Author Archives: Ken Wong

Seventeen members of the Pastoral Care for the Sick, Aged and Needy Ministry of the Church of St Simon made a maiden visit to the Don Bosco Children’s Home at Bundu Tuhan on Oct 13.

Some of the members were there for the first time, even though the centre had existed for not less than 50 years!

Before the visit, we had found out from Sister-in-Charge, Sr Anne Marie, that there are 60 children whose ages range from seven to 17 years old — 13 of whom are 12 years old and below while 47 are in secondary school.

The parish convoy reached the centre at 10.15am. Sr Anne Marie was most delighted to see us and the children welcomed us with songs and dance. After receiving our gifts of fresh fruit and other basic necessities, Sr Anne Marie said she depends on donations “especially at the beginning of the school term when the children need to buy books and pay for school fees.” The children attend primary and seconday schools nearby. Many of these children have lived away from their parents’ most of the time. Most of them come from broken families that are affected by divorce, single parenting and some are also victims of abuse. Yaffa Family Law Group protects the child’s rights & ensures that he/she gets mutal care from both mother & father.

These families are mostly located in rural kampongs (villages) around the area of Kiau District, Papar, Tamparuli, Kota Belud, Keningau, Ranau. One girl, whose father died when she was very young, was abandoned by her mother and relatives. Brother Ben found her and brought her to the centre six years ago. She is now in her teens and needs love and peace of mind.

The centre has limited grounds for expansion. The construction of the hall and hostel was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu some 30 years ago. Maintenance and upkeep of the building are challenging.

The person that Sister and the children never forget is the founder of the centre, Brother Martinus JA Snoeren, affectionately known by all as Brother Ben, born on Oct 8, 1929. He was called to the Lord on Feb 13 this year.

His Christian mission started in 1953 and he retired in 2014. He spent almost all his 61 years servicing in Don Bosco. A photograph of Brother Ben is placed on a table at the side of the hostel hall.

He was “Papa” to the children of the centre. He will be fondly remembered by all the people who have known him. The children prayerfully remember his love, comfort and the hope he showered on them.

Sr Anne Marie and the five helpers have their hands full looking after the children. Aaron, who was personally trained by Brother Ben, is one of the key assistants in the work force.

Mary Ann Chew gave a motivational talk entitled, Don’t Be Controlled By These Five Things:

— Your past
— Other people’s opinions and judgements
— Limited beliefs you project on yourself
— Relationship – love and connection
— Money – Do not allow your decisions to be controlled by money

We left the centre with mixed feelings. These children are “lucky” to have a place to stay, food to eat and education to prepare them for life. However, one cannot help but feel they lack the genuine happiness of family support and love.

We are looking forward to seeing the children again in the near future.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Annie Ling, BECCOT Coordinator of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, found that the sessions on understanding the Millennials within our community brought about great awareness. She said, “We need to recognise the important roles of the Millennials in shaping the future Church by encouraging and empowering them to participate, contribute new and fresh ideas and supporting them to take their place in their community as young leaders rooted in Christ.”

For CMPC Parish Representatives John and Francisca from the Church of St Joseph, the topic presented by Dr Valerie was an enlightening experience. They are now able to understand the mindset of the Millennials better when encountering them in Church circles or even among family members. John and Francisca also firmly believe that society at large ought to be less judgemental of the ‘gadget-culture’ which the Millennials are so accustomed to as they strive to survive in the competitive world they live in. They also strongly believe that it is necessary to adapt accordingly to reach out to these young people.

Eugene and Micole, a Millennial Couple representing the Mandarin Apostolate, discovered a different approach in discovering how Millennials think and react. The many case examples shared by Dr Valerie allowed them to look at issues and challenges surrounding today’s Millennials from their own standpoint. They also learnt the importance of the six basic needs of a person from a psychological point of view.

Eugene and Micole are also convinced that it is crucial to empower the millennials in each ministry within the Church by implementing mentoring programmes for the “younger” millennials so that they can see ‘eye to eye’ with their Mentor Couple, who are “older” Millennials. It is also hoped that the millennials will feel competent and motivated to play a more active role in the Church activities and ministries.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

In her presentation, Dr Valerie Jacques began by explaining that the Millennials, those born between 1980-2000, are the first generation to grow up surrounded by the modern “instant gratification” technology of social media and the life-defining events that shaped their young lives.

