A New Year gift for the faithful of Holy Trinity Church

TAWAU – It was a special New Year and a proud moment for parents Diwol Sundaling from Tenom and Helda Laurencius from Papar as their third child, seminarian Dafrinn Diwol was ordained deacon on January 1, 2019.

The rite of ordination, presided by Sandakan Diocese Bishop Julius Gitom took place after the Gospel, which was witnessed by a surprisingly packed Holy Trinity Church here.

Born in Sandakan on November 24, 1980, Dafrinn who has two brothers and four sisters, attended pre-school at Tadika Ming Chung Sandakan, primary school at SK Gum Gum Sandakan (1987-1992), secondary school at SMK Gum Gum Sandakan (1993-1997).

Before aspiring to become a priest, he journeyed from forestry to insurance and culinary before finally answering the call to serve the Lord.

Prior to his call, Dafrinn worked with Deramakot Forest Reserve Telupid (1998), as life insurance agent with MAA Insurance Sandakan (1999) and took a course in culinary art at Asian Tourism Institution Kota Kinabalu (1999).

In 2000-2002, he worked as a kitchen apprentice with Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu,  and went on to be a forest research assistant at Forestry Research Centre, Sepilok Sandakan, Sabah (2003-2008).

His formation began in 2009 at the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre (English Year) and was initiated in 2010 at the Initiation Year, St Peter’s College Kota Kinabalu.

In 2011-2012, he went on for his philosophy year at the Major Seminary of St Peter’s College Kuching and in 2013-2016 for his theology year.

Dafrinn was instituted as Lector on Nov 4, 2013, and Acolyte on Nov 3, 2014.

For his pastoral observation, he was sent to the Children’s Liturgy, the Legion of Mary (2011). Compassionate Visit at Cheshire Home, Hospital Sentosa, Cancer Ward Hospital Kuching (2012).

For his pastoral immersion, he was assigned to the Youth Ministry at Kg Krokong, Bau, Sarawak (2013), St Martin Telupid (2014), St Dominic Lahad Datu (2015), Clinical Pastoral Education at Assunta Hospital Petaling Jaya (2016), and Holy Trinity Tawau in 2018. – SOCCOM Tawau