KK Archdiocese celebrates Consecrated Life Day quietly

KOTA KINABALU – Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life (WDCL)  quietly on 2 Feb 2017, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, at the Carmelite Chapel here.

The annual observance was organised by the Council of Religious headed by Pauline Sister Christine Henry Sundin.

Archbishop John Wong presided over the Mass which was concelebrated with Korean Father Leo Choi.  Due to the inclement weather, there was only a simple blessing of candles with a solemn entry at the entrance rite.

Around 100  faithful turned up for the celebration including around 70 men and women religious, members of secular orders, seminarians and some lay people.

In his homily, and later in his impromptu address to the religious after Mass, the prelate touched on the event as an encounter with the Lord, which he hoped they had prepared themselves well through the preceding triduum of prayer.  He also assured them of his prayers.

He then reminded them that this event is an outflow of the liturgical celebration – Presentation of the Lord – the faithfulness of the Lord in coming to meet his people in the temple.

The renewal of consecration by the religious present took place after the homily.  The prelate accepted it and gave his blessing.

After the Mass, all the religious adjourned to the Daughters of St Paul convent below Carmel Hill for their fellowship.

In the archdiocese, there are currently three men religious institutes (La Salle Brothers, Gabrielite Brothers, Marist Brothers) and four women congregations (Carmelite Nuns, Daughters of St Paul, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and the Religious of the Good Shepherd).  The three secular institutes are the Carmelite Seculars, Franciscan Seculars, and Our Lady of the Annunciation.