Category Archives: Feb 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Below are the details of the Chrism Masses to be celebrated in all the Arch/Dioceses of Malaysia:

Mar 20 : Church of the Risen Christ, Air Itam (Penang Diocese) at 8.00pm

Mar 21 : Sacred Heart Cathedral (Sibu Diocese) at 7.15pm
St Ignatius Church (KL Archdiocese) at 7.30pm
St Joseph’s Cathedral (Miri Diocese) at 7.30pm
Church of the Immaculate Conception (Malacca Johore Diocese) at 8.00pm

Mar 22 : Sacred Heart Cathedral (Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese) at 7.30pm

Mar 23 : St Mary’s Cathedral (Sandakan Diocese) at 7.30pm

Mar 27 : Cathedral of St Francis Xavier (Keningau Diocese) at 6.00pm

Mar 28 : St Joseph’s Cathedral (Kuching Archdiocese) at 7.30pm

Traditionally held on Holy Thursday morning (in some dioceses it may be on any day), the bishop, joined by the priests of the diocese, gather at the Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass.

This Mass manifests the unity of the priests with their Bishop.

Here, the bishop blesses three oils — the Oil of Catechumens (oleum catechumenorum or oleum sanctorum), the Oil of the Sick (oleum infirmorum) and Holy Chrism (sacrum chrisma) — which will be used in the administration of the sacraments throughout the diocese for the year. Whenever the Holy Oils are used in a diocese, the ministry of the Bishop, who consecrated them, is symbolically present.

 

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

PAPAR – The parish family seminar entitled Keluarga, KKD dan Gereja Ku or KKG-Ku (Family, BEC and My Church) was held concurrently at St Joseph here and at St Damian Chapel Dambai on 24 Feb 2018.

The ongoing seminar is part of the parish outreach in response to the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan Pastoral Thrust of Go Inward, Go Smaller, and Go Outward.

While St Joseph Papar had a lukewarm reception, St Damian Dambai received a better family turnout.

The one-day seminar was divided into four parts; a) The Meaning of a Catholic Family, b) Family Challenges, c) Family Communication and d) Peace and Reconciliation.

The sessions were followed by workshops, the outcome of which was presented to the assembly.

Most of the group findings identified the key issues related to the three challenges arising from family and community apathetic attitudes and secularisation from social media’s influences and addiction.

In addition, the church doctrine and social teachings oversight and neglect in mission schools’ educational programmes and community pastoral outreach activities also indirectly open the way for Islamisation to enter.

KKG-Ku was initiated by Papar and Limbahau Parishes on 25 June 2016 as a measure in tackling the three pastoral challenges (Apathy, Secularism and Islamisation) identified by the PAX Assembly held in Pace Bene in Nov 2015.

The first phase began with the Zone Pastoral Assembly with representatives from  Kelatuan, Kimanis, Bongawan, Lakut, Dambai and St Joseph Church as the central zone.

Kimanis zone kick-started the programme on 25 Nov 2017 with seminars held at St Peter Belatik, St Anne Penampang Baru and St Clement Kinolosodon.

Next phase saw St Michael Mandahan, St Adrian Pamaladan, St Macarius Sumbiling, St Jude Ulu Lumagar and St Cyril Talantang (Bongawan Zone) holding the seminar on 20 Jan 2018.

St Kenneth Kelatuan and St Luke Lakut had their seminars on Feb 3 while St Francis of Assisi Segian (the last chapel) will organise the seminar on Mar 20. – William Charles Mindus (SOCCOM Papar)

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PAPAR – St Joseph Church here welcomed 22 new infant members into its parish family.

The rite of baptism was officiated by Father Thomas Yip on  24 Feb 2018 beginning with a Bible enthronement.

In his brief homily, Fr Yip said what differentiates Catholic teaching from other religions: Christ is the God of love and mercy who brings us peace through forgiveness.

He advised parents to continue the mission of Christ beginning with the baptism of their children, anointing of the chrism oil and lighting of the candles as a sign of peace, and to always give thanks to God as they accept the teaching of Jesus who had promised to be with us His children, to guide and teach us until the end of time for eternal salvation.

After the baptism rite, the pastor presented the baptism certificates to the parents and invited them to have some light refreshments at the church’s canteen. The next schedules for infant baptism shall be on May 12, Aug 18 and Nov 17. – William Charles Mindus 

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

During this holy season, we once again begin our journey preparing ourselves for greater heights, dwelling deeper into our spiritual lives.

By Fr. George Packiasamy
We have completed one week of the Lenten season – a season of fasting, prayer, penance and almsgiving. When we entered the season of Lent, we started off with a strong desire to make this Lenten season different from any other before. However, this past week, there has been an atmosphere of festivity, celebrating both Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year within just a matter of days.

