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The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, also known as OLPS Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Singapore. It is located at Siglap Hill, Singapore, within the Siglap housing estate. It is a short walk from the Kembangan MRT Station and a few bus stops away from the Bedok HDB estate.

Mission Statement
We, the community of OLPS, strive to follow Christ and be His witnesses, reaching out to all through love and service.

History
It took almost seven years from conception to planning before OLPS Church was built in 1961. The idea to build a church beyond the Katong area was first given serious consideration in 1954. It was then felt that the Church of the Holy Family, Singapore could not accommodate the growing number of worshippers living in Katong and the then rural Siglap where more people were making their homes.

In 1955, Fr. Rene Ashness, Holy Family's parish priest launched the project by appealing for donations to have a church built in the Siglap area. Fr. Paul Munier, who became Holy Family's parish priest in 1957, continued with the appeal for donations. The members of the Church Building Committee went from house to house during their spare time to seek donations. They collected a sum adequate to buy 53,300 sq. feet of land at progress payments. The final cost for the building and professional fees was S$283,391.78.

The OLPS Church was blessed and declared open for worship on 7 October 1961 by His Grace, the late Msgr Michael Olcomendy, Archbishop of the then Malacca-Singapore Archdiocese. The ensuing years saw not only a tremendous increase in the parish population to some 8,500 worshippers, but also a growing number of children in need of catechism and kindergarten education. There was thus an urgent and pressing need for more classrooms as well as amenities to cater to the pastoral needs of the parishioners as well as residents in the East Coast district.

Thus in 1993, plans were made to build a three-and-a-half storey extension to the church, housing additional classrooms, AVA rooms, a library and a small auditorium. Fr. John Lee, the parish priest, undertook this project and formed two committees, namely, the Building Extension Committee and the Building Extension Finance Committee, which were subsequently merged to become the Building Extension and Finance Committee, to monitor the technical aspects of the extension and to source funds.

For almost two years, Fr. John Lee held meetings and discussions with the authorities, the architect, engineers and other professionals before calling for tenders. A giant drill was set in motion for the first pile to be sunk on 13 May 1996 and work, progressed steadily and uninterrupted except for short periods of bad weather. By the end of 1996, the super structure was completed and the new extension was ready for use in August 1997. A time capsule was installed at the foyer of the annex building; it houses memorabilia pertaining to the church and will be opened in 2061 when the church celebrates its centenary.

Having completed the church's annex building, the next task on hand was the renovation of the church building and the presbytery. After much deliberation and cost study, it was decided that to reconstruct the presbytery was more cost-effective than to renovate it and moreover would offer better space usage. The old priests' house was demolished in November 1998 and actual construction commenced on 15 January 1999. It took almost a year to complete and the priests were able to move into the new presbytery on 23 December 1999. It was officially blessed by His Grace, Archbishop Gregory Yong on 22 January 2000. The presbytery also houses an Adoration Room, aptly named "The Sanctuary" and this was opened to parishioners on 2 February 2000 on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Tenders for renovation of the church building were called in August 1999 and renovation works started in December 1999, finally completing in 2001.

The church is now air-conditioned, yielding seating space of 1,600. The space on the ground floor has also expanded to provide better facilities and a new kitchen is built to serve the church, together with meeting rooms and a store-room for the SVDP Conference. A columbarium for 2500 niches is an added feature of the church.

Origins of the Name
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is the Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary as represented in a Byzantine icon from the 15th Century. The icon has been in Rome since 1499, and is permanently enshrined in the church of Sant'Alfonso di Liguori.

In the image, Mother Mary wears a dress of dark red that represents the Passion of Jesus, a blue mantle that represents her virginity, and a cloaked veil, which represents her pure modesty. She is looking towards the faithful, while pointing at her son, Jesus Christ, who seems frightened by the instruments of crucifixion while a sandal slips off his foot.

The angel on the left is St Michael, who carries the lance and sponge of the crucifixion of Jesus while on the right is St Gabriel, depicted as carrying nails and a 3-bar cross used by Popes at the time. The Virgin Mary has a star on her forehead, signifying her role as Star of the Sea while the cross on the side has been claimed as referring to the school which produced the icon.

In the painting, Mary's veil and her face itself are rounded, to indicate her holiness, as a halo was not commonly painted around the head in those days. The artist also deliberately made the size of the mother disproportionate to that of her son to emphasise the significance of Mary in the icon.

The Greek inscriptions read MP-ΘΥ (Μήτηρ Θεοῦ, Mother of God), OAM (Ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ, Michael the Archangel), OAΓ (Ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ, Gabriel the Archangel) and IC-XC (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Jesus Christ), respectively.

Feast Day
The feast day of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is on 27 June and the church celebrates its feast day on the following Sunday (or on 27 June if falls on a Sunday).

"The Parish Feast Day is akin to the birthday of the church and the community. Just as we celebrate birthdays in a joyful way, our church of OLPS is celebrating its 51st year of existence in Singapore."

Triduum

 * A triduum is celebrated on the preceding Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
 * The Feast Day Mass is celebrated on Sunday at 6.00pm followed by a procession around the church compound. The Icon is then blessed and crowned.

