Diocesan/parish staff urged to pray for themselves

KOTA KINABALU – “Pray for yourselves, asking God to forgive your sins!” urged Archbishop John Wong before proceeding to lead his staff, both of his diocese office (CAC) and of his parish (SHC), to make a pilgrimage from the foyer of the hall to the Holy Door at SHC.

He added “Do you believe that God has indeed cleansed you of your sins? If so, a clean heart makes the heart empty of sins. Ask God to fill your empty heart with His graces and blessings so that sin cannot enter it again.”

Abp Wong also reminded the staff of the purpose of celebrating the Year of Mercy according to Pope Francis: to encounter the mercy of God, to enter into the logic of God and to ask for forgiveness.

The pilgrimage was held in conjunction with the combined Easter celebration for staff, which was completed with a Mass at the Chapel. This is the second year the archbishop held a combined Easter celebration which took place on 28 Apr 2016. Over 100 staff members attended the celebration.

The counsel from the Archbishop has touched the staff. Stacy from CAC said she could relate to his encouragement about asking God’s graces to fill a cleansed heart. She has experienced confessing the same sins but she also believes that God is merciful with her.

The walk through the Holy Door has brought some to tears especially during the Litany to the Saints. A SHC staff said that it was not her first time to enter the Holy Door, but this was the first time she was praying for herself as the archbishop has encouraged them to do. She prayed for God’s grace to get rid of all bad habits. – Linda Edward