KOTA KINABALU – For the first time ever, the Sabah Council of Churches alongside with…
Putatan’s St Catherine Laboure church moves forward
KOTA KINABALU: A much anticipated church in the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese is one step closer to becoming reality with a contractor appointed to complete the partially constructed structure at Putatan near here.
If all goes well, the six storey St Catherine Laboure church is expected to open its doors by late 2026.
The contractor, Macromax Enterprise, officially took over the site on July 25 during a brief handover ceremony presided by Kota Kinabalu Archbishop John Wong.
“We are hopeful that this church will be completed as scheduled,” he said, adding that RM5.18mil was needed for the completion of the church.
The contract provides for a one year construction period with an extension period of five months.
The handing over ceremony was preceded by a blessing of the site by Fr Peter Abas, the Spiritual Advisor of St Catherine Laboure’s building steering committee.
Fr Peter said they were counting on the generosity of the community to raise the needed funds.
“We hope this project will move and we are praying for ongoing support from people all over so that this church will be available for the Catholic community living in and around Putatan,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya, the Putatan State Assemblyman, dropped by at the event to check on the progress of the church construction.
“As the State Assemblyman for Putatan, it is my responsibility to check on this project that has been going on for some time,” he said.
St Catherine’s Laboure is built on a 1.2 ha site, 0.8ha of which was donated by the late Catherine Moinin @ Enging whose grandfather Ethwin Tuyo was among the first natives of Putatan who became Catholic.
The remaining 0.4ha was donated by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun, Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh, Datuk Stephen Sondoh and Patrick Payne Tudus.
The site is historically significant as it was the landing point of Fr Alexander Prenger who sailed from Labuan in 1885 in his missionary effort to North Borneo as Sabah was then known.
Construction of the church began in 2013 with contributions from the Federal and State governments as well as donations. However the project faced delays due to funding issues and was suspended during the Covid pandemic.
By Ruben Sario, SOCCOM ADKK
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Tender Notice St Catherine of Laboure Church, Putatan
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