Fr Sipanul to mark 40 years of priesthood

PENAMPANG – Father Alexander Sipaul will mark 40 years of priesthood on 31 Dec 2016 but its celebration will be two days earlier on Dec 29 at the Catholic Church in Kg Madsiang at 6:30 pm.

Born in Limbahau on 13 June 1948, Fr Alex is the youngest in a brood of three boys and one girl born to Emanuel Sipanul and Elizabeth Andreas.  He had his primary school at St Mary Limbahau (1955-1962) and secondary at La Salle Tg Aru (1963-1967).  He entered St Francis Xavier Minor Seminary Singapore in 1968 and his philosophical and theological studies in Rome (1971-1976). He was ordained priest by Bishop Simon Fung at Holy Rosary Limbahau on 31 Dec 1976.

After ordination, he served in Penampang, Tanjung Aru/Labuan, Tambunan, Toboh, Inanam/Manggatal/Telipok before taking up licentiate course in canon law in Rome (1992-1994).  After licentiate studies, he went back to serve in Inanam/Manggatal/Telipok, then Penampang and currently in Inobong.

Aside from being pastor, he also serves as a member of the College of Consultors, the Archdiocesan Finance Board, and as spiritual director of the Legion of Mary Comitium since 1998.