LAZARUS CATHOLIC CHURCH  

THE OLDEST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ALL OF ASIA

"Lazarus.  Come out.  Loose him and let him go."  Jesus Christ

Macau acts as the historic cradle of Catholicism in East Asia, boasting a rich architectural and religious legacy that predates missionary work in mainland China.

The Historical Significance of Macau Gateway and Base: From the 16th century onward, Macau acted as the main arrival point for European and American missionaries and the primary launching pad for missions to China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

The Portuguese Gateway: Portuguese merchants first settled in Macau around 1557. It quickly evolved into a major trading hub and the primary launching pad for Catholic missions (particularly by the Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans) to all of Asia.

• Training and Inculturation: St. Paul's College in Macau trained hundreds of missionaries (including figures like Matteo Ricci and Michele Ruggieri), teaching them local languages and perfecting the method of "inculturation" (adapting to local customs) before they entered mainland China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries.

• Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction: In 1576, Pope Gregory XIII made Macau a diocese with official jurisdiction over China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and all surrounding regions

The Diocese of Macau: Established in 1576 by Pope Gregory XIII, it was the first Catholic diocese created in the Far East, originally overseeing ecclesiastical matters for China, Japan, and Korea.

The Oldest Surviving Catholic Structures

Many of these sites are now recognized globally as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Historic Centre of Macao:

St. Lazarus' Church (Igreja de São Lázaro): Originally built around 1557–1560 as a small wood-and-thatch chapel, it is considered the oldest church site in Macau and the oldest Catholic church in all of China. It served as the city's first cathedral before being rebuilt in stone in the 19th century.

St. Anthony's Church (Igreja de Santo António): First erected out of bamboo and wood around 1558 to 1560, this is one of Macau's oldest parishes. The Jesuits established their first headquarters here before later constructing the College of Saint Paul. It was reconstructed in stone in 1638 and has been rebuilt several times since due to fires.

St. Lawrence's Church (Igreja de São Lourenço): Originally built by the Jesuits in 1560, this church overlooks the sea and was historically where families of Portuguese sailors would gather to pray for their safe return. The current neoclassical structure dates back to 1846.

Ruins of St. Paul's (Igreja da Madre de Deus): While only the magnificent stone facade remains today, the original church and the adjacent St. Paul's College were built between 1602 and 1640. It was the largest Catholic church in Asia at the time and a monumental symbol of early Christianity in the region.1

. The Asylum of Hope (1557–1576)

St. Lazarus holds a pivotal position in Macao's spiritual history. Founded before Macao was formally recognized as a diocese, it began as the Hermitage of Our Lady of Hope. In 1566, Dom Belchior Carneiro, a Jesuit bishop who arrived to organize the local church, observed hundreds of suffering individuals afflicted with leprosy who had been exiled beyond the fortified northern boundaries of the Portuguese town. [1, 2]

Moved by their plight, Carneiro established the St. Lazarus Leper Hospital adjacent to the hermitage in 1569. The neighborhood became an enclave completely separated from the wealthy merchant quarters. [1, 2, 3]

2. The First Cathedral (1576–17th Century)

When Pope Gregory XIII officially erected the Diocese of Macao in 1576 via the papal bull Super Specula, St. Lazarus was designated as Macao's very first Cathedral. It retained this status for several decades until a dedicated cathedral structure was raised inside the city walls. [1, 2]

A profound tradition survived this transition: for centuries, newly appointed Bishops of Macao would process first to St. Lazarus' Church to receive their episcopal crosier (pastoral staff) before entering the city proper. This custom endured until 1976. [1]

3. The Chinese Catholic Safe Haven (17th–19th Century)

As Portuguese authorities enforced rigid separations between Western settlers and the local population, St. Lazarus naturally evolved into the primary sanctuary for Chinese Catholics. It became the heartbeat of Cantonese-speaking catechumenate programs. [1, 2, 3]

The original timber chapel fell to ruin over decades of humidity, and the leper colony itself was progressively moved further away—eventually relocating to D. João Island in 1882 and Coloane Island in 1947. The present-day masonry building was constructed in 1885. [1, 2]

The only physical survivor of the early settlement is the Cruz da Esperança (Cross of Hope), cast in 1637, which remains anchored in the church’s stone forecourt today. [1, 2]

Extensive History of St. Anthony’s Church

1. The Monastic Gateway to East Asia (1560–1638)

St. Anthony’s Church reflects a distinctly monastic and apostolic heritage. Constructed of bamboo and thatch around 1560 by early Jesuit fathers, it was intentionally positioned on Patane Hill to serve as a secluded hermitage and monastic compound. [1, 2, 3]

Before the construction of the grand Collegiate Church of St. Paul (now the famous Ruins of St. Paul's), St. Anthony's served as the first Jesuit operational headquarters in Macao. It was designed to house, feed, and spiritually fortify missionaries who were staging their covert entry strategies into Ming Dynasty China or preparing for dangerous sea journeys to Nagasaki, Japan. [1, 2, 3, 4]

