KOTA BELUD – Despite heavy rain, some 1,000 lay faithful gathered with joy and oneness of heart at the Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the priestly ordination of Fr Ambrose Atang at St Edmund’s Church Feb 16. The Mass was presided by Fr Ambrose himself, and at the altar with him were Archbishop John Wong, Msgr Primus Jouil, Msgr Gilbert Engan, Fr Bruno Yasun, Fr Cosmas Lee, and 14 other priests from parishes around the Arch/dioceses of Kota Kinabalu and Keningau.

KOTA KINABALU – The Catholic legal fraternity of Sabah had been reminded to practise their profession with mercy and love during the fourth annual Red Mass celebration held at the chapel of St Simon Catholic Church Likas on Feb 14.

In his address, Archbishop John Wong beckoned the crowd to be like God, an image of love – God shows “tremendous care and concern” despite humanity’s fall in the Garden of Eden as His mercy far surpasses the gravity of men’s wrongdoings.

KOTA KINABALU (CS) – The Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu shared the joy of witnessing the election of 1,141 new catechumens at the liturgical rite of Election and Enrolment of Names at Sacred Heart Cathedral Feb 22, with a crowd of more than 2,000.  The elects hailed from 20 parishes in Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, including Labuan, coming together with their godparents, and supported by their parish priest/assistant priest.

KOTA KINABALU – The Council of Religious held a Day of Recollection at Montfort Youth Training Centre Kinarut Jan 31, which was attended by 60 religious Brothers and Sisters.

The recollection was presented by Fr Collin Tan, Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus of Malaysia-Singapore Region.

PENAMPANG – On its vocation page this year, Catholic Sabah (CS) focuses on the Lasallian charism.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle was born in France in 1651.  He belonged to one of the more important families in the city of Rheims.  At the age of 27 he was ordained a priest.

Attentive to God’s voice, a voice calling him to place all his trust in Him, John Baptist stripped himself of everything:  first of his title as canon, then of his patrimony which he distributed to the poor during a famine that desolated France in 1683 and 1684, thereby becoming completely poor himself just as the young people who came to his schools, and just like the teachers whom he encouraged to place their faith in God.

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!