Pauline Cooperators to mark 25 years of existence in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU – Come May 30 the Association of Pauline Cooperators will mark 25 years of existence in Sabah.

The association will mark the milestone with a three-day retreat (29-31 May 2017) facilitated by Filipino Pauline Father Dominador Guzman in Kundasang.  The jubilee celebration will be on June 1 at 7 pm at the Daughters of St Paul Convent Karamunsing.

The association of lay collaborators affiliated to the Daughters of St Paul was formed on 30 May 1992 after a three-day retreat at the Kipouvo Retreat House Penampang.

When the Daughters of St Paul reopened their house in Kota Kinabalu in 1989, they were actively sharing the Good News of Christ in their evening house to house visitation in the Catholic communities in Penampang and Kepayan, bringing along with them spiritual books, videos and music cassettes.

That year, the sisters found it difficult to move around as there were no lay people available to guide them in their visit to the families.

In between 1990 and 1992, the sisters visited Limbanak, Inobong and Kolopis, and this time they were helped by many lay volunteers.  They knew the importance of the laity in the work of evangelisation.

In January 1992, the sisters invited their guides to their thanksgiving Mass marking their third anniversary in Sabah.  About 100 people turned up for the event.  After the Mass, the local superior, Sister Rosalie Lojiu, invited those present to be their collaborators and benefactors.

Two weeks later, 23 people came for the inaugural formation talk.  They returned for the other 10 sessions dealing with spirituality, mission, apostolate and St Paul.  Upon completion of the formation syllabus, the participants attended a three-day retreat (28-30 May 1992) facilitated by  Father Dominador Guzman.  At the end of the retreat, 14 of them were inducted as Pauline Cooperators.

Of the original 14 members, 11 have remained as Pauline Cooperators. Down the years new members were inducted.  They meet monthly for prayer, discussion on apostolic activities and ongoing formation.  Many of them are teachers by profession, some are involved in their respective parishes as extraordinary ministers of holy communion and choir members.