Indonesian consul officiates opening of CLC Papar

PAPAR – Indonesian Consul Bapak Akhmad Daya officiated the opening of the Community Learning Centre (CLC) at the Dewan Fr John Tsung, St Joseph Church here on 12 June 2016.

The CLC is a place where the Indonesian migrant children are given moral education to keep them off the streets.  Some eighty of them were present at the event along with their parents and guardians from the Indonesian community.  At the moment while they are waiting for the catechetical building to be completed within two months’ time, the children and their facilitators are using the parish hall for their moral lessons.

In his speech Bapak Akhmad reminded the Indonesian community (most working in the estates and plantations) not to fall foul of the country’s laws.

The cake-cutting ceremony together with the signing of the certificates by the officials concerned constituted the official opening of the centre which began lessons for the children in October 2015 with four facilitators.  The signing was done by the Indonesian Consul; Fr Thomas Yip, pastor of St Joseph; and Yohanes Sogen, CLC Coordinator.  It was witnessed by Dominic Lim, head of the Archdiocesan Human Development Commission (AHDC), and Agustinus Taka.

Also present at the event was  Papar Police Special Branch representative, Sr Anita Lintanga of the AHDC, and Aaron  Jr Augustin, PPC representative of the parish.

The children showcased their learnings within five months and impressed the audience with their performances.

This is the second CLC in the archdiocese.  The first CLC was opened at Sacred Heart Parish Centre Karamunsing some years back, a clear manifestation of the Receiving Church, much spoken of by the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) based on the social teachings of the Church.