2014-6

KOTA KINABALU (CS) – Maktab Nasional bid farewell to its principal, Winnie Voo Nyuk Yung, 61 at a farewell ceremony in the complex premises on 26 May 2014, which was attended by Archbishop John Wong who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Msgr Primus Jouil, Chairman of the Board of Governors.  At the same time, Archbishop John Wong announced her successor, Alexander Funk who is the current Vice Principal.

Since its founding 29 years ago, Maktab Nasional has evolved over the years and has successfully become an alternative to public school for many students.  Being the only Church-owned education institution, the Church has always maintained the belief that access to education shall be made available to the greatest number of the populace regardless of their position in the social strata.  Towards this commitment, the Board of Trustees for Maktab Nasional is registered under the status of a non-profit organization.

Meanwhile, Alexander Funk Yun Leong, 42, who hails from Sandakan, has assumed his new appointment in June 2014. Believing in the ethos and the vision and mission of his old alma mater, he has gone back to help build it to be one of the finest, if not the best, institution in this region.

With a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma in TESOL from the London Teachers Training College followed by a Master degree in Education (TESL), he started his teaching career in 2005 specializing in English as a second language, English for Science and Technology and Literature in English. He has also served in various administrative capacities including head of the English department, Senior Assistant for Academics and Vice Principal.

In fidelity to his faith he endeavours to serve the Church, going beyond being just a nominal Catholic with the offering of time and service. He is married to Sandra Wong Pei Khyun and is blessed with a daughter and a son.

KOTA KINABALU  – Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese played host to the 1st Episcopal Regional Commission for Family Life (ERCFL) Meeting held at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Centre, Karamunsing, from 16-18 Jun  2014.

The meeting was convened by Archbishop John Wong, President of ERCFL for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, with the objectives: (a) to listen to the programs and initiatives made by the arch/dioceses in this region for family, as well as to know the current issues and challenges faced by families today; and (b) to formally set up ERCFL for the region.

KOTA KINABALU – More than 700 people together with the leaders of the Renewal from parishes over Sabah gathered for a one-day celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the land of Sabah at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Centre on 7 Jun 2014.

It was definitely an occasion worth celebrating and should indeed be a time of praise and thanksgiving to God for this wonderful ‘current of grace’ which has brought literally tens of thousands of people to a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in our local region. (Pope Francis on Jun 1, 2014, at the celebration of the 37th Annual National Convocation of “Renewal in the Spirit” in Rome said: “You, Charismatic Renewal, have received a great gift from the Lord: you have been born from a desire of the Holy Spirit as a current of grace in the Church and for the Church. This is your definition: a current of grace.”

KEPAYAN – Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in St Thomas Kepayan Parish started in 1982.  A group of parishioners who attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar organized by the CCR prayer group of St Michael Penampang came back ‘on fire’ and were inspired to initiate a prayer group for the parish.

This group of pioneers organized their first prayer meeting at the residence of James Binaji at Kg Ganang, Kepayan.  The pioneers consisted of his wife, Henry Juming, Laura Saimon, Paula John and Cyril Jolik Lojimin.  Some of them eventually went on to form the first core group.