From Brittany to Singapore: The Missionary Journey of Fr Dominique Demé, MEP

Introduction

What would make someone leave behind home, family, and familiarity — travelling halfway across the world to serve in a place they barely know?

For priests of the Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP), this has been their calling for centuries.

I have long felt that the remarkable contributions of MEP priests to Singapore deserve to be shared more widely. When I reached out to a few of them, Fr Dominique Demé kindly agreed to share his journey with me.

Fr Dominique with the Montfort School’s coffeetable book commemorating its centenary in 2016

Through this conversation, I came to better understand not only his personal journey, but also the enduring legacy of MEP in Singapore — one built on faith, sacrifice, and a willingness to go wherever the mission calls.

A Brief History of MEP in Singapore

The Missions Étrangères de Paris was founded in 1658, when a group of French priests responded to the Pope’s call to bring the Catholic faith to Asia. Since then, more than 4,000 MEP priests have served across the region.

Long before modern Singapore was founded in 1819, the island was little more than a quiet outpost. When **Fr Laurent Imbert MEP** arrived in 1821, he found just a small community of about 12 Catholics.

Relics of Fr Laurent Imbert in Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul

The Catholic presence gradually took root.

• In 1833, the first chapel — today’s **Cathedral of the Good Shepherd **— was built along Bras Basah Road.
• In 1839, **Fr Jean‑Marie Beurel MEP** arrived, ushering in a new phase of missionary growth.

From these humble beginnings, MEP priests went on to establish many of Singapore’s churches and schools.

As a Montfortian myself, this history feels especially personal. Montfort School, though later entrusted to the Montfort Brothers, was originally founded in 1916 by MEP priests of Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The school grew steadily under priests such as Fr Henri Duvelle MEP and **Fr Édouard Bécheras MEP** — until they could not sustainably manage it. In 1936, the Diocese invited the Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel to take over the school.

Feature of Fr Édouard Bécheras in Montfort coffeetable book

The Journey Begins in Brittany

Fr Dominique’s story begins far from Singapore. More precisely in the region of Brittany in north-western France, not far from Mont-Saint-Michel.

Unlike what I had initially assumed, his path to the priesthood was not a straight one.

While studying at the University of Rennes, his vocation was still uncertain. Though one of his elder brothers had already entered the priesthood, Fr Dominique took a different route after graduation — beginning a career in the French army.

During this time, an unexpected moment quietly planted a seed.

He had a close friend from China, and on one occasion, they met near the MEP house on Rue du Bac in Paris. His friend made a remark that seemed casual at the time, but would later prove prophetic:

“This place is for you.”

A Calling Takes Shape

Fr Dominique went on to teach military economics at a military academy in Brittany. Yet even amid military life, his faith remained central, as he would often pray in the academy chapel.

A smart-looking Captain Dominique Demé in 2005 !

A turning point came after the death of Mother Teresa.

He travelled to Calcutta (Kolkata) with a chaplain and a group of cadets, where he spent two weeks volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity.

The experience was deeply humbling.

It left him with a question that lingered long after he returned:

“How could I do more?”

Yet the timing was not right. Bound by his military service, he remained in the army, accepting that perhaps the calling had not yet come.

Photo taken at a parish church (Église Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine de Rennes) in Rennes in 2006. While still with the army, Fr Dominique volunteered with a Catholic association (A Bras Ouverts) when he would accompany children with special needs to mass and took them for outings.

When the Calling Becomes Clear

The decisive moment came in an unexpected way.

He received a posting to the French Ministry of Defence in Paris. Quite providentially, it was located near Rue du Bac and the MEP house.

There, he began visiting the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Drawn back to the place connected to that earlier remark, he eventually took a step that would change his life.

One of my three visits to the Chapel of the Lady of Miraculous Medal in Paris

He knocked on the door of MEP.

A priest welcomed him in — and even invited him to stay.

After a year of discernment, the calling became clear.

Fr Dominique left the army and entered the seminary at Saint-Sulpice. He was ordained a deacon five years later at Notre-Dame de Paris, with his university friend from China present to witness the moment.

“I quit!” — Fr Dominique’s last day in the army in 2011

My visit of Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris

Fr Dominique’s ordination as a priest in Rennes Cathedral in 2015

For his priestly ordination, he chose to return to his roots in Brittany, where he was ordained by the Archbishop of Rennes, Monseignor Pierre d’Ornellas.

My visit of Rennes Cathedral in 2023, where Fr Dominique was ordained as a priest.

Answering the Call to Singapore

Why MEP?

For Fr Dominique, the answer was simple: he felt called to serve overseas — a desire first awakened during his time in Calcutta.

Singapore became his mission.

At the time, he knew little about the country, apart from a brief visit during his seminary years. Yet, as he shared with a smile, he experienced little culture shock.

It was as if he had found his place from the very beginning.

A Legacy That Endures

Fr Dominique’s journey reflects a much larger story — the story of MEP priests who left their homes in France to serve in distant lands.

Their legacy is deeply woven into Singapore’s history:

• Churches that still stand today
• Schools that continue to shape generations
• Communities that have grown from their early missionary efforts

Behind these institutions lies a simple but powerful truth: each was built on the willingness of individuals to respond to a calling — often at great personal cost.

Conclusion

From Brittany to Singapore, Fr Dominique’s journey is not merely one of distance, but of vocation.

It is a story of listening, waiting, and ultimately responding to a call that led him far from home.

Through his story, we are reminded of the quiet but profound impact of the Missions Étrangères de Paris in Singapore — a legacy of faith that continues to endure today.

(My sincere thanks to Fr Dominique for so generously sharing his story and allowing this to be shared more widely via this blog)

I have written a blog earlier on my travel covering some of the sites of St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. You can read it here!

[embed]Retracing the steps of St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort I recently came back from my France holidays. In this tour, I decided to retrace the footsteps of St Louis-Marie…medium.com

Fact file of Fr Dominique Demé MEP

· 1972: Born in Brittany, France

· 1991: Entered the University of Rennes, located in Rennes in Brittany

· 1996: Commenced national service

· 1997: Signed up with the French army

· 2011: Resigned from the French army

· 2011: Entered the seminary at Saint Sulpice in Paris

· 2016: Ordained a deacon in Notre-Dame de Paris

· 2017: Ordained a priest at Rennes Cathedral

Other resources

1. Website of Missions Etrangères de Paris (MEP)

https://missionsetrangeres.com/?lang=en

2. Institut de recherche France-Asie (France — Asia Research Institute)

https://irfa.paris/en/

3. History of the Catholic Church in Singapore — The origins of the MEP (The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore)

https://history.catholic.sg/the-origins-of-the-mep/

4. Getting to know the French Catholic community in Singapore (Catholic News)

https://catholicnews.sg/2014/05/06/getting-to-know-the-french-catholic-community-in-singapore/

5. The History of Montfort (by local heritage author Shawn Seah)

https://history.catholic.sg/the-history-of-montfort-by-shawn-seah/

6. History of Montfort School (MOE Heritage Centre)

https://moehc.moe.edu.sg/montfort-secondary-school/