Initiation Year closes academic year with a thanksgiving celebration

KOTA KINABALU – The Initiatiion Year of St Peter’s College here closed its academic year with a thanksgiving celebration on 11 Dec 2015 at its premises located on Jalan Sang Kancil Tiga Karamunsing.

In his homily, Archbishop John Wong noted that the word “thanksgiving” was the right word to describe the night’s event as it expressed the sentiment for all the graces received and learnings during the formative process of the past ten months.

Concelebrating with the prelate were Fr Rayner Bisius, IY Director; Fr Wilfred Atin, Director of the Aspirants, and two of the lecturers, Fr Paul Lo and Fr Jalius Sading.

After the Mass, the congregation adjourned to the IY Square (or as they called it “St Peter’s Square”) for a fellowship meal and short programme.  Despite the inclement weather, the IY students and aspirants managed to entertain those present with their song and dance performances.

In his address, the prelate told the audience that the Malaysian bishops and seminary staff have decided in their recent meeting to pool their resources together for the good of the candidates: IY will remain in KK, philosophy (2 yrs) in Penang, and theology (4 yrs) in Kuching.  The Aspirancy will be two years instead of one so that the candidates will have longer time to prepare for their English Proficiency Exam needed to enter the seminary programme proper.

As usual, the two formation houses presented tokens of appreciation to their lecturers and staff as well as to those who have helped out in the smooth running of the formative programmes in one way or another.  The event closed with a night prayer and blessing from Abp Wong.