“75 to 100 years and a greater power.” That’s what the devil demanded. Now, standing before the Church of St. Michael, consider a story that intertwines divine intervention with the very ground beneath our feet.
The Church of St. Michael stands on Saint Michael’s Road. This road is named after saints. During the colonial period, a civil servant named Mr d’Cruz renamed the roads after Saints. That explains why this region has St George’s, St Francis and St Michael’s Roads.
In 1950, many Eurasian families lived in St. Michael’s estate. They were mostly Catholic. By the mid 1950s, there was no place of worship for Catholics between town and Paya Lebar. The Archdiocese bought a large two-storey bungalow on 17, St. Michael’s Road. This plot of land became the future Church of St. Michael. The church took its name from the street.
Imagine Catholic parishioners trekking through tall grass every Sunday. They passed through Whampoa estate to reach this parish.
The first mass was celebrated on 1st October 1961. But there were no church bells. So, the parish priest taped the sound of bells from the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. The church uses the same tapes at High Masses today.
This parish was the first in Singapore designed to serve a region. It did not serve an ethnic community. It became the model for the Archdiocese.
The land here is soft. By 1989, the Church of St. Michael was sinking. It was sinking under its own weight. The church standing here today is its third edition.
Three statues guard the entrance. They depict Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The main church is simple. Elegant stained glass surrounds the place. The stained glass on the roof is most interesting. Sunday Masses are a visual treat when sunlight passes through. The Church of St. Michael is still the tallest structure in the area.
There is a pond full of koi. A statue of Jesus stands above it. People can pray there. The church has a stronger Marian devotion. But the prayer of Saint Michael is said at the conclusion of weekday masses.
The Church of St. Michael continues to spread the good news. It shares the teachings of the Bible. So let us remember the story of Pope Leo XIII. He heard the devil’s demand. He understood the power of St. Michael. The church remains a beacon. It stands tall. It stands strong.