History of the
Church of St. Vincent de Paul

Before World War 2, a small community of Catholics, mostly of Indian origin, settled in Jalan Kayu and worked as labourers. Priests from the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes were detailed to administer to their spiritual needs and mass was celebrated at the small wooden chapel of the Holy Rosary provided by the British authorities within the base. One of the first priests, who attended to the needs of the Catholics of Jalan Kayu, for so many years even through the Japanese Occupation, was the late Archbishop, Mgr. M. Olcomendy.  

In 1959, Jalan Kayu and Seletar were brought under the charge of the newly established Parish of the St Francis Xavier of Serangoon Gardens Estate. This was prompted by an increase in the number of English-speaking Catholics in the area, brought about by the development and construction along Yio Chu Kang Road. Rev. Fr. Henri Saussard who had just been posted to the Parish of St Francis Xavier was asked by the Archbishop to take charge of the Indian community in Jalan Kayu.

Appalled by the living conditions of the people, Rev. Fr. Saussard and his team of parishioners, decided to bring relief to the people and they were joined by the Catholics already living in Jalan Kayu. A 1960 census revealed that some 750 Catholics living near Jalan Kayu were too poor to afford transport or send children to school. This meant that they had no opportunity to fulfil their religious obligations, nor were their children in receipt of religious instruction.  

A very generous resident, Mr. J.S. Gomez, came forward and offered his own home at Lorong Tangam, off Jalan Kayu. His house served a base for masses, tuition and catechism classes and for the distribution of food to those in need. Concerned Catholics then came together under the leadership of Mr. J.V. Paulo to raise funds for the construction of a proper church through food and funfairs and donation draws.  

Funds were then diverted to the purchase of a newly constructed shophouse along Jalan Kayu. It housed a chapel, centre for all welfare activities, priest’s quarters, meeting rooms and a library. Being too small with improper ventilation, it was dark, dingy and hot. Many understandably chose to stay away from the ‘catacombs’.

Its Origin and Early Growth
1960-1969

The Parish of St. Vincent de Paul was inaugurated on 1October 1963. But there was no elegant church building to go with it- a rather unusual arrangement. Until then, it was an adjunct of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier. Its Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Henri Saussard, was assigned charge over the area of Jalan Kayu and its surroundings.

Operating from a portion of the private home of Mr Gomez, along Lorong Tangam, he entertained a larger vision of the needs of the people. Constrained by space, he set about raising funds for a proper church building. Unable to locate a suitable site, the funds raised were diverted to the purchase of a two-storey shop house, accompanied by a basement, along Jalan Kayu. While the dungeon-like basement served as the house of worship, the upper floors quartered the priest and dispensed a whole variety of community services, social activities, educational assistance and spiritual formation. It shone like a beacon radiating a mighty Christian conscience. The fundamentals of a Catholic parish evolved. It is in these circumstances that the Parish of St. Vincent de Paul appeared, taking after the tradition of the Saint. While the activities multiplied and expanded and provision for of those who came for help increased, the cost of maintaining the Catholic Centre rose correspondingly. Not willing to abandon the Centre, Father Saussard offered it to the Catholic Welfare Services. Accordingly, in 1966, it changed hands. The activities continued until a new church building rose to meet the needs of an expanding Catholic population.  

Meanwhile, fund-raising, in the hope of finding a suitable site some day for a church building continued. In 1966, such a site was finally found, that upon which the church presently stands. It was a low-lying area and had been used as a dumping ground for felled coconut trees. After a tough battle with the Bukit Sembawang Group, Fr. Saussard secured their agreement to sell, but it was time for him to take a break and go home to France on leave.  

Rev. Fr. Jean Jacques Marius Troquier was sent to fill in for him from May 1966. On Fr. Saussard's return from France in March 1967, plans were once again revived for the construction of a church building. In January 1968, the transfer of the land from the Bukit Sembawang Group to the Archbishop was finalised. A year later, plans for the building were approved, the total cost of construction being $335,000. In November of 1969, construction began and by November of the next year the work was completed. On 21 November 1970, the Archbishop blessed and declared open the building.