She further described how Millennials can be identified by their extremes, their overall strengths and weaknesses. Dr Valerie illustrated how Millennials grow up being catered to, micromanaged from one activity to another and pampered by “helicopter” parents – fathers and mothers who closely hover over their children’s every move and personally intercede in their affairs.

In recognising the traits of the Millennials, the participants were able to understand the expectations of the Millennials better and why they are connected 24/7, with the line dividing work from social life blurred and faded.

Taking everything into account, Dr Valerie stressed that moderation in everything is the key to parenting the Millennial child and reminded the participants to learn to see these Millennials differently, to listen and to enjoy their uniqueness with no expectations.

Life would then not be so stressful. At the end of it all, there is still hope with faith as our foundation, believing that God carries us through all our challenges in life and that ‘Everything God created is good.’

Dr Valerie also got the participants to break up into groups of six to take part in a workshop creating a collage on the question, “What are your experiences with millennials?” This was an exciting part of the programme as the participants, who are mostly parents, enthusiastically took part in collage building.

These beautifully crafted collages were then displayed, with the leaders from each group explaining their meaning.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

“What is the image of a leader servingas BEC?” was the question asked by Msgr Manuel G. Gabriel, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines BEC Executive Secretary to the BEC members before he discussed the challenges in achieving transformative leadership.

The 10th Renewed Servant Leader ship Forum Series of the Diocese of Novaliches Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC Nova)was held at St Peter Parish Shrine of Leaders last October 18, 2018.

The priest calledon community leaders to focus on their rolesin parish transformation as servant leaders and disciples. The author of many books on BECs then delved on cultural and biblical servant hood and cited several models of the Church that define some roles BEC plays in the community. Importantly, he put emphasis on two models that define the breadth and depth ofa BEC member.The Church as Servant, he said, translates to “a redeemed people who have them and ate to establish in this world Christ’s king ship of peace, justice, love and reconciliation.”He added that the Church as a School of Discipleship, on the other hand, means “theprocess of learning (disciple means learner),the ‘job description’ of the Church.”

At one point, he urged his audience to read with him an excerpt of Pope Francis’ Angelus Address in February last year thataccentuated the roles of servant and disciple according to Jesus himself, as “salt of the earth,” and “light of the world.” “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one an other’s feet,” he quoted and added that the servant is not greater than his master and vice versa as he highlighted Bible passages on the Washing Of The Feet Of  The Apostles and the Good Samaritan, amongmany others.

The parable of the Good Samaritan, he continued, shows us “the Church’s accompaniment of the wounded and lost.”“It is accompanying people, just like the Good Samaritan,” he said, reiterating that BEC is “not an activity but accompaniment,helping people start on their own.”

“Ang sagot sa mga napapalayo sa atin ayang BEC,” he said. “BEC makes the Churchpresent to those hurting; it is the answeramong the excluded and makes the Church present to those who are hurting.”

“The BEC is involved in ecological preservation. It heeds the cry of Mother Earthand the poor,” he said.

The BEC Nova Renewed Servant Leadership Forum was launched this January in line with the theme of the Year of the Clergyand Consecrated Life.

At the end of everyforum, participants are requested to assessthe talk they had just heard and its effect orrelevance to them as BEC members.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Catholics and Muslims joined hands to clean up a forest reserve park in Cherok Tokun, Bukit Mertajam on Nov 3. This ‘gotong royong’ was initiated by Msgr Henry Rajoo, parish priest of St Anne’s Church, who approached PAS Malaysia and Yayasan Amal Malaysia to hold the joint project with St Anne’s.

The event Gotong Royong Muhibbah: Sayangilah Alam Sekitar was officially launched by Bishop Sebastian Francis. In his opening address, Bishop Sebastian said, “When our environment is clean, when Mother Earth is clean, when the air and water are clean, then our hearts are also clean. We have been commissioned by God to go and clean God’s creation.”

The park begins at the base of the hill (Bukit Mertajam) and is frequented by visitors and regular joggers. The volunteers were shocked that there was so much rubbish and it was always most where people congregated, for example, by the car parks and picnicking spots even deep into the park. They found plastic bags embedded in the soil, used diapers, slippers, shoes, cigarette butts and boxes, styrofoam boxes, clothing and a host of other items.

