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Works of mercy to become our culture

KOTA KINABALU – The parish Human Development Committee under the Sacred Heart Cathedral (SHPHDC) has been “feeding” families accompanying patients of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who come from districts outside Kota Kinabalu.

SHPHDC launched the corporal works of mercy of “feeding the hungry” in 2017, following the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy as an experiential learning activity to respond to the Holy Father’s call to “continue to be merciful”.

Pope Francis wants new ways of practising “the corporal and spiritual works of mercy which continue in our own day to be proof of mercy’s immense positive influence as a social value.” (Misericordia et Misera 18)

It is the norm of outstation families to accompany their loved ones who seek for further treatment or who come for surgery at the KK hospitals.  The committee has encountered such “visitors” coming from Kota Marudu, Pitas, Ranau, Sipitang, etc.

Some of them would be accommodated at the Asrama Rotary depending on availability, but a number of them could be seen “camping” at the corridors of the hospitals.  To be able to afford “rented rooms” for their temporary stay in town would be out of the question.

To ease their burden, the committee members have cooked, packaged and delivered simple meals to whoever needed food, keeping in mind the Holy Father’s words “The social character of mercy demands that we not simply stand by and do nothing.  It requires us to banish indifference and hypocrisy.” (MM 19)

This “culture of mercy” is greatly encouraged by the Holy Father.

For those interested to know more about, or participate in, this works of mercy, please contact Sergius Ramday @ 016-8100788 or Catherine Engsun @ 017-8231011. – CS

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