CHURCH OF IMMACULATE HERT OF MARY, SINGAPORE
Parish Priest
From Vietnam to Singapore via France. That is the route that brought the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s new parish priest Fr Paul Ngo Thanh Phong to our shores. Fr Paul, who took charge on Aug 1, 2020, has been in Singapore since 2007. He has served in the parishes of Holy Trinity (2007-2012), Christ the King (2014-2018) and Queen of Peace (2018-2020) as assistant parish priest. In between, from 2012, he spent two years in Taiwan learning Mandarin.
Fr Paul was born and raised in Binh Dinh, a coastal province in the south central part of Vietnam. As a young boy he served as an altar boy in his parish church and gradually found his calling. However, the government authorities allowed only 10 students every two year to join the seminary. As the young Paul waited in hope, the bishop of Nha Trang got him a scholarship in 1996 to do his seminary studies at the St. Jean-Marie Vianney Seminary in Ars, France. After six years of seminary studies he proceeded to study Biblical Theology in the Catholic Institute of Paris. A year before he completed his Masters degree at the Institute, in 2005, he was ordained a priest.
Due to government restrictions, Fr Paul could not return to Vietnam as a priest, since he was not ordained there. His desire, however, was to serve in Asia. He, therefore, joined the Paris Foreign Mission Society or MEP. He spent one year in Paris with the MEP to get to know the community better before he was posted to Singapore.
Fr Paul wants to build a Christ-centered, vibrant, evangelical and missionary community in IHM. He has a message to his parishioners: “I hope to get to know all of you better and to serve the community together with you, and to spread the love of God to everyone through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
email: [email protected]
Assistant Priest
Singaporean Fr Luke Fong was ordained in 2001 and served in the parishes of St Anne’s and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour before being posted to IHM in 2008. He had a successful two-year stint as assistant parish priest in the parish. It was during his time here that he started a blog titled Reflections and Ruminations in Aug 2009. The blog has seen more than 280 posts and is going strong.
In 2010, Fr Luke was transferred to Our Lady Star of the Sea parish and two years later, left for Washington to pursue a teaching degree in theology. He, however, fell ill and returned to Singapore to get treated. After receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant for leukaemia in 2013, Fr Luke gradually regained strength and was offered a posting in IHM as assistant priest in February 2015. He admits he is happy to be back among familiar faces. He says he wants to be sincere as a priest and give his best to encourage holiness among IHM parishioners.
Fr Luke was working in the hotel industry when he got his calling to become a priest. Besides writing, he likes to cook and indulge in complicated origami. Before his illness, he paid special attention to fitness and used to swim regularly and pound the streets clocking nearly 40km every week.
email: [email protected]
Assistant Priest
Father Joseph Kace (pronounced Kah-say) hails from Myanmar and was ordained in April 2009 in Hwarikhu village where he was born. His name “Kay-say” is in his native Hwari language and it means Joseph.
Growing up in Myanmar’s countryside, the young Joseph was tasked to cook
and clean for his large family, consisting of seven siblings. It was no easy task for a young boy who had to juggle school as well. But God, according to him, works in wondrous ways. He was given an opportunity to move to the city and stay in a minor seminary while studying in a government secondary school as long as he did well in his last primary school examinations. Armed with good grades and a desire to move to the city, he took it up and said goodbye to his hometown.
At a young age of 12, Father Joseph did not have a strong desire to be a priest. However, staying in the minor seminary allowed him to practice various spiritual exercises and follow a strick routine juggling between studying and spending time with God. It was then he realized that he was forming a strong spiritual connection, and knew that becoming a priest was his ultimate goal. After passing his secondary school, he moved on to the major seminary to pursue his desire to become a priest.
For recreation Fr Joseph enjoys fishing and loves sporting activities. He jogs at the Serangoon Stadium and is fond of table tennis and badminton and cycling. Also an avid singer, he loves to strum on his guitar and sing songs from 1970s and 1980s.
Fr Joseph has adapted well to Singaporean ways and has no issues with the local food. “I have an international stomach!” he quipped and adds that he is adventurous in his food options.
His specialization is in missionology and he strongly believes that as Christians, we should “make whatever good things you do as a mission of Christ.”
email: [email protected]
Our Priests
(Parish Priest)
Rev. Fr. Timothy Yeo has been a dedicated servant of the Church for over two decades, having been ordained as a priest in 1997.
Rev. Fr. Timothy Yeo is a dedicated and experienced priest, recently appointed as the Parish Priest at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as of November 5, 2024
His journey to the priesthood is particularly inspiring; he was born into a Taoist family and converted to Catholicism in 1988 after a transformative experience during World Youth Day in Spain. This pivotal moment ignited his calling to serve God and led him to seminary studies in Italy, where he spent ten years honing his theological knowledge and pastoral skills.
Since returning to Singapore, Fr. Timothy has served in various parishes. He was a Parish Priest at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace since 2015.
Under his leadership, the parish has flourished, becoming a vibrant community focused on missionary work and evangelization. He has spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the establishment of the House of Mary pastoral center, which aims to provide essential services for families and the elderly in the community.
Fr. Timothy's vision for the parish emphasizes fostering a Christ-centered community where all members are encouraged to engage actively in ministry and deepen their faith. His commitment to building strong relationships within the congregation reflects his belief that every parishioner plays a vital role in living out the message of Christ.
As he continues his mission, Rev. Fr. Timothy Yeo invites all parishioners to join him in this journey of faith, encouraging them to embrace opportunities for spiritual growth and community service. His dedication and passion for ministry serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who know him.
Email: [email protected]
(Assistant Parish Priest)
Fr Joseph Kace hails from Myanmar and was ordained in April 2009 in Hwarikhu village where he was born. His name “Kay-say” is in his native Hwari language and it means Joseph.
Growing up in Myanmar’s countryside, the young Joseph was tasked to cook
and clean for his large family, consisting of seven siblings. It was no easy task for a young boy who had to juggle school as well. But God, according to him, works in wondrous ways. He was given an opportunity to move to the city and stay in a minor seminary while studying in a government secondary school as long as he did well in his last primary school examinations. Armed with good grades and a desire to move to the city, he took it up and said goodbye to his hometown.
At a young age of 12, Father Joseph did not have a strong desire to be a priest. However, staying in the minor seminary allowed him to practice various spiritual exercises and follow a strick routine juggling between studying and spending time with God. It was then he realized that he was forming a strong spiritual connection, and knew that becoming a priest was his ultimate goal. After passing his secondary school, he moved on to the major seminary to pursue his desire to become a priest.
For recreation Fr Joseph enjoys fishing and loves sporting activities. He jogs at the Serangoon Stadium and is fond of table tennis and badminton and cycling. Also an avid singer, he loves to strum on his guitar and sing songs from 1970s and 1980s.
Fr Joseph has adapted well to Singaporean ways and has no issues with the local food. “I have an international stomach!” he quipped and adds that he is adventurous in his food options.
His specialization is in missionology and he strongly believes that as Christians, we should “make whatever good things you do as a mission of Christ.”
Email: [email protected]
(Priest in Residence)
Rev. Fr. John Sim is a dedicated and experienced priest, recently appointed as the Priest-in-Residence at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as of November 5, 2024.
With over three decades in pastoral ministry, he has significantly contributed to both church and community through various initiatives, including establishing free legal and medical clinics, as well as counseling services for the needy.
His commitment to serving others is evident not only in his professional life but also in his personal interactions, where he fosters fellowship and support among parishioners.
As he embarks on this new chapter at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fr. John Sim is poised to continue his mission of love and service within the community..
Email: [email protected]
