KOTA KINABALU – On Mar 26 and 30 across the Arch/dioceses of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Keningau, the Arch/bishops gathered with their priests, seminarians and deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful to celebrate the Chrism Mass where two important things took place: the priests publicly renewed their priestly promises before their bishops, and the Oils of Catechumens and the Sick were blessed and the Holy Chrism consecrated.
The newly ordained are not only adjusting to priesthood, celibacy and ministry; they are also adjusting to becoming leaders of parishes, with all the attendant administration, leadership and management challenges. Here is a candid sharing from Fr Mitchelly Kiun on his first year of priestly ministerial service:
1. What do you love most about being a priest?
Being a priest is to be able to preach and minister to the people of God. So to me, the most enjoyable moment is when I diligently prepare myself before every Sacrament of the Eucharist. Preparing myself means to immerse my worldly life into the spiritual Word so that I may be more Christ-like. In other words, the WORD OF GOD is my source of inspiration for my daily living, especially in my availability to help others and for my own spiritual growth.
SETAPAK, KL – March 21 was a joyous day for the Good Shepherd Sisters, lay mission partners, and benefactors in the province of Malaysia-Singapore as we rejoiced with Sr Teresa Chye on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession. It was a celebration of 50 years of faithful service to God and humanity with tremendous love, compassion and zeal.
KIULU – Since the announcement of the establishment of St Joseph Kiulu as a parish in Oct 2014, plans were afoot to inaugurate the new parish on the feast day of its patron, St Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 19.
Archbishop John Wong presided at the Inaugural Mass, joined by 21 priests from the Archdiocese, including Fr Joseph Gapitang from Keningau Diocese. Fr Gapitang was one of the pioneering priests serving the people in Kiulu back in the 80’s.
KENINGAU – Seminarians Hilanus Simon and Harry Dorisoh were joyously ordained as deacons for the Diocese of Keningau by Bishop Cornelius Piong at St Francis Xavier Cathedral on 22 Mar 2015. The celebration saw a large multitude of parishioners from the Diocese of Keningau as well as Sandakan Diocese and Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese
ALEPPO – An extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, announced 13 Mar 2015 by Pope Francis during the penitential liturgy which he presided in St Peter’s, arouses reflections among the Christians in Syria, starting from the condition of anxiety and suffering they experience as we enter the fifth year of the Syrian conflict.
“Let us ask and beg God’s mercy for ourselves, for the Church here, for all our friends and fellow travelers, and also for all those who commit atrocities in the name of God: may God himself have mercy on us and them, and touch the hearts of all”.
This is what Bishop Georges Abou Khazen OFM, Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo for the Catholics of the Latin rite, says to Agenzia Fides, describing the feelings and expectations of the ‘Announcement of a Jubilee year dedicated to Mercy.’
YouthPREPLink (YPL) through its programme, Preparation and Youth Outreach, responds to the need of preparing youths to face and handle life challenges as well as to enrich their capability in making decisions in such challenging situations. YPL is an initiative of the Good Shepherd Sisters which is being run in the Good Shepherd Welfare Centre, Alamesra. The initiative is also supported by committed volunteers.
PENAMPANG – In this issue, Catholic Sabah (CS) focuses on the Monfortian charism.
Religious life in the Church is indeed a gift from God to the Church. It is a sign and symbol of the Kingdom. The Religious life of the Brothers is first and foremost a call to live radically the Gospel in the community, in practicing the evangelical counsels. It is the life based on the words and examples of Jesus Christ.