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Keningau Diocese to begin last lap of preparation for diocesan silver jubilee with a day of reparation

File picture: Bishop Cornelius Piong receives the pastoral staff from Archbishop Peter Chung of Kuching at his episcopal ordination on 6 May 1993, Katedral St Francis Xavier Keningau.  Co-consecrators were Archbishop Soter Fernandez of Kuala Lumpur and Bishop John Lee of Kota Kinabalu.

PENAMPANG – Keningau Diocese will begin the last lap of preparation for its diocesan silver jubilee with a day of reparation on 15 Sept 2017.

In his pastoral letter issued for the forthcoming celebration, Bishop Cornelius Piong writes: I would like to invite all the faithful …the entire diocesan community to have a day of reparation or sogit as our expression of peace with our Lord Jesus whom we have hurt and our fellow believers.

The day scheduled, the bishop adds,  is Sept 15 in conjunction with the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, at 6 pm, and “we can fill it with fasting, praying the Rosary, Mass and moments of silence.”

This is because, he continues, “For over 24 years walking together as the People of God in Keningau Diocese, we realise and admit that we, as individuals and as a community, have done wrong to God and our neighbours.”

The prelate explains further: We, as priests, religious, wives and husbands, are aware of our sins against God, to whom we have made our promises of loyalty.  These sins have also affected adversely our community.

The letter, posted Sept 6 on the diocesan website, reminds the faithful of the silver jubilee theme: The Family centred on Christ with a culture of worshipping God, strong faith and social responsibility.

It points out the need to be alert and aware of the tricks of the devil in that “societal values that emphasise success, efficiency, status and power” can be used by the devil to influence “our leadership and service styles without our awareness.”

The bishop says that the spirit of humility can only be inculcated through time spent with Jesus in the Eucharist, adoration and prayer, in listening and reflecting on His Word and in sensitivity to His Presence in the family and community.  “Only our union with Jesus will enable us to carry out our commitment – whether as married couples, religious, clergy – with joy (cf Jn 15:11),” he exhorts.

The Keninagu Diocese was erected on 6 May 1993 with Msgr Cornelius Piong as bishop.  The silver jubilee celebration of the diocese, as well as the bishop’s 25 years of episcopal ministry, is scheduled for 5 May 2018.  The year-long preparation for the double celebration was launched by Bishop Piong on May 6 this year in Toboh Tambunan.

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