CAC staff celebrate Kaamatan

PENAMPANG – The staff of Catholic Archdiocesan Centre here celebrated Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) jointly with the aspirants on 17 May 2018 with Mass and fellowship meal.

Father Joshua Liew presided at the English Mass with Kadazan hymns.  Some of the staff wore Kadazan traditional attire.

In his homily, he said that while there was no harvesting of rice grains, one could harvest God’s will.

After Mass, all adjourned to the dining hall for a fellowship meal of native dishes.

The Kadazan harvest festival or Pesta Kaamatan is celebrated throughout the month of May yearly.  It is developed from custom and tradition that revolved around rice farming and is held for the following reasons:

• To give thanks to the spirit of the rice called “Bambaazon” for the abundant rice harvest the previous year.
• To identify the Kadazans as rice growers and with the land.
• To showcase their uniqueness as a people.
• To strengthen understanding and unity among the Kadazan people.

The archdiocesan-level Kaamatan celebration will be hosted by St Peter Claver Ranau on Tuesday, May 29, at 9:30 am.