PENANG – EMI, the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, organized the 4th edition of the Exodus Retreat, themed The Mission of Jesus Unto Me, at the idyllic Stella Maris Retreat Centre in Penang Jan 29-Feb 1. Fifty participants came from various parishes and lay organisations of Malaysia as well as from ACMI, the Migrant Commission from Singapore.
SANDAKAN – The Sandakan Diocesan Family Life Commission for the new term of 2015-17 held its first meeting cum Study Session on the Relatio Synodi document at the Diocesan Retreat Center, Ulu Dusun Feb 6-7.
13 members coming from across the diocese attended the meeting. Bishop Julius Gitom, who is also the Spiritual Director for Family Life Commission, was present to guide them through the document.
KOTA KINABALU – The 2nd fundraising dinner of 122 tables organized by Friends of St John Vianney (FSJV) at Putera Theatre Ballroom Feb 1 saw a successful gathering of priests, religious, seminarians and aspirants, benefactors, supporters and parishioners of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese. Archbishop Emeritus John Lee and Archbishop John Wong graced the occasion.
TANJUNG ARU – Feb 1 saw 53 JWG students from the parish of Stella Maris Church being conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation by Archbishop John Wong.
JWG, Joyful Weekend Gathering is the Sunday School program of the parish to form and prepare students for Confirmation, ranging from 13-18 years of age.
Speaking to the parishioners at the parish hall after the Mass, the Archbishop encouraged all to know their new parish priest well. Msgr Primus Jouil was transferred to the parish in the recent reshuffle of clergy in the archdiocese last October.
TANJUNG ARU – Stella Maris Parish launched the St Catherine Laboure RM1-a-brick fundraising project at the church parish hall in conjunction with the Carols by Candlelight, followed by a fully-sponsored dinner at the Fellowship Centre Dec 21 last year.
The idea of the RM1-a-brick was to enable any and every one to take up the challenge to be fully involved as a Church by their willingness to support no matter their financial standing. Your least contribution would cost you RM1 for a brick. With the completion of the Church, each one could literally say that their “bricks” have contributed to build up the Church!
SANDAKAN – The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) of Holy Trinity Church, Tawau paid a courtesy call on Bishop Julius Gitom Feb 5 at the Diocesan Pastoral Office to brief him on the Society’s activities in the parish since its inception February last year.
Angela Teo, who heads the Society in Tawau, briefed Bishop Julius that it has 25 active members, who are diligently working to serve people in need. Members live out the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed with compassion and respect.
The Diocese of Sandakan celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life with Mass Feb 8 at St Mary’s Cathedral, which was presided by Fr Sunny Chung, and attended by religious Sisters and Brothers of FSIC, Good Shepherds, and Brothers of St Gabriel, and the local faithful.
In his homily, Fr Sunny Chung explained that consecrated life is defined by men and women who set out to follow Christ more closely, and lead lives dedicated to God by practising the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They become a sign in the Church of a more exacting way of Christian living in their strife for the perfection of charity in the service of the kingdom of God.
KOTA KINABALU (CS) – On February 2, 2015, the global Catholic Church celebrated the World Day for Consecrated Life. This is a day of special celebration and prayer by the Universal Church for men and women who have consecrated their lives to God.