Cardinal William Goh has emphasized that lifelong formation and building communities of faith will be the pastoral priorities of the Catholic Church in Singapore over the next few years, describing them as essential “prerequisites for mission.”
“Without communities and formation, we cannot talk about mission,” said the Cardinal during the conclusion of the Singapore Archdiocesan Assembly 2025 in March, Catholic News SG reported.
“Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. With faith communities, we know we will be supported and can overcome more trials,” he added.
The assembly, held at Saint Joseph’s Institution Sports Hall, gathered around 700 priests, religious, and lay delegates from the archdiocese’s 32 parishes, mission schools, church organizations, and ministries.
Delegates gave near-unanimous support to five pastoral priorities proposed by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC):
- Lifelong formation of clergy and laity for evangelization and mission;
- Building communities of faith, at the parish and across, for and including different groups;
- Enhancing differentiated co-responsibility of clergy and laity;
- Building unity in diversity across all levels;
- Embracing synodality as a way of being Church.
Cardinal Goh, who also serves as president of the APC, said the Church’s mission “to build a vibrant, evangelizing and missionary Church” was affirmed by the survey results and the positive sharing of delegates.
“Organizations and parishes were no longer parochial-minded, looking beyond themselves to share the faith with one another and the world,” he said.
The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, formed in 2023, facilitates dialogue among priests, religious, and laity to shape the archdiocese’s pastoral vision.
Its co-chair, Mr. Kwek Mean Luck, said the assembly was the culmination of two years of ‘encounter and conversation’ sessions, involving more than 1,000 Catholics from 120 parishes, organizations, and communities.
Looking ahead, Cardinal Goh said the archdiocese will convene the Archdiocesan Assembly every two to three years.
In the interim, a Curia—consisting of offices and commissions assisting the Archbishop—will work with the APC to implement pastoral priorities and study proposals and feedback. Details of who will form the Curia are expected to be confirmed later.
The Cardinal added that future assemblies will include two components: an evaluation of the current priorities and a discussion on advancing other pressing issues for the Church.
In response to feedback calling for more regular gatherings across parishes and communities, the APC will consider hosting a conference in alternate years between assemblies.
“This will help our archdiocesan community come together more often and strengthen our shared understanding of being one Church – many delegates at the Assembly hope for this,” said Father Adrian Danker, APC co-chair.
Cardinal Goh affirmed that the remaining three priorities—co-responsibility, unity in diversity, and synodality—remain essential. “In the course of lifelong formation and building communities of faith, we must continue to practice differentiated co-responsibility, and in so doing, work towards unity and diversity,” he said.
Summing up the assembly, the Cardinal stressed the importance of synodality in the life of the Church. “Synodality undergirds everything,” he said. “Otherwise, we will not be in communion and we will not be a participative Church. Behind all we do, we need to listen in the Spirit and discern together.”
According to APC feedback, a majority of delegates also identified building strong families centered on Christ and lifelong formation as high priorities for the archdiocese in the coming years.
