Nicholas Chia, a ‘people’s priest’ and Singapore’s first native-born archbishop, dies
Leader of the local Church from 2001 to 2013, he is being remembered for his spirituality and interfaith dialogue. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called him a “devoted shepherd and steadfast pillar of the Catholic community”. For the imam of the Ba'alwie Mosque, he was “a keen supporter of such inter-faith discourse”. Tomorrow a requiem Mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, followed by cremation.
Singapore (AsiaNews) – Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia of Singapore passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86. Known as the “people’s priest”, he chose “Omnia omnibus", or "all things to all men" as the motto for his episcopal office.
He was the first native-born Singaporean to serve as archbishop of Singapore (2001-2013), an office now held by Card William Seng Chye Goh. Pope Francis visited the city-state last September.
“As shepherd of the flock, he stressed the importance of spirituality for Catholics – both clergy and laity – to combat the challenges to moral values posed by secularism and materialism in society,” reads a statement by the Archdiocese of Singapore.
On Wednesday, Card Goh announced on social media that Archbishop Chia "passed away peacefully" at the St Theresa’s Home (which Pope Francis visited during his Singapore trip).
The memorial service for the prelate will be held tomorrow at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, followed by cremation at the Mandai Crematorium.
Nicholas Chia was born on 8 April 1938 in Singapore into a devout Catholic family. He studied at Holy Innocents' English School and sang in the choir of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Ordained a priest in 1964, he was parish priest, teacher, and finally archbishop from 2001 to 2013 until he retired at the age of 75, having reached the age limit.
“To help the laity grow in spirituality, he opened the Catholic Spirituality Centre in Hougang in 2004. He also worked tirelessly on the promotion of priestly vocations,” reads the message posted by the Archdiocese on its website. “He also set up the Professional Standards Office (PSO) in 2011 to guide the professionalism of clergy and Church workers, including volunteers, especially those dealing with children.”
Following the prelate’s passing, many people have expressed gratitude to Chia for his ministry, starting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong who described the archbishop as “A devoted shepherd and steadfast pillar of the Catholic community, his unwavering faith, humility, and compassion enriched many lives.”
Minister Lee Hsien Loong recalled shared moments, talking and working together. “More than once, we had to deal with delicate matters that concerned racial and religious harmony,” Lee writes in a post online. “On these occasions, I always found him clear and steady, understanding fully the issues and the stakes, exercising firm leadership as he worked with the government to resolve the problem.”
Lee praised the archbishop’s efforts at promoting interfaith dialogue. “Singapore has lost one of her illustrious Catholic sons. He will be deeply missed,” the minister wrote. He is not alone.
Syed Hassan Bin Syed Mohamed Al-Attas, imam and head of the Ba'alwie Mosque was one of the people who shared memories of Archbishop Chia's ministry on the archdiocese's website, stressing his commitment to interfaith dialogue.
“The harmony we have garnered between various communities in Singapore has been made possible by the continuous commitment from religious and community leaders to enhance understanding between all groups,” the imam wrote. “Emeritus Archbishop Chia had been a keen supporter of such inter-faith discourse and we deeply appreciated the close rapport we developed through the years.”
For Tan Thiam Lye, president of the Taoist Federation (Singapore), “His legacy of kindness, wisdom, and collaboration will continue to guide and inspire those who strive to build a more harmonious society. We believe that a life lived in service to others leaves an enduring legacy”.
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05/10/2023 14:08
