SHC marks first anniversaries of assistant pastors

KOTA KINABALU – Sacred Heart Cathedral parish here marked the first anniversaries of its two assistant pastors here on 1 Mar 2015.

Fr Rhobby Mojolou was ordained a year ago on Feb 24 in his home parish of St Michael, Penampang, followed by the ordination of Fr Mitchelly Kiun in his home parish of Sacred Heart Cathedral two days later on Feb 26.

After ordination, Fr Rhobby was assigned to serve as assistant to the parish priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral while Fr Mitchelly was to serve the parish of St Catherine Sienna, Inanam.  Five months later, Fr Mitchelly was re-assigned to serve at the Cathedral parish with his working knowledge of the Mandarin language.

As remarked by the PPC Chairman in his address for the occasion, Fr Mitchelly would be heading to Taiwan some time later to develop the knowledge and use of the Mandarin language.

In a few revealing words spoken at the dinner, Fr Mitchelly recalled his “fear and trembling” when he presided at his maiden Chinese Mass at the Church of Mary Immaculate.  To his relief, the parishioners and visitors to both the Cathedral and CMI have been promising and encouraging towards his celebration of the Chinese Masses.  With humility, he requested for prayerful support.  He also called on the faithful to pray for more vocations, especially during this grace-filled Year of Consecrated Life.

Meanwhile, in response to words spoken of him copiously by the PPC Chairman, Fr Rhobby remained modest about his one-year tenure as assistant priest.  With his feet firmly planted on the ground, he accorded that everything good comes from God while the not so good comes from human being.

In fact, he went on to say that he felt just like a baby learning to walk.  Mistakes there would be, he acknowledged, and that there would still be much to learn.  But over and above that, his one year at the Cathedral parish has been a joyous and memorable experience.

He ended with a request for prayer for him to persevere in the following year and that he might be able to serve wholeheartedly in his priestly ministry with God’s love.  He reminded the faithful to thank God for the gift of priesthood, the gift of vocation, and for the gift of the Sacred Heart Cathedral parish family.