Record number of First Holy Communicants, confirmands on parish feastday

KOTA KINABALU: This year’s St Simon Feastday celebration saw a record number of First Holy Communicants with 51 candidates and 46 confirmands on Nov 4.

The event started with Mass at the main church where Archbishop John Wong led the celebration, and concelebrated with Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, parish rector Fr Cosmas Lee and Fr Paul Lo.

Archbishop Wong, in his sermon, highlighted the roles of a disciple and apostle. He urged the parishioners and churchgoers to serve like Jesus did — a selfless service through the various ministries in the parish.

“What made this man — St Simon — willing to give his life to Jesus to the point of death?

“I believe St Simon was able to lay down his life for Jesus because Jesus was someone important and special for him.

“What about us? We are also called to be with Jesus and to go forth and share the Good News that God is love, He cares and He is here in this moment,” the archbishop said.

Later Parish Pastoral Council chairperson Anne Wong congratulated the First Holy Communicants and the newly-confirmed.

She also urged them to continue their faith journey through serving in the ministries or sub-ministries in the parish.

Speeches were also given by Archbishop John Wong and Fr Cosmas Lee followed by a cake-cutting ceremony and the singing of the parish’s patron saint song, “Simon Our Patron.”

Fr Cosmas in his speech thanked all the guests for their attendance and also expressed his gratitude to the Archbishop Emeritus for never failing to attend the parish’s feast day since it became a parish in 2008.

For the first time, the Boys Brigade, a new ministry at the parish, and under the guidance of Godfrey Moey, presented a dance performance during brunch at the hall.

Among the invited guests were representatives from the various religious congregations in the State and parishes under the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online