Author Archives: Ken Wong

Three pioneer local priests, Msgr Francis Kuleh Usat, Fr Philip Empalah and Fr Peter Mering celebrated their 40th anniversary at the Church of Mater Dei on November 20 together with more than 2,000 parishioners.

Msgr Francis, from Long Banyok, Baram and Fr Peter, from Uma Akeh were ordained together on Nov 19, 1978 at Long Banyok, Baram. In the same year, Fr Philip was ordained on Sept 10 at St George’s Church, Sebauh. Msgr Francis and Fr Peter were the first Kenyah priests in Sarawak and Fr Philip was the first Iban Priest to be ordained in the diocease.

Msgr Kuleh is the first Kenyah to become Monsignor.

Bishop Rev Richard Ng and priests from all parishes in the Miri Diocese were present for the celebration.

Among those present were three missionary sisters (Mensa Domini Sisters) from the Philippines who were attached to the Miri Diocese, as well as family members of the three priests, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Lee Kim Shin and wife Datin Christina Kong Shui Lin, Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting.

The Sacerdotal Ruby Celebration Mass started at 4.00pm. The three Jubilarians, accompanied by Bishop Richard Ng and other dignitaries and priests, were given a traditional welcome.

In his homily, Bishop Richard Ng congratulated the three Jubilarians and commended them for their unselfish dedication in carrying out their priestly duties despite the many challenges.

“Like all life’s journey, the journey of a priest is not easy. I am sure our three Jubilarians have their fair share of joys and disappointments, of faithfulness and failures, of being filled with God’s presence and his absence.

“But, in the end, what matters most is that they remain as friends of God and priests for the people of God. We thank and praise God for his choice of our three Jubilarians and for giving them the courage to say ‘Yes’. God not only chose them but also sustained and filled them with his love and mercy,” said Bishop Ng.

There were cultural performances by the various ethnic groups – Kayan and Kenyah dancers, the Melanau and Iban. The jubilarians jointly cut their 40th anniversary cake. Each was given a present with the Papal blessing and gifts.

Miri Diocese covers 53 per cent of Sarawak – stretching from Belaga District to Bintulu, Miri, Limbang and Lawas divisions, with a population of over 97,000 Catholics. Miri alone has more than 12,000 Catholics.

The three priests had dedicated themselves to the service of the various tribes in their parish. The first Catholic mission was actually in Marudi, a settlement on the Baram river, further inland from Miri. With the discovery of oil on the coast, everything was moved from Marudi to Miri in 1912. Fr Henry Jansen, a Mill Hill missionary, was the very first to set foot into the Baram in the 1930s. He started the first Catholic mission in Marudi, followed by Kampung Kuala Tutoh and then Long Banyok (Msgr Francis’ longhouse) before making his way upriver to Long San and Lio Mato in the upper reaches of the Baram river. He went by foot up the mountains to reach the furthest Kenyah and Kayan community. This challenging task of spreading the good news to the Kenyah and Kayan commnnity has been continued by the three priests for 40 years!

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

TAIPING: Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Shah said building a multi-racial and multi-religious nation is a complex, complicated and ongoing process.

Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is also  performing  the functions of theYang di-Pertuan Agong, said that various unity terms  had been introduced with a variety of slogans that were creatively crafted, logos, lyrics  aired, but they still did not show their full  impact.

“In fact, the slogans toward moulding united citizens in a sovereign state, lately, are raising doubts, inviting controversies and are increasingly being polemicised  and politicised.

“This development is very worrying,” he said when launching the 135th anniversary celebrartions of the Perak Museum, here today.

His Majesty also said the content component in developing united citizens and inspiring the patriotic spirit should be given a balanced emphasis in line with the pursuit of economic development and physical infrastructure.

“In the current scenario, such needs become increasingly urgent,” he said.

In this regard, His Majesty said museums could assist the country in building a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-political society that is united and loyal to the country under the auspices of the royal umbrella of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He said that a museum was built, materials processed for exhibition and sequences of stories were presented to achieve a specific goal of injecting the spirit of statehood and patriotism.

“It can inject the spirit of statehood – the spirit of patriotism, breathe the spirit of courage – spirit of heroism, cultivate the spirit of unity – the spirit of unification, and depict the negative image of the enemy,” he said.

He said that a museum needed to meet the needs of the diverse backgrounds of the visitors, who were more critical in their thinking and have a high degree of literacy and hopes.

Sultan Nazrin said in line with the modernisation and wave of globalisation, passive visitors who simply looked at the exhibits had changed to visitors who were inquisitive and interactive.

“Museums should not be admired for artifacts, aesthetic characteristics or aura of mystery, but should, in displaying materials and presenting events, attempt to arouse past nostalgia and stir the memory.

“It also has the power to exhort the spirit of realisation – to unravel the spirit of awareness, through the exhibits that highlight various tragedies, especially the tragedies that sacrificed many lives and destroyed lives,” he said.

He said the original function of the museum to preserve and safeguard the country’s heritage, was now shifting to the role of research, education, marketing, technology and innovation.

“Collections of artifacts are just stiff objects if they are exhibited or stored without a well-thought-out story, based on careful research.

“The artifacts are stiff and dead, they must be given breath, so that they can be brought to “life”,  able to interact, connect, and give understanding to the current life,” he added. 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUALA LUMPUR: The laity from the Kuala Lumpur Archdio-cese donated RM248,637.80 for the Aid for Kerala Floods during the second collection at Masses on September 8 and 9, 2018.

Earlier on August 18, Archbishop Julian Leow has authorised the immedi-ate release of RM50,000.00 from the Natural Disaster Fund of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur inaid of the relief work to all eviate the suffering and hardships of the people of Kerala.

