Crosses Journey Begins Nationwide

KOTA KINABALU: The separation of a wooden cross into nine smaller ones marked the beginning of the countdown of the first ever gathering of Catholic community representatives nationwide in Johor in 18 months.

The event at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here on Thursday evening  (April 3) saw the smaller crosses would be brought to the nine Catholic dioceses and their various parishes across Malaysia as part of the Perjalanan Salib (Journey of the Cross) programme.

The crosses are to be reunited as one at the Majodi Centre in September 16 to 19 next year during the inaugural Malaysian Pastoral Convention (MPC) 2026 involving clergy, religious and laity from all nine dioceses across Malaysia.

The Perjalanan Salib was held amid the Malaysian Catholic Youth Day (MCYD) gathering held here involving some 1,500 delegates from across the country as well as representatives from Thailand, Brunei and Timor Leste.

Launching the Perjalanan Salib at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here on Thursday (April 3),  Malaysian Cardinal Datuk Sebastian Francis said he was heartened to know that the nine crosses were to be brought to the dioceses by the young Catholics.

“This journey means that the crosses have to be on the move, to be shared and experienced by as many as possible,” said Cardinal Francis – the Archbishop of Penang – in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration prior to the launching of Perjalanan Salib.

Also present were Archbishop John Wong of Kota Kinabalu, Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur, Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching, Bishop Bernard Paul (Melaka-Johor), Bishop Cornelius Piong (Keningau), Bishop Julius Gitom (Sandakan), Bishop Richard Ng (Miri) and Bishop Joseph Hii (Sibu).

Cardinal Francis also reminded the Catholic youths that the journey of the cross should be accompanied by a sense of mission that include building up small communities in the church and enriching communal values.

He said other points of action would include to strengthen families and creating awareness about ecology.

“These are gifts from God that we must cherish,” Cardinal Francis added.

He described the Catholic youths as student missionaries who could share the joy of the Gospel, God’s mercy and hope to everyone, especially the young.

“We are called in this year of Jubilee of Hope through the journey of the cross to go forth and tell everyone about these gifts of God,” Cardinal Sebastian added. – Ruben Sario, SOCCOM ADKK