ABOUT COTT
The Church of the Transfiguration (COTT) is the latest Catholic Church to be built in Singapore and is led by Rev Fr Joachim Chang as parish priest.
Situated in Punggol district, the new church will serve an estimate 15,000 Catholics and is expected to be one of the largest parishes in Singapore.
The Church of the Transfiguration celebrated its first ever mass on Maundy Thursday, 13 April 2017
and we would like to thank all those who had contributed and volunteered selflessly in the church building effort.
The Church building may be ready but we are still in midst of raising the $60 million building fund. Please continue to support our cause. Thank you.
You may also follow us on Facebook and be part of our church community.
OUR MISSION
To build a church that is relevant to its time, after the heart of God.
OUR VISION
Our church will be a spiritual sanctuary, a place of prayer, reflection and inspiration for those seeking God.
It will also be a center for community life among the elderly, families and youth, not just for Catholics but also residents living in Punggol.
These are all in line with Archbishop William Goh’s vision for a more evangelizing and missionary church.
NAME OF THE CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
The transfiguration event commemorates one of Jesus’ earthly life miracles, when he revealed his divinity to three of his closest disciples by means of a miraculous and supernatural light. These disciples recalled that the voice of God was heard, confirming Jesus as his son and we are to listen to HIM (Mark 9:7). The transfiguration does not change who Jesus is, but reveals that he is the Son of God and the prophesized Messiah.
The church is named after this miraculous event to remind us all to listen to Jesus in everything we do.
Only then can we begin to reverse the chaos and disorder that is present in our lives.
EMBLEM OF THE CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
Meaning of Elements
The Transfigured Christ
The transfigured Christ is the centrepiece
of the logo. His face shines like the sun and
His clothes are dazzling white. He looks up towards Heaven as He listens to the Father say,
‘This is My Beloved Son’.
The Mountain
The mountain forms the backdrop
as narrated in the Transfiguration scene.
The jutting rocks resemble building blocks,
symbolising the people and the neighbourhood
where the church is located.
The Sash
The sash blends with the mountain
while filtering it into hues of red.
It symbolises the presence of God among
His people and the transforming power of the
Holy Spirit in the life of the parish.
The transfiguration event commemorates one of Jesus’ miracles when he reveals His divinity to three of His closest disciples; Peter, James and John,
by means of a miraculous and supernatural light. The disciples hear the voice of God, confirming Jesus as his son and telling all to listen to him (Mark 9:7).
The transfiguration does not transform Jesus but rather reveals him as the Son of God and the prophesied Messiah.
The Catholic Church is rich in tradition and history since its birth at the very first Pentecost more than 2000 years ago.
Many saints and martyrs have given witnessed to the gospel and sacrificed their lives since then. A relic is a piece of the body of a saint,
an item owned or used by the saint, or an object which has been touched to the tomb of a saint.
The Church considers sacred relics to be important and significant in the life of the Church.
The veneration of sacred relics started as early as 155 A.D and is a profession of belief in several doctrines of the Catholic faith including the truth
of everlasting life for those who have lived and died for Christ, and our communion with the saints as members of the Church.
The Church of the Transfiguration in Singapore has two direct connections to the actual episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus
in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
RELIC OF ST PETER
The first is the sacred relic of St Peter who was one of the three disciples who witnessed the Transfiguration scene.
It was the same Peter who later became the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
This first-class relic, believed to be a bone fragment of St Peter, was obtained from the Holy See of the Basilica of St Peter in Rome.
This was discovered in the 1950s and displayed publicly at the Vatican for the first time in 2012.
THE TRANSFIGURATION STONE
The scene of the transfiguration is on Mount Tabor, a hill above the Jezreel Valley in lower Galilee. Early Christians used to go up this mountain to worship.
During his official visit to the Holy Land, Father Joachim acquired 4 stones from the original Church of the Transfiguration that was built on Mount Tabor.
One of these stones is embedded in the basement of COTT exactly below the altar of the church. The other three stones are on display at….
These are two unique features that connect COTT to the original Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
MARCH 2013
The Archdiocese of Singapore successfully tenders for a 2,999m2 parcel of land in Punggol new town to build a new church.
The tender price is $22 million for a term of 30 years.
That same month, Emeritus Archbishop Nicholas Chia, the preceding Archbishop, approaches Father Joachim Chang to begin the task of building a new church in Punggol.
Father Joachim immediately sets out to form a Church Building Committee.
JULY 2013
The Senate of Priests votes in favor of the name ‘The Church of the Transfiguration’.
5 JUNE 2013
The Building Committee presents to His Grace, Archbishop William Goh and the Archdiocesan Finance Committee, recommending to appoint RSP Architects Planners & Engineers Pte Ltd for the project. This is approved and the planning work moved quickly. The church is estimated to cost $60 million including land rental cost.
MAY 2014
Monthly Holy Hour sessions are held at Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace to pray for the new church.
6 AUGUST 2014
The ground-breaking ceremony was conducted by His Grace Archbishop William Goh on 6th August 2014, attended by priests and well-wishers.
Construction work commenced on 13 February 2015.
MARCH 2015
A Steering Committee is formed to coordinate administrative, financial, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and coordination, communications and pastoral formation activities.
6 AUGUST 2015
The Chancery announces the appointment of Father Joachim as Parish Priest of COTT, the feast day of the Transfiguration.
SEPTEMBER 2015
Fundraising activities like Walkathon, Gala Dinner, Golf Tournament, Movie Night etc., as well as weekly parish visits are organized to create awareness and raise funds for COTT.
20 MARCH 2016
COTT started its first monthly off-site mass on Palm Sunday.
The Church is expected to be ready by the 1st quarter of 2017 when the first official mass will be celebrated on Holy Thursday, 13 April 2017,
followed by the Triduum leading up to Easter Sunday.
Rev Fr Alphonsus
Parish Priest
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Rev Fr Antony
Assistant Parish Priest
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Rev Fr Albert
Assistant Parish Priest
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