Church of St. Alphonsus AKA Novena Church
The Church of St. Alphonsus, also known as Novena Church was built after World War Two in 1950. It was built in dedication to Saint Alphonsus Maria De Liguori of Italy. This church is run by the Redemptionists who conducted novenas in the church. Novenas are a mission given by Pope Pious IX to the Redemptiorist fathers to make Our Lady of Perpetual Succour known in other parts of the world. Even roads, buildings and MRT station borrows it’s name from the church itself.
The bell tower. Next to it is the St. Clement Pastoral Centre
The building next to the church was the St. Clement Pastoral Centre. Previously, it was an old Administrative Building. The Pastoral Centre was blessed and opened on the occasion of the Tercentenary of the birth of St. Alphonsus De Liguori. Basically, both buildings have their relationship with St. Alphonsus.
What's Interesting?
This church dwells in exorcism which got them involve in a court case in 2007 and was reported in the news. It was about a lady suing 2 priests and volunteers for assaults and battery when she undergoes a prayer session which her family members suspected her to be possessed. In the end, the court dismisses the case after 2 years of trial.
Another point to note, mostly were Indians and Filipinos who flocked to this church for prayers. There is also a novena conducted for Filipinos on top of the usual English and Mandarin version.
