September 11, 2024
SINGAPORE – Around 50 people in the volunteer security team for Pope Francis’ visit have gone for martial arts training to prepare for the papal mass on Sept 12.
Should anyone suddenly get aggressive, these volunteers are taught defensive tactics to disengage and get the police to help.
Mr Kevin Ho, co-chairman of the security and safety sub-committee for the visit, said this forms just a small part of the team’s scenario-based training for the event.
Nearly 400 volunteers have been trained in first aid and basic firefighting, and underwent a security programme introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs to help them spot high-risk individuals and put them through enhanced checks.
The security team’s priority is crowd control, and it will engage the police only when necessary, said Mr Ho.
“We try to take the soft approach. This is a Christian event – it’s all about encountering Christ. We won’t really be harsh but want to use a humane way of dealing with people,” he said.
He added that the police will deal with external threats, while his team is more focused on its “bedside manner dealing with the faithful as they come along”.
Preparations for the mass were in full swing when members of the media were given a tour of the National Stadium on Sept 10.
Among other things, seats in the stands were tagged with the names of the 1,600-strong choir that will sing at the mass. The chorus, made up of five district choirs and 10 from schools, will be coming together for the first time on Sept 11 for its one and only full-dress rehearsal.
Music educator Angela Lim, 36, one of the choir’s three co-chairs, said: “The National Stadium is essentially an open space. We have not tried it with the sound system and everyone else yet, so tomorrow will be a surprise for all of us.
“But whatever it is, I think all of us have to unite to make this a special event for everyone, including those online who do not have a ticket to attend the event.”
Many of those involved in the preparations took time off work for training and rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the Pope’s visit, putting their professional skills to the test as volunteers.
Mr Ronnie Lim, who is in charge of the stadium as part of the organising committee, said he first learnt about the opportunity in December.
Said the full-time events planner of the gruelling schedule: “When you start, everybody’s excited, everybody’s relaxed. But for the last two weeks, it’s been like 15-hour days, we finish at about 2am or 3am, and we get up at nine o’clock and start all over again.”
Dance choreographer Stephanie Lee, 28, said her team of dancers started rehearsals in mid-July with three-hour sessions every week.
Time was tight for the team, most of whom have no prior dance experience.
Ms Lee, who works as a dance instructor, said: “The majority of my team are working adults, so having them carve out their weekends, their weeknights, was a sacrifice that everybody had to make. But it was a joy that people were willing to give their time to serve and to be part of something much bigger than ourselves.”
ather Simon Ho, who has been tasked with planning the liturgy for the papal mass, said: “I‘m overwhelmed because it’s the first time I’m helping to plan a liturgy for 50,000 people, and also because it’s the Holy Father coming – he is a symbol of unity for the entire Church.”
A liturgy refers to a set of rules for performing a religious ceremony.
“I pray that through our liturgical celebrations, the many people who are working together with all the talents and gifts, that this will come through and people will be energised to bring the good news of salvation to their neighbours, their colleagues, their families, their friends.”
Mr Lim said: “I think the planning has been done. All we do now is to pray hard that it will come together.”