Parishioners told The Straits Times on Nov 10 that they were still in shock over the attack that had occurred at their church.

Rosalin Kolandasamy, 69, said she learned about the stabbing just minutes after it happened from a friend who was at the Nov. 9 mass.

The retiree, who has attended St. Joseph’s Church for three decades, said Rev. Lee had always wanted to unite parishioners.

For example, the priest rented a bus for about 20 passengers that went from the church in Bukit Timah to a recent walk in Bishan organized by Caritas Singapore, the social services arm of the Catholic Church.

Rosalin said she was not aware of any other churches doing the same. “He said he wanted everyone to come as a family to this church,” he added while wishing Rev. Lee a speedy recovery.

Software engineer José Nidhin, 40, said his family used to attend mass on Saturday nights, but had not done so on November 9 because they had been at church in the morning for his son’s first reconciliation. , also known as confession.

“Since it was a children’s mass, my son would have been at the front,” Nidhin said. “Doing something like that in front of children is pretty bad.”

The suspect will be charged in court on November 11 with the offense of voluntarily causing serious injury with a dangerous weapon, police added.

If convicted, the crime, under Article 326 of the Penal Code of 1871, carries a penalty of life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term which may extend to 15 years. The offender will also be liable to whipping and/or fine.