Our History

The Parish of St Ignatius is located in the west district of the Singapore Archdiocese. It consists of about 4200 people.

If you are new to our parish, please introduce yourself to one of the priests who will be happy to meet and welcome you.

Our origin

In late 1957, the Archbishop requested the Jesuits to build and run a parish church in the West district of Singapore.

The area around Kingsmead Hall was then a kampong dotted with huts, coconut trees and chickens. For ease of administration, the Jesuits decided that the church be built on its present site, close to Kingsmead Hall.

Fr Tim Doody was sent from Hong Kong to raise the necessary funds. Fr Kevin O'Dwyer was the clerk-of-works and he was responsible for fitting out the church. When it was opened in February 1961, he was appointed temporary parish priest, a position he eventually held till September 1974.

The church has been self supporting since its opening. When there was a need for a parish hall and catechetical centre, parishioners were able to raise enough funds to build these facilities which were completed in July 1973 on the site of an old football field used by the students lodging at Kingsmead Hall.

The new parish hall extension, which houses the Sacred Heart Hall was opened for classes, meetings and Sunday canteen in 1990. In that same year, the sanctuary in the church was re-constructed.

The parish of St Ignatius is a territorial one, roughly oval in shape, about 61/2km long and 3km wide.

The church started in 1961 with two Sunday masses weekly. Today it serves about 4200 Catholics attending seven weekend masses every week with the expatriate and Filipino communities increasing significantly in recent years.

Our Mission Statement

A parish community is one that has a Christ focus with members that know one another. All are invited to use their God given gifts or some of their time to help in the growth of the church community.

We are invited, at all levels, as children, teenagers, young adults, parents, couples and the elderly to answer God's calling to build His Kingdom, each in his or her own little way.

There are countless avenues to contribute to the growth of the community. We are invited to break away from narrow involvement, and come forth to be part of an even more vibrant parish.

Views of the newly rebuild church opened on

Feb 12, 2004