2015 – Page 26 – Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

CS focuses on Lasallian charism

PENAMPANG – On its vocation page this year, Catholic Sabah (CS) focuses on the Lasallian charism.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle was born in France in 1651. He belonged to one of the more important families in the city of Rheims. At the age of 27 he was ordained a priest.

Attentive to God’s voice, a voice calling him to place all his trust in Him, John Baptist stripped himself of everything: first of his title as canon, then of his patrimony which he distributed to the poor during a famine that desolated France in 1683 and 1684, thereby becoming completely poor himself just as the young people who came to his schools, and just like the teachers whom he encouraged to place their faith in God.

EMI organises 4th Exodus Retreat in Penang

PENANG – EMI, the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, organized the 4th edition of the Exodus Retreat, themed The Mission of Jesus Unto Me, at the idyllic Stella Maris Retreat Centre in Penang Jan 29-Feb 1. Fifty participants came from various parishes and lay organisations of Malaysia as well as from ACMI, the Migrant Commission from Singapore.

Sandakan Family Life studies Relatio Synodi document

SANDAKAN – The Sandakan Diocesan Family Life Commission for the new term of 2015-17 held its first meeting cum Study Session on the Relatio Synodi document at the Diocesan Retreat Center, Ulu Dusun Feb 6-7.

13 members coming from across the diocese attended the meeting. Bishop Julius Gitom, who is also the Spiritual Director for Family Life Commission, was present to guide them through the document.

Friends of St John Vianney a boon to priest formation

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.

53 confirmed at Stella Maris

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.

St Catherine Laboure launches RM1-a-brick fundraising project

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!

Society of St Vincent de Paul updates on activities

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.

St Mary’s Cathedral celebrates WDCL

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.