SHCWL coordinator calls for fresh blood to join the ministry

BUKIT PADANG – The coordinator of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) of Sacred Heart Cathedral Kota Kinabalu called for fresh blood to join the ministry at its 46th anniversary dinner on 15 Nov 2017.

“There is so much to do to help the parish and the church through the Catholic Women’s League and we really need more than just 150 members to help us.  With more hands we can do more and work will be lighter,” Anita Tunggolou said in her welcoming speech.

The CWL was formed on 16 Nov 1971 with seven members and currently, it has over 130 active members.

The dinner took place at the Putera Ballroom Bukit Padang with over 800 diners including Archbishop John Wong, Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, Msgr Primus Jouil, Father Max Hontor, Father Joshua Liew,  religious sisters, aspirants and Initiation Year (IY) seminarians.

In his speech, Abp Wong warned the diners not to be trapped by  the current “instant-maggie mentality.”  He was referring to the four years it took for the CWL to spread from Stella Maris Tanjung Aru (1967) to then Sacred Heart Church (1971).

He said it “was not slow” but “wise” because the “Spirit has His own timing.”

“Our task is to focus on watering and cultivating, to make sure that the roots are not dried up and the shoots are not infested.  Listen to the Word of God and put it into practice, and the group will stay longer,” the prelate concluded.

As in the past, the coordinator gave a summary of the activities carried out by the CWL members in the past year – from cooking to works of mercy.

She presented a mock cheque of RM70,000.00 to Abp Wong for the seminarians’ fund (same as last year’s) and several tokens of appreciation to all those who were involved in the CWL in one way or another.

The dinner was interspersed with lively stage entertainment by choral or solo singing as well as lucky draws.

Earlier, some CWL members and their spouses, religious sisters, aspirants and  IY seminarians attended the Thanksgiving Mass presided by Abp Wong and concelebrated with Fr Liew at the cathedral chapel.

In a brief address after the Mass, the prelate expressed his gratitude to the CWL for the services they have rendered to the parish for 46 years and hoped they will continue to do so in the future.