Sandakan Diocese

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.

TAWAU – More than a thousand Filipino parishioners gathered to celebrate together with other communities the annual event of the Feast of Infant Jesus, marking its 17th year with the theme: Faith, Hope and Love,at Holy Trinity Church Jan 18 .  The feast is also known as Feast of Santo Nino De Cebu.  The image of the infant Jesus symbolizes hope and protection.

The bi-lingual Thanksgiving Mass in Bisaya and English was presided over by Fr Johnny Raju.

SANDAKAN – During the 3rd Sunday of Advent, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Bishop Julius in his homily shared that doing little good deeds for the underprivileged are signs of us preparing for the Lord’s coming. Caroling definitely brings us the joy of Christmas but we must endeavor to move beyond that. We need to reach out to those who have less in life. That act of charity will bring deeper and greater joy to the less fortunate, a much meaningful Christmas.

SANDAKAN – Our faith in Christ, who became poor, and was always close to the poor and the outcast, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members. (Evangelii Gaudium #186) God’s heart has a special place for the poor, thus we are called to find Christ in them.

Throughout the four Sundays of Advent, the faithful were reminded to be aware and to stay focus in anticipation of the coming of Christ which is also an anticipation of our spiritual renewal, to be born anew. A way of which to gain newness is to serve others, especially the poor in the community.

LAHAD DATU – Members of the Diocesan Education Commission convened at St Dominic’s Church for their second meeting and formation session for 2014 on 29th and 30th November.

The meeting touched on five main items: Proposed Constitution, Roles and Functions, Instrument of Governance, Constitution for Alumni in Mission Schools, and Government Grants (Federal and State).

LAHAD DATU – The Diocesan Human Development Commission (DHDC), which was formed on Jan 18 this year, met for the second time for a study and formation session at St Dominic’s Church Dec 6-7. 12 members from the 4 parishes and the diocesan pastoral office attended the event.

SANDAKAN – Around 120 parishioners including Bishop Julius, Fr Phillip Muji, the Good Shepherd Sisters and the Franciscan Sisters commemorated the Feast of Immaculate Conception beginning with the recitation of the Holy Rosary along the Rosary Corridor at Marian mount, and concluding with the Eucharistic Mass at the top of Marian Mount (pic).

SANDAKAN – About 200 parishioners gathered at St Joseph’s Church to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bishop Julius Gitom and the 36th anniversary of Fr Thomas Makajil’s ordination to the priesthood, Nov 19.

Concelebrating the Thanksgiving Mass with him were Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau, seven Diocesan Priests and five other priests, all former classmates of Bishop Julius at St Peter’s College, Major Seminary, Kuching.

LAHAD DATU – Ten members of the Diocesan Social Communication Commission (DSCC) convened for the second meeting and formation session Oct 18-19 at St Dominic’s Church, Lahad Datu. Representation came from St Mary’s Cathedral Sandakan, Holy Trinity Church Tawau, St Dominic’s Church, Lahad Datu and the Diocesan Pastoral Office.

SANDAKAN – A four-member delegation led by Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom, Bishop of Sandakan Diocese made a courtesy call on YB Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Minister of Special Tasks in the Chief Minister’s Department at the latter’s office in Kota Kinabalu Oct 1.

Accompanying the bishop for the visit were Henry Wong, Chairman of the Sandakan Diocesan Finance Council, Anthony Wong and Francis Tan, the Executive Secretary of the Sandakan Diocesan Pastoral Centre.