Limbanak hosts 7th Red Mass

LIMBANAK – St Aloysius Limbanak hosted the 7th Red Mass of the Legal Fraternity on 27 Jan 2018.

The event began with the entrance procession from the gate of the attendees in full robe.

Archbishop John Wong presided at the Mass.

Over 50 legal practitioners – mostly lawyers,  a judge and three judicial officials from the Kota Kinabalu High Court – attended the event, including some family members and others.

In his homily, Abp Wong called on those present to seek for wisdom and guidance from on high  in their work.

In her speech after the Mass, Mdm Ruth Marcus, coordinator of the Sabah Catholic Lawyers Association (SCLA), reminded those present that the association was the brainchild of Abp Emeritus John Lee and was formed in 2012 primarily to bring Catholic lawyers to pray together, occasioned by the Lina Joy case.

She said that the association will continue to provide free legal counselling on various issues affecting the Catholic faith such as IC discrepancies, unilateral conversion of minors, and apostasy cases.

Marcus informed those present that the association plans to organise a conference on interreligious dialogue with people of diverse faiths similar to that she attended in Beirut Lebanon in October 2017.

At the same time, she proposed the idea of some representation from the Catholic lawyers to sit on the National Unity Consultative Council to assist the council by providing feedback and recommendation on the National Harmony Bill.

She said the association also hopes to organise a retreat for Malaysian Catholic lawyers soon.  The immediate plan, however, is to compile the names of Catholic lawyers and re-structure the programme better.

In his turn, after giving some words of encouragement, Abp Wong announced that he has appointed Father Paul Lo as the spiritual adviser of the association.

The event ended with lunch at the Fr Jud Hall below the church.