The towering stained glass windows of the Church of the Holy Family beckon. They tell a silent story of faith resilience and community. This isn’t just any church. It’s a heart of Katong a place where history whispers through the pews.
The Church of the Holy Family stands proudly on Chapel Road. Its beginnings were humble. Four Eurasian families started it all in 1902. They purchased land. Mr James Leonard Scheerder donated land too. He had a coconut plantation nearby. The De La Salle Brothers owned land as well. They now share the grounds with St Patrick’s School. Early masses were celebrated in buildings along the East Coast now part of East Coast Park.
After World War I Reverend Father Pierre Raudel saw the need for a proper chapel. Mr Scheerder generously donated land. The condition was that the land be used for a chapel only. In 1923 the foundation stone was laid. Bishop Marie-Luc-Alphonse-Emile Barillon consecrated the chapel to the Holy Family. The growing congregation soon outgrew the small space. The original chapel was demolished in 1931. Sunday Mass was moved to the Arcadia Cinema temporarily.
The current church building was completed in 1932. Bishop Perrichon blessed and consecrated it. By 1936 it was designated a parish. Father Pierre Ruaudel became the first parish priest. The church underwent renovations and extensions in 1969. This was to better serve the increasing number of Catholics. The hall featured a simple crucifix often decorated to match the week’s liturgical theme. David Saul Marshall even donated land later used as a carpark.
Growth continued. The church was again demolished in 1997. A magnificent four-story structure replaced it. Sunday masses were held at St Patrick’s School. The new church opened in December 1999. The first floor is a large carpark though often full. The second and third floors hold the church hall with a capacity of 3000. A beautiful 16-panel stained-glass window above the altar shows the Holy Family and scenes from Jesus’ life. The fourth floor has a kindergarten classrooms a choir room and a function room. The ground floor houses the Adoration Room and Our Lady’s Grotto. A columbarium is in the basement. The church’s roof is shaped like praying hands reaching toward heaven. The Fathers’ House and 3 Sea Avenue were demolished and rebuilt. The latter now serves as the church office. Even the Katong Catholic Book Centre relocated here.
Today the Church of the Holy Family continues its mission. Three priests serve its 8500 parishioners. It remains a vibrant center of faith a testament to enduring devotion and community. Its evolution reflects Katong’s growth a legacy built on faith generosity and unwavering service. The legacy of the Church of the Holy Family is more than bricks and mortar. It is a living tapestry woven with prayer hope and the enduring spirit of its faithful.