The volunteers were mostly parishioners from St. Anne’s and Sacred Heart of Jesus (SHJ) Church in Kulim with a few from Penang Island parishes, Muslim residents from the area and members of AMAL. St Anne’s provided tongs to pick up rubbish and garbage bags. The Creation Justice Ministry members of St Anne’s and SHJ, Kulim, handled the registration and gave out face towels and a bookmark on ecological commitments. AMAL provided water and buns. The Majlis Perbandaran of Seberang Perai provided wheelbarrows, hoes, and a dumpster to collect the many bags of rubbish

There was good camaraderie amongst all the participants and an important reminder to visitors present that morning to keep the place clean and not treat the forest like a rubbish dump. The forest is a critical eco-system which is home to 80% of land animals and is the best carbon sink to help stem global warming.

In the closing, all the partners of the project thanked one another and pledged to protect Mother Earth. The event strengthened the rapport between the Church and our Muslim brothers and sisters. It showed that saving Mother Earth is an ideal platform to build inter-religious and inter-racial solidarity.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUALA LUMPUR: The parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur have donated RM260,557.03 for the Peter’s Pence collection for 2018

“I wish to thank you sincerely for this donation, which represents the concrete expression of communion between the faithful of your ecclesiastical jurisdiction with the Holy Father himself, whose solicitude for the entire Church is supported by this collection which takes place throughout the world each year,” said Archbishop Joseph Marino, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, in a letter dated Oct 31.

“With this financial assistance, Pope Francis, who has made mercy a centrepiece of his teaching, can give tangible witness to the Gospel of charity,” added the Nuncio.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

It was a seminar that will remain etched in the minds and hearts of the 109 participants who went home feeling very well-informed, inspired and invigorated in their earnest desire to mature in their Catholic faith.

A two-day Basic Christian Maturity Seminar was conducted by Martin Jalleh, whose trademark humour kept everyone awake and attentive to what was presented. This was held at the Church of St Anne.

Jalleh began his introductory session by stressing that the pressing need of the day is maturity, and the problems that we encounter, whether at home, in church or in society, are often related to the lack of maturity (or immaturity).

Quoting from the scriptures, he said God’s ultimate plan for us is that we “…press on to maturity” (Heb 6:1-2) and that we “grow up into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Eph.4.15). He also recalled Jesus’ invitation to Peter to “Put out into the deep.”

He added that the pressing need for spiritual maturity is made evident in the document The Vocation and

Mission of the Lay Faithful (Christifideles Laici), which reduces the lay calling to:

(a) The Call to Holiness
(b) The Call to Community
(c) The Call to Mission and Ministry (d) The Call to Christian Maturity.

Jalleh then touched on the six myths about spiritual maturity. Spiritual growth

(a) is automatic once you are born again
(b) is mystical and maturity is attain- able by only a select few
(c) can occur instantly if you just find the right ‘key’
(d) is measured by what you know
(e) is a personal and private matter
(f) All you need is Bible study to grow.

Jalleh then highlighted 10 profound, practical, personal and powerful ways towards spiritual maturity. He reminded the participants that their spiritual life is an on-going process and not a finished product, that there are no “instants” but constants in spiritual growth.

Sharon Yong, a young mother of one said that what resonated in her was the point that similar to technology, our faith too needs updating from time to time.

“Martin made me realise that community building is very important for personal growth and growth of the Church,’ shared Mrs Tan Lee Huan, a retired teacher.

Many were also inspired by Jalleh’s point that spiritual maturity requires us to change our perceptions of God.

For instance, God is searching for us and not so much about us searching for God, and from a serious and judging God to a humorous God.

Edward Tye best summed up how the majority felt after the seminar: “It was the first time attending Martin Jalleh’s seminar and the impact on my spiritual faith is so great! The seminar is so compact, well planned, practical, full of guidance in deepening and maturing our faith. Martin was so hilarious with his jokes as he brought out his points. He is indeed a gem in our Roman Catholic Church.”

In his conclusion, Jalleh said that to be “Disciples of Hope” one needs to strive towards Christian maturity to be able to offer the hope which the Holy Spirit brings.

The seminar was organised by the English Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) group of the parish. At the encouragement of the assistant parish priest, Msgr Henry Rajoo, shared his belief that all Catholics need to grow in maturity in Christ.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

On the blessed occasion of Silver Jubilee celebration of CMI Church, it would not be complete without a dedication to its founder.  As an honour to his memory and contribution, here is a tribute to CMI builder, Fr. Thomas Sham (1920-2004):

Born on 15 Feb 1920 in Putatan, Thomas was the fifth child in a brood of three boys and four girls born to Lucas Sham Koi Yun and Helen Lee Kyun Yin.  The elder Sham was from China who sought his fortune in Borneo and later settled down in Putatan with a local girl.  He was converted to the Catholic Faith by Thomas Lee (Father of Abp Emeritus John Lee) who founded the Putatan Chinese School.

