Over 100 participate in workshop on diocesan vision and mission

TAWAU – Over 100 parishioners consisting of Parish Pastoral Councillors, EMC members, Parish Youth Apostolate, BEC Coordinators, heads of groups/ communities, religious sisters, seminarians, parish priests and representatives from outstations participated in a workshop on 25 Mar 2017 on “Understanding and Ownership of the Vision and Mission of the Diocese“ at the Church Basement Hall of Holy Trinity parish here.

The workshop, which is initiated by the Vision and Mission (V & M) working committee (PPC) and the documentation team of the parish, is aimed at understanding the goals and objectives of the Vision and Mission and making them their own. This follow-up workshop comes about after the V & M statement was adopted by the five parishes in the Sandakan Diocese at St Mary Sandakan in early January this year.

The 10-year old diocese (2007-2017), made up of St Mary’s Cathedral, St Martin Telupid, St Dominic Lahad Datu, Our Lady of Fatima Beluran and the Holy Trinity Tawau, has formulated a Vision and Mission statement after a long and tedious process undertaken by the parishes of the diocese, based on ideas and experiences of the grassroots.

Before launching the V & M statement officially during the 10th anniversary of the diocese this year, all parishes are required to hold a workshop to introduce and ensure that the V & M would be properly understood and accepted by each parish.

“With this vision, I believe that each of you will have the opportunity to share your capabilities and talents to serve others and also the church. Indeed, it is a wake-up call to all of you to be participatory parishioners, developing your faith and being transformed,” said Msgr Nicholas Ong of Holy Trinity Tawau.

At the same time, he stressed the importance of the BEC as an effective channel to carry out the implementation of the activities in order to make the V & M a reality.

Mario and Julita Kantod briefed the participants on the journey and history of the process of formulation of the vision and mission.

The next session was an elaboration of the mission statement, followed by a group discussion where ideas from each group were collated and presented to the floor.

“I hope that all of us will peacefully and joyfully move towards the completion of this programme, not by obligation but with sincerity and purity. Let us do our best to persevere in order to achieve the V & M in spite of obstacles. Let us put our hope in the generosity of God in providing us wisdom, knowledge, and humility to work together,” said Father Phillip Muji in his concluding remarks.

The following day, the working committee and documentation team gathered to finalise the proposed plan to be forwarded to the Diocesan Office for compilation and documentation. – Julita Kantod