2. The "Church That Attracts Fire" (1638–1930)

St. Anthony's historical timeline is defined by its resilience against destruction, earning it a reputation as an architectural survivor. In 1638, the monastic wood structure was upgraded into a heavy stone church. However, the building suffered extensive fire damage in 1809 and was struck again on September 22, 1874, when lightning from a violent typhoon ignited the rafters. [1, 2, 3, 4]

During that catastrophic 1874 storm, the burning church tower served as an inadvertent lighthouse, guiding desperate fishermen and sailors safely through the dark, churning waters back to the Macao shore. To honor this event, the parish still celebrates the "Festival of Natural Disasters" every September 22nd, parading a statue of St. Anthony through the streets. [1, 2]

The layout was restored in 1875, and its current appearance was finalized in 1930 with a durable neoclassical "Shanghai plaster" exterior. [1, 2]

3. The Church of Flowers

As the Jesuit headquarters migrated to St. Paul's College, St. Anthony's adapted to serve the resident Portuguese naval and merchant classes. Because Saint Anthony of Padua is traditionally invoked as the patron saint of lost things and marriages, it became the exclusive destination for high-society Portuguese weddings. [1, 2, 3]

The church was routinely festooned with vast, elaborate floral arrangements for these ceremonies, prompting local Chinese residents to call it Fa Vong Tong (The Church of Flowers), a beautiful moniker it still bears today. [1, 2]

 Historical Dossier: St. Lazarus' Church, Macau

Comprehensive Research Guide & Clergy Chronology
Compiled: October 2026

1. Executive Overview

St. Lazarus' Church (Portuguese: Igreja de São Lázaro; Chinese: 望德聖母堂) stands as one of the three oldest extant Catholic churches in Macau, China. Originally constructed between 1557 and 1560, the parish served as the primary spiritual home and sanctuary for Macau's Chinese Catholic community starting in the 17th century. Located on Rua de João de Almeida in the historic São Lázaro district, the site represents a crucial node in the early propagation of Catholicism across East Asia.

2. Historical Evolution & Timeline

·        [1557–1560] Original Hermitage Structure: First constructed as a simple wooden chapel to provide spiritual support for a leper colony built outside the historic defensive walls of the city.

·        [1569] Founding of the Leprosarium: Dom Belchior Carneiro, S.J., the first Catholic Bishop of Macau, establishes a dedicated hospital infrastructure for lepers alongside the church, naming the facility after Saint Lazarus.

·        [1576] Temporary Cathedral Status: Pope Gregory XIII issues a formal papal decree creating the Diocese of Macau. St. Lazarus is designated as Macau's temporary cathedral, a role it serves until the Cathedral of Saint Mary is established.

·        [17th Century] Center for Chinese Catholics: The parish firmly transitions into the core center of Macau's local Chinese Catholic population, organizing distinct social and integration programs.

·        [1885] Neoclassical Reconstruction: Following centuries of weathering and spatial demands, the church undergoes a complete masonry rebuild. The historic stone cross, known as the 'Cross of Hope' (Cruz da Esperança), is preserved and placed in the forecourt.

·        [1976] Modern Diocesan Transition: The tradition of newly appointed bishops of Macau marching to St. Lazarus to receive their symbolic pastoral staff (crosier) concludes, cementing its legacy status.

3. Chronological Clergy & Religious Orders Profile

The administration of St. Lazarus' Parish reflects a diverse interplay between diocesan clergy and specific religious orders instrumental in building Macau's healthcare and educational framework. Below is the historical structural profile:

Historical Role / Assignment

Clergy / Religious Figure

Affiliated Diocese / Order

Founder & Apostolic Administrator (1569)

Dom Belchior Carneiro, S.J.

Society of Jesus (Jesuits)

Historical Parish Overseers (16th–18th C.)

Early Missionaries & Refugee Clergy

Jesuits, Franciscans, & Augustinians

Parish Priest (Modern Era / Current)

Rev. Canon João Evangelista Lau Him Sang

Diocese of Hong Kong / Macau

Parochial Vicar / Assistant Priest (2026)

Rev. Fr. Zdzislaw Stanislaw Plawecki, SCJ

Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart

Pastoral Leadership Support

Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang

Diocese of Macau (Current Bishop)

Historical Institutional Support

Sisters of the Poor Clares & Local Nuns

Order of Saint Clare / Conventual Orders

4. Architectural Typology

The current 1885 structure demonstrates crisp Neoclassical styling with a functional asymmetrical layout. The main building facade is split vertically into two storeys, each holding three large windows. The structure is crowned by a detailed triangular pediment featuring a relief decoration combining a cross and an anchor—symbolizing the theological virtues of Belief and Faith. An independent vertical belfry stands attached to the right side of the main facade, leading into a conservative, open interior nave divided into two primary aisles.

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