Michel Olçomendy,
M.E.P. (29 August 1901 – 4 July 1977) was the first
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
of
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, installed on 18 December 1972 until his retirement in 1976. Previously, he served as the Bishop of Malacca and Singapore.
Biography
Early years
Born in
Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry
Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry (; eu, Baigorri)[BAIGORRI]
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, he
ordained
Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform va ...
as a priest on 29 May 1926 at the age of 24, and became a clergyman of the
La Société des Missions Etrangères
The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (french: Société des Missions Etrangères de Paris, short M.E.P.) is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious institute, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons ...
.
Bishop of Malacca
On 21 January 1947, Olçomendy was officially installed as
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
of
Malacca
Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site si ...
and
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
at the
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore, built in 1847. It is located in the Museum Planning Area within the Civic District.
Bounded by the parallel Queen and Victoria Streets, and Bras Basah Road, t ...
, serving in the position until he was appointed
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
of
Malacca
Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site si ...
on 19 September 1953, at the age of 52.
Archbishop of Malacca-Singapore
He took office as Metropolitan Archbishop of Malacca-Singapore on 25 February 1955, and as President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in 1964. Olçomendy remained as President until 1969.
Olçomendy took on the new office as the Archbishop of Singapore on 18 December 1972, until retiring in 1976. Olçomendy died a year later on 4 July 1977.
External links
Archdiocese of SingaporeHistorical profile at catholic.sgInterventions at Vatican 2 Council for Ad Gentes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olcomendy, Michel
1901 births
1977 deaths
Participants in the Second Vatican Council
20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Singapore
Paris Foreign Missions Society bishops
Roman Catholic archbishops of Singapore