KOTA KINABALU – Two hundred and thirty-seven neophytes and 267 confirmands from the Sacred Heart Cathedral came, clothed in white garments, for a Fellowship Night at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre on 24 May 2015 to celebrate the milestone of their becoming part of the Catholic Church.
TANJUNG ARU – Some 600 students including teachers and religious brothers from La Salle Secondary school celebrated their La Salle Day with a Mass presided by Fr Rhobby Mojolou at Stella Maris Church May 15. The day was also celebrated in conjunction with the Feastday of St John Baptist de La Salle, their patron saint, and Teachers Day 2015. Principals and teachers from Stella Maris Secondary school and Sacred Heart Primary school also joined in the Mass.
LIKAS – St Simon Parish Likas recently held a three-week Parish Mission conducted by the Redemptorist priests on 29 Apr – 24 May 2015, concluding on Pentecost Sunday during the morning Mass. Three Redemptorist priests came at the invitation of the Rector, Fr Cosmas Lee, to conduct this mission at the parish. They were Fr Joseph Stephen, Fr Paul Kee and Fr Suresh Pushparaj. The mission, themed ‘Renewal through the Holy Spirit’, was aimed to reach out to all parishioners to be renewed and invigorated in our life through the Holy Spirit.
BUKIT PADANG – Church of Mary Immaculate here celebrated Kaamatan Festival cum Mother’s Day on 10 May 2015.
The celebration began with a procession, accompanied by gong beating, from the hall to the Church. Parishioners, clad in their traditional garb, followed in the symbolic procession or “mamanau kampung” (in KadazanDusun) which was led by the cross bearer, altar servers, EMCs, lectors, Archbishop John Wong and Fr Jeffri Gumu.
RANAU – “I thank God that you have the courage to say ‘Yes’ to Him, to serve Him as a priest.” These were the words of Archbishop John Wong as he welcomed the newest member, Fr Abel Madisang, into the presbyterium of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu. Fr Abel, 35, was ordained a priest on Monday, 4 May 2015 at his home parish of St Peter Claver Ranau, after eight years of seminary formation and serving as a deacon in Sacred Heart Cathedral.
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.
1. What do you love most about being a priest?
KOTA KINABALU – KK prelate assumed role of parish priest on 9 Apr 2015.
He presided over the first staff Mass at the chapel of Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing. Joining the cathedral staff were the staff of the Archdiocesan Centre Penampang.
BUNDU TUHAN – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you… and you will be my witnesses.” That was the theme for this year’s Holy Spirit Camp. A total of 220 teens went up to Bundu Tuhan Retreat Center Mar 20 – 22, some with great expectations, some without knowing what to expect for this year’s camp.
KOTA KINABALU – The local Carmelite Community marked the fifth centenary of the birth of St Teresa of Jesus with a Mass for “World Prayer for Peace” at the Carmelite Monastery, which was presided by Archbishop John Wong on 27 Mar 2015.
At the Vatican on Mar 26, Pope Francis began a special prayer for peace as part of the 500 centenary celebrations marking the birth of St Teresa of Avila. The Pope led the hour of prayer at the Casa Santa Marta before saying Mass along with the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelite Order, Fr Saverio Cannestrà.
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.