Past Feast Days
Each year, a different theme is given for the feast day which helps the congregation focus on different aspects of their faith.
 * 2011 - One Church + One Family (Golden Jubilee Celebration)
 * 2012 - Neighbourhood Christian Communities
 * 2013 - In Rock We Stand, On Faith We Come
 * 2014 - Christ, Our Light
 * 2015 - A People of Communion in Mission

Parish Pastoral Council
"In every parish in the diocese, a Pastoral Council shall be established, if the diocesan Bishop, after consulting with the Council of Presbyters, so decides."

Purpose and Recommended Structure
The Parish Pastoral Council’s (PPC) purpose is the
 * promotion of active participation and co-responsibility of the faithful in parish life
 * collaboration of the faithful with the Parish Priest to ponder and investigate pastoral concerns and to formulate practical conclusions
 * promotion of the mission of Christ to ensure that the life and activity of parishioners are brought into greater conformity with the Gospel

The church has a PPC that comprises members of the laity together with the parish priests and staff.

Adoration Of The Blessed Sacrament
Opens daily. 7.00 am to 12.00 Midnight

Changing of Host Mass: Every First Friday of the Month at 10.00 pm

Venue: Adoration Room (Below Priests’ Office)

Rosary Recitation
Monday to Wednesday; Thursday (Intentions for Priests) at 5.15 pm before the 6pm Weekday Mass.

Divine Mercy Devotion
Every Friday after morning Mass at Grotto; also at Church at 5.15 pm before evening Mass

Children’s Eucharistic Adoration
Last Friday of the Month

Time: 8.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Venue: Adoration Room (Below Priests’ Office)

Children's Rosary Devotion
Second Friday of the Month

Time: 8.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Venue: St Peter and Paul Room (Level 2)

Infant Baptism
The church conducts infant baptism once a month, except during Lent.

Holy Matrimony
Arrangements for weddings at the church must be made at least six months before the date.

Mass Offerings
Mass Offering envelopes are available at the racks outside the secretariat office. To ensure that intentions are offered on the date and time specified, envelopes are to be submitted at least one week in advance of the intended date.

Carpark

 * Time: 5.30am - 12.30am daily (Autogate closes at 12.30am)


 * St Stephen’s School compound is open for parishioners as an alternative carpark when the church's carpark is full.
 * Saturday - 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm
 * Sunday - 8.00 am to 2.00 pm

Wheelchair Access
There are ramps available at various entrances situated:
 * From the lower carpark to the foyer (on the left)
 * At the third floor on the lift landing.
 * At the Church hall entrance facing Changi Road (on the left)
 * The right entrance outside the Parish Hall (canteen)
 * Link Bridge: leading from Changi Road to the side entrance of church

There is a lift from the foyer with access to the following levels:
 * Level 2 (classrooms/meeting rooms/music rooms)
 * Level 3 (classrooms/meeting rooms/Church hall)
 * Level 4 (Verbist Hall)

Adoration Room
Opens daily: 7.00am - Midnight

Changing of Host Mass Every First Friday of the Month at 10.00pm

Columbarium
Location: On the left of Parish Hall (canteen)

Opening Hours: Daily from 7.00am - 7.00pm (including Public Holidays)

St. Jerome Library
Location: On the right side of Parish Hall (canteen)

Opening Hours: Saturday from 3.00pm - 6.00 pm; Sunday from 9.00am - 12.30pm

''Latest Notice: Jerome Library will make way for the Youth Room. Jerome Library will be downsized, it will occupy the former Youth Band Room.''

Booking of rooms and halls
All bookings must be done through the Parish Secretariat by email or telephone.

The Parish Secretariat must also be informed of any cancellations.


 * Tel: 6241 9565


 * Email: [mailto:secretariat@olps.sg secretariat@olps.sg]

By car
The recommended route is to drive west along Changi Road, turn left into Siglap View and left again onto Siglap Hill. The church will be on the left. During peak periods, exiting cars are advised to either turn left to drive up Siglap Hill, or proceed straight down Siglap Terrace.

By taxi
Inform the driver of the address of the church: 31 Siglap Hill. Some drivers might also be familiar with the name of the church.

By bus
There are two bus stops that serve the church

Bus stop 83099
This bus-stop is on Changi Road, on the same side of the road as the church.
 * Buses stopping here are: 2, 7, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 42, 67, 854

Bus stop 83081
This bus stop is on Sims Avenue East, on the opposite side of the road from the church. There are two sets of pedestrian crossings for safe access to the church.
 * Buses stopping here are: 2, 7, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 42, 67, 854

By MRT
There are two MRT stations nearby. These are Bedok MRT Station and Kembangan MRT Station.

Bedok MRT Station
Bedok MRT Station is EW5 on the East West Line
 * Take any of these buses from the bus stop opposite Bedok Mall: 2, 24, 28, 67.
 * Alight at the third stop (83099) which is in front of the church - refer to bus stop 83099.

Kembangan MRT Station
Kembangan MRT Station is EW6 on the East West Line
 * Take any of these buses from the bus stop outside the station: 2, 7, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 33, 67, 854.
 * Alight at the second stop (83081) which is across the road from the church - refer to bus stop 83081.
 * Alternatively the church is a ten minute walk up the slope on Sims Avenue East.

Address
31, Siglap Hill, Singapore 456085. (See map)

Phone Numbers

 * Phone: 6241 9565
 * Fax: 6241 5874

Email
For general inquiries or requests, please contact the Parish Secretariat at [mailto:secretariat@olps.sg secretariat@olps.sg].