Churchgoers calm as mass resumes at St Joseph’s Church, 1 day after suspicious item was found
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE – Regular churchgoers trickled in as usual for morning mass on Dec 22 at St Joseph’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah Road, a day after a suspicious item – which was later determined to be harmless – was found on its premises
About 50 of them attended the first mass of the day at 6.30am, after the church was closed on Dec 21.
At the end of the half-hour mass, the Reverend Peter Zhang addressed the congregation and thanked them for their patience and understanding.
“We are relieved that all of us are well and that we can resume the celebration of masses. Let us give thanks to God for his blessings and for keeping our community safe.”
On behalf of the priests of the parish, he also advised parishioners not to make any speculations or uninformed opinions. Parish priest Christopher Lee was also present at mass.
Retiree Nelson Quah, 74, was among those at the 6.30am service. He attends mass on most days, but was not at the church on Dec 21 as he was ill.
Mr Quah said he would continue attending church regularly as he had been doing so for many years, but suggested that more security measures could be put in place during the festive period.
He said he felt very sad and concerned when he found out about the incident on Dec 21.
“It is so soon after the incident of the priest, this happened again,” he said, referring to a November 2024 incident when Father Lee was stabbed
Mr Nelson Quah was among those at the 6.30am service held at St Joseph’s Church on Dec 22.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
It was also business as usual for other churchgoers like Mr Paul Yap, who said he was unfazed and would continue going to church every day.
“The authorities are doing a good job, and we have a good safety team here as well,” he said.
Mrs Wee, a 79-year-old retiree, was equally unworried, saying: “We have God with us.”
Madam Cecille Solana, 60, a delivery driver from the Philippines, had heard about the incident on social media and the news when she arrived in Singapore on Dec 21 to visit her daughter.
“My daughter had warned me about the incident and told me to be careful, but I still (came here) this morning because of my faith,” she said.
“I am still very eager to complete my masses,” added Madam Solana, who said she will continue going to St Joseph’s Church every day until she finishes her Novena prayers – a nine-day devotion.
“I am thankful that nobody got hurt.”
A 26-year-old church volunteer was arrested under anti-terrorism laws on Dec 21 after the suspicious item was found at the church earlier that day at about 7am. He was charged on Dec 22
The police said he is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no evidence to suggest it was a religiously motivated attack or an act of terror.
On Dec 21, churchgoers arriving for Sunday morning mass were evacuated, and the Singapore Armed Forces’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group was activated.
The police said the item, which resembled an improvised explosive device, was assessed at about 10.40am to be three cardboard rolls and wires stuck together with black tape, with no explosive elements present.
It was subsequently removed from the scene and police operations concluded at about 5pm. No injuries were reported.
The church was closed on Dec 21, and masses resumed on Dec 22.
In a statement on Dec 22, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore called for everyone “to remain vigilant but prayerful”.
“Vigilance is not about living in suspicion, but about caring for one another’s safety so that all may worship in a secure and welcoming environment,” it said.
With the incident at St Joseph’s Church happening just days before Christmas, the Archdiocese added: “While we enhance security, our doors and our hearts must remain open. We must not let this incident diminish our spirit of hospitality or our joy.”
It also expressed gratitude to the police, Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Civil Defence Force for their “swift, professional and decisive actions”, adding: “Their commitment to ensuring the safety of our sacred spaces allows us to continue our worship with peace of mind.”
The Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) weighed in as well, saying it “does not condone any act that causes alarm or disrupts the peace and sanctity of places of worship, which must always remain safe spaces for prayer and community life”.
Along with standing in solidarity with the parishioners of the church and wider Catholic community, the IRO reaffirmed its commitment to promoting mutual respect, trust and harmony among Singapore’s religious communities, and supporting efforts to keep society safe, cohesive and resilient.
