Thousands throng Mt Rosary to celebrate the Immaculate Conception

RANAU – Every human being is called by God to receive salvation given through the living Word of God who became man as our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The head of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, Archbishop John Wong said that every human being should emulate the Virgin Mary conceived without blemish in responding to the call of God.

“Perhaps, at home we have many statues of Mother Mary. Sometimes we see this woman lifted so high that it’s hard to follow or emulate her, so we sometimes overlook her.”

Archbishop Wong said this in his homily when celebrating the Mass in conjunction with the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on Mount Rosary, Kg Toboh Baru Ranau Dec 8.

Concelebrating with the prelate at Mass were Ranau parish priest, Fr Nicholas Stephen, Fr Francis Tsen and Romo Augustinus from Larantuka Indonesia.

In the Mass, the Archbishop invited the people to ask whether they are constantly pondering the Word, confirming that the Word is leading their lives, as well as allowing the Word to be part of themselves.

“If we always do so, the Psalmist today says, ‘Sing a new song to the Lord because God has done great works in me’.

“I hope and pray, when you go home tonight, or to your parish or your community or family, you can sing a ‘new song’. Or would you go back to being your old self?

“Can you sing a new song like Mary after she received the message through the Angel Gabriel, and said ‘Yes‘ to the angel? She sang the Magnificat ‘My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour’”, said the archbishop.

He said there is a ‘new song’ because God had raised her (Mary), a servant, to a higher place.

According to the archbishop, God has made miracles happen and He will continue to make miracles happen in the lives of all people, especially when they come to celebrate the Holy Mass.

“Having received this most magnificent Word, let’s sing a new song to praise and glorify God because God has, and continues to make great works in the lives of each one of us.

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us pray to God so that we are all like Mama Maria, always humble;  because when we humble ourselves, the loving and caring God will elevate us as He did the Virgin Mary,” Archbishop Wong explained.

For the Marian celebration, some 3,000 people from all over the state came together to march as far as two kilometers from St John Tambiau to Mount Rosary in Toboh Baru, where they celebrated Mass. – Clarence Dol