KK Archdiocese organises local jubilee for priests

KOTA KINABALU –  The clergy of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese organised a local version of “Jubilee for Priests” in conjunction with the World Day of Sanctification for Priests (Sacred Heart of Jesus) on 2 June 2016 while the Jubilee for Priests in Rome was held  from June 1-3.

Twenty-seven priests joined  Abp John Wong and Abp Emeritus John Lee to celebrate the Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests with an evening Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral as part of the week-long parish feastday celebration.

Earlier the clergy held a half-day reflection as preparation to celebrate this day of sanctification at the parish centre.

Fr Rhobby Mojolou, who facilitated for the recollection, briefly introduced Pope John Paul II’s exhortation on the Formation of Priest in four areas: human, spiritual, academic, and pastoral; noting that the first two areas are the most important in the build-up of a priest.

Next Mojolou introduced two testimonies from priests entitled His Legitmate Duty is the Word of God and Prayer, and  Mercy and A Priest’s Examen for the Year of Mercy.

These articles were meant to help the priests to reflect that their ministry is first of all to proclaim the Word of God, and to celebrate the Sacraments especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist. As they return to  their primary roles, they will experience the mercy of God in their ministry firsthand.

As they experience that mercy of God they will in turn be more merciful to others.

Touching on the line in the pope’s prayer for the Jubilee of Mercy which reveals priests as God’s ministers who have their weaknesses and limitations, Mojolou explained,  “In your struggles you will always experience the mercy of God, and that’s what you share with others”.

Some of the questions given for reflection were: “If I had never been born, what difference would that make? if I were to stand before God tonight what would the Lord say about my life and my ministry? Have I been a priest for myself and not for Christ? Have I led a selfish life, serving only myself? Have I catered to popular opinion, not being faithful to my commitment to preach the truth? Have I used the priesthood for personal gain? Have I prayed as often as I ought? Is my life making a positive difference? If not, isn’t it time to get on with God’s programme for my life? Is this Holy Year not the time to recognise the rebel within each one of us and return to the Lord?”

After the group sharing, the recollection continued in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where the priests spent the Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament, and went to confession.  – Fr Rhobby Mojolou