Now that the celebrations are over, let us be a little more serious in our observance of Lent from this week onwards. There are many graces and blessings awaiting us this coming Easter. Everyday should be a realisation that a life-changing moment is being given to us. During this holy season, we  once again begin our  journey preparing ourselves for greater heights, dwelling deeper into our spiritual lives. Often these questions come to mind: What should I give up this Lenten season? What can I do this Lent to deepen my trust in God? God is slowly and steadily transforming our lives to enable us to experience  greater joy, love and service for His people.

Some may find it difficult to fast and abstain, but relatively – today’s Lenten observance is much easier compared to decades and centuries ago. The Church doesn’t require us to go through a complete fast and abstinence every day throughout the 40 days of Lent, like what our Muslim brethren do during the month of Ramadhan.

We may be of the mindset that it is sufficient for us to merely abstain from meat or skip a meal or two a day, in order to observe the holy season. However, the Church invites us to pause and examine our interior disposition more thoroughly. We have to stop and listen to our bodies, which often directly influence our attitude and behaviour. We need to be aware of our true weaknesses, limitations and tendencies and about what is comfortable and pleasurable, in order to make sacrifices accordingly. Our sacrifices should to be gifts to God and to our neighbour. When we make sacrifices these in turn become a powerful form of prayer and fasting. These prayers and fasting remind us of our hunger for God and our preparation for our eternal life.

We have become so negligent in some areas of our lives. The season of Lent invites us to be more self-sacrificing and self-disciplined and thereby allowing our minds and bodies to be in a state of spirituality. We need to put aside our selfish attitudes and not be indifferent towards global ecology and conservation. For this reason, we need Lent and this is what Lent is seen as today.

As we encounter trials and struggles with sin, we should also anticipate something wonderful and exciting in our daily lives. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work,” (2 Cor 9:8). God’s greatest desire is to bless us always and to place us close to His heart. He desires to make all grace flow in every aspect of our lives so that we may carry our good works for His greater glory and for His Kingdom.

Let us make this Lenten season different, by offering the graces and the blessings which we have received from Him to those less fortunate, and make the necessary changes in our lives by reflecting on what repentance is all about. May this holy season of Lent teach us to create a space for God and for one another rather than just for ourselves.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Brighton Road (Miri)  – RT. Rev. Bishop Richard Ng celebrated Mass on the newly renovated St Francis’ Chapel on 21st February 2018 together with  all the other priests in the Diocese of Miri, after their monthly priests’ recollection meeting.

Over 400 parishioner including students from St. Joseph’s secondary school attended to witness this occasion.

The Bishop thanked all those who had helped in the restoration works and announced that the newly renovated chapel and St Francis’s centre are now available for small group retreats, seminars, wedding and other church activities. The centre can also be used for meetings, conference and talks.

Further details and bookings can be made at St Joseph’s Parish office

Story and photography by Johnny Tan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KENINGAU: “Dengan menerima abu, kita mengungkapkan kepada Tuhan bahawa kita mengakui kita orang berdosa. Kita memohon pengampunan dan ingin bertobat,” ujar Bapa Uskup Cornelius Piong dalam Misa Senja Rabu Abu pada 13 Februari 2017.

Seramai lebih kurang 7000 orang umat sekitar Paroki KSFX menghadiri Misa Senja sempena Hari Rabu Abu yang diadakan di Dewan Solidariti KSFX.

Dalam homili, Uskup menyampaikan pesan Bapa Suci Francis melalui petikan “Kejahatan semakin menular sehingga kasih kebanyakan orang hampir lenyap (Mat 24:12).’” Beliau mengatakan bahawa pengaruh jahat itu kuat dan umat perlu sentiasa dekat dengan Tuhan agar sifat kemanusian itu tidak hilang.

 

Prapaskah dikhususkan kepada yang sudah dibaptis dan akan dibaptis, namun janji pembaptisan umat terhadap Tuhan semakin hilang. Kerana kesibukan, kemajuan dan pengaruh ajaran sesat yang tidak mementingkan sifat kemanusiaan. Umat kini kurang berdoa, tidak melibatkan diri dalam aktiviti gereja, komuniti mahupun KKD.

Sempena dengan prapaskah ini, tiga perkara penting yang dinyatakan oleh Uskup. Yang pertama, umat perlu mengambil masa untuk berdoa supaya sentiasa dekat dengan Tuhan. Umat juga perlu mengambil masa untuk berpuasa, bukan hanya untuk mementingkan kemahuan diri semata-mata tetapi juga untuk sesama. Yang terakhir, Uskup mengajak umat untuk bersedekah dan peka terhadap keperluan sesama manusia.

Article reproduced from Diocese of Keningau

Sandakan – Komiti SOCCOM Paroki telah mengadakan ‘SOCCOM Fellowship’ pada 13 Februari 2018 bertujuan beramah mesra dengan ahli-ahli yang baru, mengenali skop pelayanan SOCCOM dan pembentukan Komiti Komunikasi Sosial Paroki bagi Sesi 2018-2021.

