By Christopher Khoo
SINGAPORE — Catholic churches in downtown Singapore are taking part in a special night festival organised by the national heritage agency as a means of showcasing the faith.
The Singapore Night Festival is an arts and culture festival that has been held annually in the historically and culturally rich Bras Basah-Bugis area since 2008. It showcases artworks and performances by local and international artists, as well as light installations.
Over the years, the three historic Catholic churches in the area – the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Saint Joseph’s Church and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul – have taken part in this initiative as a means of sharing the faith.
This year, the cathedral and Saint Joseph’s Church continue to take part in the event, which was launched on Aug 22 and lasts till Sept 6.
Rector Father Jude David told the congregation at the cathedral’s lunchtime Mass on Aug 22 that the cathedral is participating in this government-organised event as it is “our means of continuing to do the work of evangelisation”. This is because “as non-Christians come into the cathedral to look around and join the activities here, we also pray that by meeting the community, they also meet Christ.”
The two churches are organising concerts, heritage tours and the sale of religious items for visitors on the evenings of Aug 22, 23, 29 and 30.
On Aug 22, visitors to the cathedral – Christians as well as non-Christians – were treated to sacred music on the organ and violin. The next evening, they enjoyed choral music by the Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ. The 50-strong choir sang songs in various languages, ranging from traditional sacred pieces to more modern ones.
Over at Saint Joseph’s Church, visitors enjoyed choral music on Aug 22 and a performance by a guitar duo on Aug 23. The façade of the church was also bathed in various hues of light as part of a light installation display.
The initiatives by the churches appear to have borne fruit.
Ms Janice Liew, 35, who attends an Evangelical church, and who attended the concert by the Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ, said: “I felt it was very nice of the church to welcome anyone to listen to their music, even if they might not be Catholic, because there might be some choral lovers who are not Catholic.”
The writer is a Singapore-based freelance journalist and educator.
