A FACE IN THE CROWD

When attending Mass or any liturgical celebration, it’s always good to get to know the members of our Catholic family who worship with us. There’s a sense of belonging in “putting a name to a face” and in sharing a bit of ourselves with one another. From time to time, the Editorial Team will give you an insight of one of our fellow parishioners.

There is a parishioner among us who represented Singapore in the Olympics, the Commonwealth, the Asian and South-East Asian Peninsula (SEAP) Games. His triple jump record of 15.12m stood for 33 years. In 1959, at the first SEAP Games in Bangkok, his attempt at the 400m hurdles won him a gold, making it the first time that the Singapore National Anthem was played and sung outside of Singapore. Do you know who this parishioner is?

He is none other than Patrick Tan Eng Yoon. He was a Raffles Institution (RI) student when World War II started. After the war, he completed his education at St Joseph’s Institution (SJI), which resulted in him becoming the first Catholic in his family. Patrick attributes his conversion and athletic ability to God working in his life and has made a conscious effort to use his talents for God’s glory.

From 1955 to 1958 he studied Physical Education at Loughborough College in England. Upon completion of his studies, he achieved two “firsts”: he was the first international student to top a graduatingc lass and, his thesis “Research into the Hop, Step and Jump” was quoted as reference by several top American and British coaches in their books on track and field.

Returning to Singapore, Patrick used his God-given talents to “give back to the sports community” by volunteering at the Singapore Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA) to coach the national athletes, gratis, seven days a week. Some went on to become winners at various international games. SAAA appointed him Honorary National Coach.

Over the past 40 years, Patrick has received various awards and honours including, PPA Bronze Medal – Singapore National Day Honours; induction into the Roll of Honour – Singapore Olympic Academy, and an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University of Technology.

Patrick and his wife, Evelyn, have been parishioners of Holy Spirit Church since 1969 and have fond memories of the old church and a close relationship with Fr Fossion, who had shared many a Christmas dinner at their home. They have three children and two grandsons. Inspired by Fr Andrew’s homilies, Patrick came forward and has served on the Parish Pastoral Committee (PPC) for three years. He celebrated his 80th birthday in January this year. We wish this octogenarian God’s blessings.