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Macau Catholic Diocese Receives Delegation from Archdiocese of Singapore

Friendly and cooperative relationship between two Dioceses

On 9^th January 2024, the Diocesan Office of Historical Archives and Patrimony (DDAHPC) received a delegation from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, including Fr Joe Lopez Carpio, Mr. Alvin Tan of Saint Joseph's Church, Singapore, and Ms. Jennifer Joseph, Archivist of the Chancery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore. The Bishop of Macao, D. Stephen Lee, met with the delegation at the Sala dos Papas in the Bishop’s House. They had a discussion about Church affairs and exchange ideas on historical and cultural materials.

The delegation also visited Saint Joseph's Seminary and Church, Macau, Treasure of Sacred Art of Saint Joseph’s Seminary, as well as the Museum Centre of the Holy House of Mercy.

Fr Joe Lopez Carpio said that Saint Joseph's Church in Singapore, located at Victoria Street, is an important place in the Portuguese Mission. It was originally built in the 19^th century by Fr Francisco da Silva Pinto e Maia, a representative of Saint Joseph's Seminary in Macau, who was also a missionary from Macao to develop the Catholic mission in Singapore. The church was then rebuilt with the support of Bishop of Macau, D. João Paulino de Azevedo e Castro in 1912 to its present structure. 

Fr Joe continues to explain, after five years of renovation before COVID, Saint Joseph’s Church finally completed the restoration in 2022 and the restoration of the parish office area in 2023. It is very grateful to Archbishop of the Diocese, Cardinal William SC Goh and Vicar General Fr Philip Heng, SJ, for their full support in this difficult challenge, which has enabled the entire Church community to work together to complete the restoration. We are also grateful to the National Heritage Board of Singapore for a grant of S$1.9 million for the restoration, and to the Diocese de Macau for its support and analysis of the historical archives, which enabled us to carry out a complete restoration in some key areas.

Ms. Jennifer Joseph told us that the Chancery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, which has been in existence since 2015, welcomed a new archives space in December 2023. Internally, they are currently working on the aftermath of the relocation of the archives, including up to 40 boxes of new records and additional preservation and cataloguing work; externally, they are exchanging and showcasing Archdiocesan archival artifacts and resources, as well as improving the website content (https://history.catholic.sg/). She said that apart from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS), there are not many professional organizations on archival Science in Singapore, and it is very encouraging to see institutions that share the same vision within the Catholic Church.

In December 2023, DDAHPC visited the Archdiocesan Archives in Singapore for an archival and patrimonial management exchange, which marked the first official mutual exchange between the two Dioceses. Both archives agreed that it would help deepen the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two dioceses and open up a wider horizon for the preservation of our cultural heritage and the spread of the Gospel.

(Departamento Diocesano de Arquivos Históricos e Património Cultural)

From: “O Clarim” Year 76 Issue 16

Publication Date: 26^th January 2024

Friendly and cooperative relationship between two Dioceses 

The Bishop of Macau met the delegation from Singapore in the Bishop House

Delegation from Singapore and Staff of DDAHPC at Macao Holy House of Mercy