The total sumof RM298,637.80 has been suc-cessfully transferred to the Catho-lic Bishops Conference of India through Caritas India.

Malacca Johore Diocese con-tributed RM75,000 from its Natu-ral Disaster Fund on August 20.The funds were sent to the Catho-lic Bishops’ Conference of India(CBCI) for them to disburse ac-cordingly.

Penang Diocese donated RM50,000 through the Penang Office of Human Development(POHD) to Kerala, India, to help in its recovery from the floods.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

MANILA: The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) should be strongly promoted in all parishes nationwide, in both urban and rural areas, said the executive secretary of the BEC Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Speaking during the assembly of Basic Ecclesial Communities in the National Capital Region, Father Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, said every city and every community have their own characteristic and there is no uniform way of forming BECs.

However, Picardal concluded that forming BECs in the cities requires ingenuity and creativity and it has to be a joint effort of the clergy, religious and lay faithful.

“We must keep on sharing our experiences with one another. We have to know the different places and characters of people in the city to find more suitable and effective means of evangelization, organizing and mobilizing for social transformation,” said Picardal.

He added that the BECs have to be developed where it can respond to the people’s needs –social, economic, spiritual, and moral.

“The needs of people such as the need for a sense of belonging, acceptance, support, security, friendship and intimacy; the basic material or physical needs especially those who are poor, unemployed, sick; and the need to grow and become better persons where they are capable of doing good, contributing to the betterment of others, the community and society,” Picardal added.

The Basic Ecclesial Communities are seen as the concrete expression of the renewed Church, the priest said.

Picardal explained that the common types of BECs are Liturgical BECs such as bible-service, liturgy of the Word or Mass; Devotional BECs like integrated with Marian devotion or block rosary; Prayer-Meeting Groups or Bible-sharing groups; Social Action or Livelihood Groups; and Integrated or Holistic BECs with bible-sharing, liturgical celebration, and social action.

Assembly seeks solution to govern communities 

During the assembly participants assessed and sought to find ways on how to answer the needs of the different ecclesial communities in the country.

Participants include representatives from the Archdiocese of Manila and the Dioceses of Pasig, Cubao, Antipolo, Malolos, Caloocan, Novaliches and Parañaque who shared experiences and challenges on how they build up the BEC in their areas.

Gerry Mansueto, Diocesan BEC Animator of Cubao Diocese, shared that their BECs created a “BEC Kamustuhan” and a group in 42 or 91 percent of parishes looks and responds to the needs of the community. The BECs also integrated with the existing associations of some villages, local administrates, and core group of chapels.

The Malolos Diocese through BEC Director Rogelio Cruz said their BECs created a livelihood program for members such as manufacturing vinegar, throw pillow, rug and soap making.

The Archdiocese of Manila, meanwhile, mentioned it already build BECs in 72 parishes out of 87 and they are looking forward to establish the group in all parishes.

The Diocese of Novaliches has launched “Sharing the Mission Seminar” centralized in BEC as the pastoral direction of the diocese. It also wanted to clear the objectives of the BEC as an organizing group.

Parañaque Diocese, on the other hand, has build “BEC Institute” focusing on the social teachings of the Church. The BEC livelihood programs were funded by the Department of Labor and Employment as they coordinated their projects with the Poverty Alleviation Program of the government.

The Diocese of Pasig has created the “POBEC” or Panimulang Oryentasyon sa BEC to familiarize the communities on its objectives. They also created some guidelines and modules on how the BEC will be implemented, set to be launched on January 2013.

The Antipolo Diocese has started its BEC Trainers Training as one of the assets for continuous projects of the BEC in the whole Diocese.

The assembly held September 29 had the theme “Mga BEC sa Lunsod” (BECs in the City). It concluded with a Eucharistic celebration led by Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara. 

The BECs first emerged in the rural areas of Mindanao and in the Visayas in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was cited that forming BECs in the rural areas was easier because the communities were homogeneous and closely knit. There were doubts about the viability of BECs in the city.

As early as the mid-70s, BECs were emerging in the urban centers of Davao, Cebu and Manila mostly among the urban poor communities. —

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

For the parishioners of St Anne, this year’s parish pastoral assembly was quite unusual as the new parish priest, Bishop Sebastian Francis joined us and introduced the plans for 2019.

Bishop Sebastian introduced the new roles of the assistant parish priests, Msgr Henry Rajoo, Fr Leo Elias and the permanent deacon, Deacon Lazarus Jonathan.

Bishop Sebastian said that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has called for an extraordinary mission month in October 2019.

But the Malaysian Bishops has decided to extend this mission for the whole year of 2019. The first important date is the Feast of Epiphany on January 6 when the extraordinary mission year will be officially launched in all the dioceses in Malaysia.

During all the language Masses, there will be a special homily from the Bishops of the respective
diocese.“From this official opening day until June 9, there will be various formations consisting of
personal formation, family formation, BEC formation, parish formation, etc. The main focus will be on mission.

The BEC reflection papers have been prepared with the same focus. All of you, through baptism, have a direct link to the Word of God. The Word is in you and is your identity,” Bishop Sebastian said to the almost 100 parishioners who gathered at this assembly.

In May, the New Evangelisation seminar will be held in all the deaneries. From June 10 until October,
the Diocese of Penang is preparing a pilgrimage centre on missionary saints and martyrs. In the last 200 years, we have the relics of over 50 saints and martyrs who were missionaries in Vietnam, Korea, and India and were martyred for their faith.

The relics will be taken from College General, Penang and their rich history will be displayed at the Church of the Assumption, Penang, during this time.

On October 20, Mission Sunday, we will have a commissioning ceremony of all baptised Catholics in each parish. Bishop Sebastian ended the assembly with these words, “The mission is not within
the Church, but mission in the world.”

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online