian pastors to share the good news of Easter, converse on a relevant topic of interest, partake in a meal together, and strengthen fraternal ties.

Taizé prayer gatherings have also been held by ACCED in collaboration with the Taizé core team: in April 2015 at St Andrew’s Cathedral, in August 2019 at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, and in September 2023 at the Church of St Teresa to pray particularly for the Synod on Synodality and Christian unity.

In 2020, Pope Francis issued the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, On Fraternity and Social Friendship, which firmly anchored interreligious dialogue within the Church’s social doctrine. The document presents a vision of universal fraternity, rooted in faith yet addressed to all humanity.

On 27 August 2022, Archbishop Goh was elevated by Pope Francis to the College of Cardinals. On 3 February 2024, the Archdiocesan Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism Centre of Singapore (AIRDECS) was officially inaugurated. The initiative, conceived by Cardinal William Goh, marked a significant development in the institutionalisation of interreligious and ecumenical engagement within the Catholic Church in Singapore. Established as a stable centre for encounter, formation, and research, the core objectives of AIRDECS are to initiate and sustain interfaith and ecumenical dialogue, to form Catholics in the mission of dialogue and ecumenism, and to advance theological research on other Christian traditions and religions, particularly within the local and wider Asian context. AIRDECS represents the culmination of decades of faithful witness. It is not merely an office, but a living testament to the Church’s unwavering dedication to dialogue as an expression of the Gospel. Soon after its inception, it contributed to the successful organisation of Harmony Games 2024 on 2 March, a second time for the archdiocese.

Another significant moment came on 13 September 2024, when Pope Francis visited Singapore and engaged with youth from several religious traditions. His presence affirmed the Church’s commitment to dialogue and inspired a new generation to walk the path of peace.

Conclusion: A Pilgrimage of Peace

From its quiet beginnings as an observer in the IRO to the establishment of AIRDECS, the Catholic Church in Singapore has walked a path of dialogue shaped by Gospel conviction and communal grace. Each stage reflects a growing depth of engagement, a widening circle of collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to peace. Guided by the principles of Unitatis Redintegratio and Nostra Aetate, with the lived witness of its people, the Church continues to affirm that dialogue is not an option but a sacred vocation in a diverse and beloved nation.

The historical accounts offer a glimpse of the interreligious and ecumenical efforts of the Catholic Church in Singapore over the years and do not claim to be exhaustive.

Article source: AIRDECS Inaugural Yearbook

Reproduction of this article is prohibited without permission from AIRDECS.

Footnotes:

1 The founding members of IRO includes religious leaders from Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. Reverend Dr Hobart Baumann Amstutz, Bishop of the Methodist Church of Malaya which then included Singapore, was IRO’s first president. IRO grew subsequently to include those of Zoroastrianism (1961), Taoism and the Baha’i Faith (1996) and Jainism (2006).

2 The Diocese of Malacca then included the entire Malay Peninsula (today’s West Malaysia and Singapore). In 1953, the Diocese of Malacca was raised to an archdiocese, and Bishop Olçomendy was appointed archbishop.

3 The four forms of dialogue were clarified in the magisterium directive The Attitude of the Church towards the Followers of Other Religions, Dialogue and Mission (1984), issued by the Secretariat for Non-Christians (now the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue).

4 The six faith traditions from which youth participated are: Catholicism, Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Taoism.