KK Archdiocese – Page 15 – Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KK Archdiocese hosts inaugural regional family life commission meeting

KOTA KINABALU – Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese played host to the 1st Episcopal Regional Commission for Family Life (ERCFL) Meeting held at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Centre, Karamunsing, from 16-18 Jun 2014.

The meeting was convened by Archbishop John Wong, President of ERCFL for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, with the objectives: (a) to listen to the programs and initiatives made by the arch/dioceses in this region for family, as well as to know the current issues and challenges faced by families today; and (b) to formally set up ERCFL for the region.

Over 700 attend 40th CCR anniversary celebration

KOTA KINABALU – More than 700 people together with the leaders of the Renewal from parishes over Sabah gathered for a one-day celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the land of Sabah at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Centre on 7 Jun 2014.

It was definitely an occasion worth celebrating and should indeed be a time of praise and thanksgiving to God for this wonderful ‘current of grace’ which has brought literally tens of thousands of people to a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in our local region. (Pope Francis on Jun 1, 2014, at the celebration of the 37th Annual National Convocation of “Renewal in the Spirit” in Rome said: “You, Charismatic Renewal, have received a great gift from the Lord: you have been born from a desire of the Holy Spirit as a current of grace in the Church and for the Church. This is your definition: a current of grace.”

Kepayan CCR recalls its history

KEPAYAN – Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in St Thomas Kepayan Parish started in 1982. A group of parishioners who attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar organized by the CCR prayer group of St Michael Penampang came back ‘on fire’ and were inspired to initiate a prayer group for the parish.

This group of pioneers organized their first prayer meeting at the residence of James Binaji at Kg Ganang, Kepayan. The pioneers consisted of his wife, Henry Juming, Laura Saimon, Paula John and Cyril Jolik Lojimin. Some of them eventually went on to form the first core group.

Three participants share their experiences of PBK-12

Canisius Enus (Holy Family Telipok): I am blessed that this programme has discussed about the culture of death which is so important for the youth to have the awareness to change their lifestyles including me.

Technology was one of the things that leads to the culture of death for example, youth tends to spend most of their time texting, chatting, social networking through some social apps such as whatsapp, wechat, facebook and the list goes on, and basically ignoring the community around them.

This is really helpful because we have to fight against this and make God as our priority in life. The things that I want to do next is to spread to the world that God is Love and inviting others to experience God’s Love.

Felny Enkong (Holy Family Telipok): I was really touched by my experience in PBK-12! I experienced healing and renewed strength, especially during the Youth Vigil. I sensed that it would cause changes in my life.

Soon after the vigil, I felt the heat, which I believe is the fire of God’s love, burned within me. I experienced a real sense of being loved by God especially after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I know this wonderful experience would be a source of strength for me to face trials in life. I will continue to be faithful to the Father, and obedient to do His will. I will choose to live forgiveness and healing through serving in the Church.

SHC organises fellowship night for neophytes and confirmands

KOTA KINABALU – The newly confirmed, together with the neophytes from the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, were given a rousing welcome as they turned up for a Fellowship Night at the parish hall Jun 8 to mark the milestone of their becoming a confirmed Catholic.

285 young people were confirmed at Sacred Heart Cathedral on May 11, 2014. Confirmation is a rite of initiation in a Catholic person’s journey of faith. It carries with it a spiritual, sacred and permanent sign or seal that marks the Christian as a witness of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit. It “renders the bond with the Church more perfect”, because, while a baptized person is already a member, “reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace”. Outwardly it appears to be carried out through anointing, the laying on of hands, and prayer, but its spiritual significance goes far beyond that.

Over a thousand youth converge for PBK-12

PENAMPANG – More than a thousand Catholic youth coming from the Arch/dioceses of Kota Kinabalu and Keningau converged for a 5-day event, the 12th Archdiocesan Youth Festival or Pesta Belia Keuskupan-12, from 1-5 June 2014, spread out over three Penampang parishes; Sacred Heart Church Inobong, St Michael Penampang, and St Aloysius Church Limbanak.

Celebrated once in four years with a different theme, 2014 theme for the festival was taken from John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” This awesome gathering seeks to unite youth across the arch/dioceses, coming from different culture and background, with the main purpose of celebrating their Catholic faith as one.

True Encounter

KOTA KINABALU – Pope Francis chooses ‘encounter’ as theme for World Communications Day 2014. He said it is through communication that people are able to meet and encounter others on a meaningful level and to “express who we are, what we think and believe, how we wish to live and, perhaps more importantly, to come to know those with whom we are called to live. Here are what our young communicators encountered in the 3-day workshop and special open session of the recently held Media Workshop at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish May 1-3.

Jeremy Lau: The experience I had was an amazing one! The topic Creative Evangelisation & Mass Media presented by Fr Francis Lucas was very informative and thought provoking. The talk covered on items including the new language, culture & ways of doing things of the world, the challenges for Catholics, ways to engage people through media and others.

Two to be ordained priests

Deacon Maxmilliano B. Hontor Date: 15 June 2014 Time: 4.00 pm Venue: St Catherine, Inanam Deacon Jack J. Sigam Date: 28 June 2014 Time: 9.30 am Venue: St Peter Claver, Ranau

Papal nuncio meets KK clergy and religious

KOTA KINABALU (CS) – Arriving on the first day of his first pastoral visit to the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Marino, met up with all the priests of the archdiocese together with Archbishop John Wong and Archbishop Emeritus John Lee at the Vianney Home.

Also present at the gathering with the Nuncio and the bishops and the priests were some representatives of the Franciscan Sisters, the Daughters of St Paul, Monfort Brothers and La Salle Brothers. It was truly a blessed occasion and after dinner, time was set aside for a conference with the Nuncio.

Media Workshop opens doors for Church

KOTA KINABALU – “What is communication? Does it derive from a feeling or a thought?” Catholic Media Network (CMN) President Fr Francis Lucas directed the question to 90 participants during a media workshop in Kota Kinabalu recently.

The workshop featured dynamic talks of Fr Lucas, who helms the Catholic Media Network in the Philippines, composing of about 60 radio stations throughout the country. An incardinated priest from the prelature of Infanta, he devoted most of his 40 years in his priesthood evangelizing and advocating for environmental, economic and agricultural development through media. He is an active media practitioner as a news anchor in the nationwide radio program “CMN Veritas Philippines” and co-anchor in “The Forum”, a weekly media forum.