Catholic Sabah News – Page 139 – Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

SHC organises fellowship night for neophytes and confirmands

KOTA KINABALU – The newly confirmed, together with the neophytes from the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, were given a rousing welcome as they turned up for a Fellowship Night at the parish hall Jun 8 to mark the milestone of their becoming a confirmed Catholic.

285 young people were confirmed at Sacred Heart Cathedral on May 11, 2014. Confirmation is a rite of initiation in a Catholic person’s journey of faith. It carries with it a spiritual, sacred and permanent sign or seal that marks the Christian as a witness of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit. It “renders the bond with the Church more perfect”, because, while a baptized person is already a member, “reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace”. Outwardly it appears to be carried out through anointing, the laying on of hands, and prayer, but its spiritual significance goes far beyond that.

Over a thousand youth converge for PBK-12

PENAMPANG – More than a thousand Catholic youth coming from the Arch/dioceses of Kota Kinabalu and Keningau converged for a 5-day event, the 12th Archdiocesan Youth Festival or Pesta Belia Keuskupan-12, from 1-5 June 2014, spread out over three Penampang parishes; Sacred Heart Church Inobong, St Michael Penampang, and St Aloysius Church Limbanak.

Celebrated once in four years with a different theme, 2014 theme for the festival was taken from John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” This awesome gathering seeks to unite youth across the arch/dioceses, coming from different culture and background, with the main purpose of celebrating their Catholic faith as one.

Over 500 participate in Kuching ER2014

KUCHING – Over 500 kids, youths and working adults from all across Brunei and Malaysia (mainly Sarawak, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Penang) came together for 4 days of empowering and spirit-filled happening at the Easter Rally (ER2014), plus a powerful evening of Worship and Adoration on June 5-8 at the Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC) in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching.

The event was organized by the EMPOWERED Ministry (the parish youth ministry for St Joseph’s Cathedral), together with the Holy Trinity Church and Chapel of Mother Mary parish youth ministries, under the Archdiocese of Kuching.

RCSC delegates told not to forget the people aspect in communications

PAPAR – At the 15th meeting of the Regional Commission for Social Communications (RCSC) at Pace Bene, Purak, Papar Jun 17-20, Bishop Cornelius Sim of Vicariate Brunei Darussalam, President of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei told the meeting that while the tools of communications are necessary, on their own they are insufficient. Besides the hardware, we should not forget the “people” aspect, an equally important factor of social communications. He also underscored that it was very critical to exercise care in the way we respond to youth as we enter their world.

K.I.T.A session preparing students for further study

TANJUNG ARU – About 30 participants, comprising of students who have completed SPM & STPM, together with their parents, attended the Keep-In-Touch-Always (K.I.T.A) session Apr 27, 2014 held at Stella Maris Church parish hall.

Organized by the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), the objective of the talk was to prepare students intending to go for further studies within Malaysia on the challenges they may face, and the importance of keeping in contact with the Catholic Church, by being involved with Catholic Students’ Groups on campuses and colleges so as to keep their faith alive.

True Encounter

KOTA KINABALU – Pope Francis chooses ‘encounter’ as theme for World Communications Day 2014. He said it is through communication that people are able to meet and encounter others on a meaningful level and to “express who we are, what we think and believe, how we wish to live and, perhaps more importantly, to come to know those with whom we are called to live. Here are what our young communicators encountered in the 3-day workshop and special open session of the recently held Media Workshop at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish May 1-3.

Jeremy Lau: The experience I had was an amazing one! The topic Creative Evangelisation & Mass Media presented by Fr Francis Lucas was very informative and thought provoking. The talk covered on items including the new language, culture & ways of doing things of the world, the challenges for Catholics, ways to engage people through media and others.

Over a thousand witness the blessing of St Paul multipurpose hall

SANDAKAN – On 20 Apr 2014, about 1,200 Catholic lay faithful residing within the vicinity of St Paul’s Church Ulu Dusun have every reason to celebrate Easter with joy and happiness. For, on that day they also witnessed the solemn blessing and official opening of St Paul’s Multi-Purpose Hall. The newly constructed hall is another land mark for St Paul’s Church which is a sub-parish of St Mary’s Cathedral, located some 50km away from town. It is situated beside the Church itself, up on a hill with magnificent view of the surrounding palm oil plantations.

The hall measures 30 ft by 80 ft, and accommodates two badminton courts, and another extension of 10 ft by 30 ft for an elevated stage and a basement room for meeting cum changing. It has a seating capacity of some 500 people.

Two to be ordained priests

Deacon Maxmilliano B. Hontor Date: 15 June 2014 Time: 4.00 pm Venue: St Catherine, Inanam…