SHC observes first Mid-Autumn Festival

KOTA KINABALU – Sacred Heart Cathedral (SHC) Parish here observed its first Mid-Autumn Festival on 18 Sept 2016 at its parish centre.

Over 300 faithful turned up to mark the observance, including Abp John Wong, Abp Emeritus John Lee, the cathedral’s four assistant priests, Frs Rhobby Mojolou, Mitchelly Kiun, Mattheus Luta and Joshua Liew,  two Marist Brothers,  and two Religious Sisters.

Those who came enjoyed eating their dinner and  mooncakes and taking part in the lantern procession around the cathedral compound.  While the younger children took part in the colouring contest, some of the adults took part in the opening-the-pomelo contest (including Abp Wong), and guessing the answers to the riddles written on the lanterns.  There was also the judging of the entries for the lantern-making competition as well as stage performances by the children.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar—essentially the night of a full moon—which falls near the Autumnal Equinox (on a day between September 8 and October 7 in the Gregorian calendar.

For the cathedral parish, it was certainly a good occasion for the parishioners of various ethnic origins to celebrate together their cultural festivals as part of their journey together as a parish family.