Pauline Sisters celebrate 25 years of service in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU (CS) – The Daughters of St Paul (Pauline Sisters) celebrated 25 years of service in Sabah January 25, Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, at their newly opened Paulines Apostolic Centre Kota Kinabalu with a solemn Mass presided by Msgr Primus Jouil and concelebrated with Fr Jose Aripio, Provincial of the Society of St Paul, Philippine-Macau Province, and a short fellowship programme after the Mass.
During the Mass, the Sisters remembered all the FSPs who lived and worked in Sabah over the past 25 years–an adventure that began on 25 January 1989 when, with the support of many individuals, the little community of three began to carry out its communication media apostolate in this part of the country. However, the community traces its roots to the first foundation that began in 1961 but was closed in 1971.
Among the 200-odd people present were Sr Noemi Vinoya, Provincial of the Philipine-Malaysia-Papua New Guinea-Thai Province, who read out a congratulatory message of encouragement from Mother General Sr Anna Maria Parenzan, and some of the pioneer sisters of the first foundation – Sr Assunta Labay, Sr Gloria Felix, Sr Eulalia Bravo—and of the second foundation as well – Sr Rosalie Lojiu, Sr Margherita Cagayat, Sr Teresita Espina, Sr Gemma Lucero and Sr Anna Yap.
Others included the La Salle Brothers, the Gabrielite Brothers, the Franciscan Sisters, Annunciationists, Pauline Cooperators, benefactors, collaborators and friends of the community.
In his message after the Mass, Msgr Primus Jouil related a story of how he was encouraged to “think about life seriously” after reading a booklet given him by the Sisters in the 1960s to stress the importance of good reading materials promoted by them.
A movie-clip (available in youtube entitled: Silver Jubilee Foundation of the Daughters of St Paul in Sabah Malaysia), which was produced for the occasion, was put up for viewing during the fellowship programme after the Mass held on the covered compound outside.
This was followed by a ‘life-interview’ of the pioneers on their impressions and mission as part of the programme. They also rendered a number “A Joyful Song of Love.”
Out of the 15 local members, 11 are from Sabah though one has died, two from Sarawak and two from Perak. There are currently 10 perpetual professed members, two juniors (temporary professed) and two aspirants.
The Daughters of St Paul are part of the Pauline Family (comprising five religious institutes, four secular institutes and one lay association) founded by Blessed James Alberione in Italy between 1914 and 1960. – Sr Anna Yap fsp