KOTA KINABALU – The 2nd fundraising dinner of 122 tables organized by Friends of St John Vianney (FSJV) at Putera Theatre Ballroom Feb 1 saw a successful gathering of priests, religious, seminarians and aspirants, benefactors, supporters and parishioners of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese. Archbishop Emeritus John Lee and Archbishop John Wong graced the occasion.
TANJUNG ARU – Feb 1 saw 53 JWG students from the parish of Stella Maris Church being conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation by Archbishop John Wong.
JWG, Joyful Weekend Gathering is the Sunday School program of the parish to form and prepare students for Confirmation, ranging from 13-18 years of age.
Speaking to the parishioners at the parish hall after the Mass, the Archbishop encouraged all to know their new parish priest well. Msgr Primus Jouil was transferred to the parish in the recent reshuffle of clergy in the archdiocese last October.
TANJUNG ARU – Stella Maris Parish launched the St Catherine Laboure RM1-a-brick fundraising project at the church parish hall in conjunction with the Carols by Candlelight, followed by a fully-sponsored dinner at the Fellowship Centre Dec 21 last year.
The idea of the RM1-a-brick was to enable any and every one to take up the challenge to be fully involved as a Church by their willingness to support no matter their financial standing. Your least contribution would cost you RM1 for a brick. With the completion of the Church, each one could literally say that their “bricks” have contributed to build up the Church!
SANDAKAN – The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) of Holy Trinity Church, Tawau paid a courtesy call on Bishop Julius Gitom Feb 5 at the Diocesan Pastoral Office to brief him on the Society’s activities in the parish since its inception February last year.
Angela Teo, who heads the Society in Tawau, briefed Bishop Julius that it has 25 active members, who are diligently working to serve people in need. Members live out the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed with compassion and respect.
The Diocese of Sandakan celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life with Mass Feb 8 at St Mary’s Cathedral, which was presided by Fr Sunny Chung, and attended by religious Sisters and Brothers of FSIC, Good Shepherds, and Brothers of St Gabriel, and the local faithful.
In his homily, Fr Sunny Chung explained that consecrated life is defined by men and women who set out to follow Christ more closely, and lead lives dedicated to God by practising the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They become a sign in the Church of a more exacting way of Christian living in their strife for the perfection of charity in the service of the kingdom of God.
KOTA KINABALU (CS) – On February 2, 2015, the global Catholic Church celebrated the World Day for Consecrated Life. This is a day of special celebration and prayer by the Universal Church for men and women who have consecrated their lives to God.
TOBOH – “Taking from the theme for Year of Consecrated Life “WAKE UP THE WORLD”, how do you bring awareness to your surroundings, your family, your KKD and your community? How do you bring them awareness if you yourself are not yet aware of your duty nor understand your role in your calling? Therefore, the first and most important thing is to go back to basics which is AWARENESS, PRAISE OF GOD, and LIVING YOUR CALL. This applies to all because the calling is not only to the religious or priest, but also to parents to be witnesses for Christ.”
KOTA KINABALU – Archdiocesan Youth Pastoral Team (AYPT) is instrumental in providing faith building activities for young people every year. Having organized the previous Emmaus Camp for teenagers last November, once again AYPT organized Emmaus Camp for youths for the sixth time, at CSG Centre Jan 11-24. The faith building camp was participated by 34 school leaver youths aged 18-20 years old from 11 different parishes around Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese.
I still remember right after the Papal Mass, my friend asked me whether it’s a worthwhile experience. I admitted to him that I have some disappointments, but with a heavy heart, agreed that it is a worthwhile experience. I was disappointed at many different aspects, just because they didn’t meet up to my expectation.
But as I shared my disappointment with my family, they reminded me of how blessed I was even just by being there since many desire to be in my place at that time. Even for the next few days, we were constantly reminded of how blessed we are to be one of the ground-breaking 6 million faithful participating in a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Three priests of the Salesian Order (Don Bosco priests) in the persons of Fr Guillermo Basanes, Fr Villafuerte Noel Enrique and Fr Edwin Ulanday, arrived Jan 27 on a 5-day’s visit to the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu.
While here they paid a courtesy call on Archbishop John Wong. They also attended the thanksgiving dinner of the golden anniversary of Archbishop Emeritus John Lee organized by the Women’s League.