BUNDU TUHAN –A new Tadika mission was officially opened under the care of St Pius X Parish, Bundu Tuhan, Jul 6. The success was a concerted effort and cooperation from the parish priests, parish pastoral council, the Board of Governors and parents. The Archdiocese Early Childhood Committee (AECEC) briefed the parish on the opening of Tadika mission early May this year.
SANDAKAN – The Marian Hill Development Committee (MHDC) met up for an informal get-together Jul 5 at the parish canteen. Turning up for the occasion were about 80 people comprising of members and their family, and chairpersons of other ministry and community groups. Also present to lend support were Bishop Julius Gitom, Fr Thomas Makajil, and Fr Sunny Chung.
With an aim to raise funds to aid victims of the Nepal and Sabah Earthquake, Pusat Belia Youth-PREP Alamesra held a fundraising concert last Saturday on the evening of 13 June 2015.
PENAMPANG – What is the reality of living in a campus? The students and parents from around Penampang parish were enlightened with talks and sharing pertinent to challenges living outside homes and having to be independent in all areas of life inside a campus. 49 high school and higher learning institution students and 26 parents attended Keep In Touch Always (KITA) program in Assumption of Our Lady Church, Sugud, May 21. Fr Wiandigool Runsab, assistant priest of St Michael Parish opened the program with an exhortation.
I was born into a family that is not rich. My parents grew up during the time of WWII. They suffered losses due to the war. My dad was orphaned by the Japanese occupation as young as six. My mom, being the eldest, had to stop school to earn for her family of eight. After their marriage, they vowed to prepare their children well to survive in the world. They worked hard, saved up their salaries and invested them for our education. Thanks to my parents’ sacrifices, all of us children grew up and had a good start in life.
KOTA KINABALU, Jun 26 – The Sandakan mission school that was pressured by its Muslim-majority Parents and Teachers Association to remove a cross on the façade of a new building has rebuffed attempts for it to move the religious icon to another location.
KOTA KINABALU – Addressing some 300 teachers on the occasion of the celebration of Teachers’ Day at the Archdiocesan level Jun 20, Archbishop John Wong told teachers to go beyond their duties and to show how much they care for their students. He added that as teachers, they are to teach students values which can only be learnt through actions. Helping the students to deal with their brokenness will make them remember their teachers for the rest of their lives.
PENANG – The Regional Commission of Social Communication (RCSC) held its 16th annual meeting at the Stella Maris Retreat Center in Penang from June 15-18, 2015. The meeting conducted its study day on Jun 16 and elected new office bearers for 2015-2017. The meeting concentrated on business matters on Jun 17.
Dear brothers and sisters,
The earthquake that shook Sabah on June 5 has taken 18 lives, among whom were heroic mountain guides and innocent school children and their teachers. Many buildings fell apart. Landslides, mudslides, fallen trees, broken bridges, dried pipes and so forth have created havoc especially to the people in Ranau and Kota Belud districts. But it is the emotional trauma of the people living at the foothills of Mt Kinabalu that continues to cause nightmares as subsequent aftershocks are still being experienced.
RANAU (CS) – Father Francis Tsen, assistant priest at St Peter Claver, when contacted offers some thoughts for reflection on the recent shock and the chaos that followed.