Thomas studied at the Putatan Chinese School from 1928-1932.  With his mother’s blessing he entered the Jesselton Minor Seminary.

Thomas attributed his vocation to a “man in white.”

When he was nine, he was walking with his brother to school when he saw a man in white clothing. “I was awestruck and attracted by the way the man was dressed up, especially in white.  Somehow, something happened and I wanted to dress like him when I grew up,” Thomas said. He asked his brother who the man was and was told that he was a priest (Fr. Joseph Felix Shek).

Baptised in 1932, Thomas was sent to the Major Regional Seminary in Hong Kong with Francis, the brother of Abp Emeritus Lee. He was ordained on 16 July 1946 in Canton China. Back in Borneo by ship in October 1946, Father Thomas served in Tawau, Papar, Kudat, Jesselton, Sandakan, Telipok, Kota Kinabalu, and Tanjung Aru.

Fr. Thomas decided to stay in Tanjung Aru after retiring from active ministry in 2000. Despite failing health, he continued to concelebrate Mass with his successor Father Fundes Motiung. He died on 17 Nov 2004 at the Sabah Medical Centre, Likas where he had been admitted since Nov 6.  He was 84. He was buried at the Mile 4.5 Catholic Cemetery Penampang Road by his nephew Father David Sham.

Well-known as a builder, Thomas acquired mission lands for construction or extension of church and school buildings, one of which is the Church of Mary Immaculate Bukit Padang.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Today, as the Church Saint Michael celebrates the second World Day of the Poor,at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, mobile medical clinics have been set up to treat anyone in need of general and specialised medicalcare, including cardiology, dermatology, and ophthalmology Nov 12 – 18.

In Malaysia, the Mobile Clinic servicesof Assunta Integrated Social Services (ASSISS)brings health care to marginalised or under privileged members of Malaysian society.

ASSISS was initiated in the 1960s by the religious sisters of the Franciscan Missionariesof Mary who visited remote areas to providefree and simple medical services.

The services include basic primary carecomprising health consultations and the monitoring of medical conditions that include diabetes or hypertension. ASSISS started with four clinics permonth, serving 200 patients.

Currently weare running 30 clinics per month with 24 clinics in the Klang Valley, five clinics in Sabahand 1 clinic in Sarawak, serving more than 6000 patients.

The success of the mobile clinic servicesis attributed to its dedicated staff and volunteers (medical and non-medical) who come from all walks of life, professing different faith traditions; all of whom are united to serve under the ASSISS tagline “For the Poorest of the Poor.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

LIMBANG, Miri: The Church of St Edmund celebrated its golden jubilee on Nov 4.

“As we thank God, we must also remember to thank and pray for all the Mill Hill priests and all the local priests who have served in St Edmund’s Church. Some have gone back to the Lord while others are still serving in different parishes. We ask the Lord to bless and reward them accordingly,” Bishop Richard Ng said in the souvenir booklet

“Today, as we celebrate 50 years of God’s faithful love and mercy, we not only look back at the past with grateful hearts.

We must also look to the future with hope and confidence and ask ourselves, how can we make the church more relevant, dynamic, inclusive and out-going,” he added.

Bishop Ng also installed Fr Peter Hwang as Rector of the new parish of St Edmund, Limbang. The new parish has 53 longhouses, camps, schools and plantation under its jurisdiction.
Short History of the Church

In 1955, an Irish priest came to Limbang and started a school. In 1958, a priest house and three classrooms were built at mile one, Kubong Road. A room at the priest house was used as a chapel (which is now used as a library room.) As the Catholic community began to grow, the small chapel was always overcrowded, especially on Sundays.

A church was built at a cost of RM80,000.00 and was blessed by Bishop Anthony Galvin MHM on April 30, 1968, with the Mill Hill priests serving the community.

The first local priest who had served in Limbang Parish was Fr Philip Empalah, an Iban from Sebauh in Bintulu. He served in Limbang from 1977 to 1979.

Unfortunately, from 1987 until 1991, the parish was without a resident priest. Occasionally, a priest from Miri or Bandar Sri Begawan came to celebrate Masses on Sundays.

In the mid 1980s, there was a plan to build a newer and bigger church. Many fundraising activities were organised by the Church Building Committee. In 1996, the old church was pulled down to make way for the new one. It was a joy for everyone when the new church was ready to be used for Christmas 1996.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online