Tayangan Video tentang Sejarah Soccom di Paroki Katedral St. Mary, Sandakan

Paderi Paroki, Fr. David A. Garaman mengalu-alukan kehadiran semua yang hadir dan mengucapkan terima kasih di atas respon dan menyahut panggilan melayani dalam pelayanan Soccom di Paroki. “Pelayanan Soccom memerlukan ramai kakitangan dan penglibatan semua pihak dalam memberikan idea demi pembangunan iman di Paroki. Pelayanan Soccom kelihatan ‘simple’ tetapi rumit juga kerana memerlukan kreativiti dalam misi penginjilan.” Fr. David juga mengajak semua yang hadir untuk sama-sama memiliki Visi dan Misi itu kerana ianya adalah milik bersama – ‘make it your own’.

Barisan belakang: Lovink Prinze James, John Tan, Dalius L. Lobinjang, Romeo Francis, Marshall Owen, Veronica Amzah, Gin Wulen Marcus, Euthalia J, Airene AG

Barisan hadapan: Francis Tan (Penasihat Soccom), Fr. David A. Garaman (Paderi Paroki/Penasihat Rohani Soccom), Leonard Christopher Sabinus (Kordinator Soccom)

Selesai acara makan malam, acara diteruskan dengan sesi suaikenal dan perkongsian mengenai kemahiran setiap ahli. Pengalaman dan kemahiran setiap ahli Soccom yang hadir diharapkan dapat membentuk satu team yang dapat bekerjasama dan melayani melalui bakat yang ada seperti dalam bidang penulisan, mereka ‘banner’, mengambil gambar, menyunting video dan sebagainya.

Sesi disambung dengan Penerangan Sejarah Soccom di Paroki Katedral St. Mary, Sandakan disampaikan oleh Leonard Christopher Sabinus. Penasihat Soccom iaitu Francis Tan mengongsikan pelayanan beliau dalam pelayanan Soccom kepada semua yang hadir sebelum penyusunan semula dalam Komiti Soccom Paroki dijalankan agar semua yang hadir memahami peranan masing-masing dan dapat bekerjasama dalam melaksanakan tugasan yang bakal dilaksanakan nanti.

Penyerahan Tugasan daripada Kordinator Soccom Sesi 2016-2018, Dalius L. Lobinjang kepada Kordinator Baharu bagi Sesi 2018-2021, Leonard Christopher Sabinus dengan disaksikan oleh Paderi Paroki, Fr. David. A. Garaman

Fr. David A. Garaman bersama dengan Ahli Komiti SOCCOM Paroki Sesi 2018-2021

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

Holy Trinity (Tawau) – Ash Wednesday marks the first day of lent in 2018 which falls on February 14. It is an important day in the Christian calendar as it marks the first day of fasting, repentance, prayer and self-control which are essential in making a meaningful Lent observation.

   

Holy Trinity Parish Tawau began their Lent Season with a Eucharistic celebration on the 13^th February 2018 at 7.30 in the evening, the eve of the actual day of Ash Wednesday, attended by some thousand parishioners from all languages. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Msgr Nicholas Ong. Parishioners gathered with faith and hope to the love and mercy of God  by wearing the symbolic mark on their foreheads, “the Blessed Ashes”, made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, as a sign of repentance and to return to the Lord God.

“Remember, man is dust, and unto dust you shall return” a profound word that is familiar during the distribution of ashes. When coupled with reflection, prayer and penance, parishioners will experience deeper the unceasing love of God Who created mankind out of love and through Him all the graces and blessings are granted to us. Hence, without His mercy and forgiveness, life has no meaning, no purpose.

Msgr. Nicholas in his homily, drew the attention of the congregation by explaining the deepest meaning of Lent “  the penance you receive during this period of  Lent is not the penalty for your sin or for the mistake that you have done, but it is an opportunity to purify yourself and hope for God’s mercy. Penance means not only repenting from sin and wrongdoing, but rather to turn to the beloved God. Him who has loved us unceasingly and faithfully awaits us because He is Love, so that you may experience a new life in the resurrection of Christ during the Easter vigil. By turning to God with all your hearts in humility could transform us into His faithful children while not taking advantage of His unconditional love. This Lent season is an opportunity to rebuild your relationship with God, turn to Him   and not on the earthly things” he said.

Msgr. Nicholas ended his homily by reminding us the importance of living up the Social Teachings of the Church in the care and concern for those who are in need,  accompanying the lonely and the practice of alms-giving.

Parishioners then received their Ashes smoothly before the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and finally the mass ended at 9 in the evening.

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

 

Misa Rabu Abu di Katedral St. Mary

      

“Remember you are dust and to dust you will be return. Genesis 3:19”. Misa Rabu Abu adalah permulaan bagi memasuki musim pra-paskah dimana kita semua diingatkan untuk bertaubat, berpuasa selama 40 hari dan berpantang serta berdoa mempersiapkan diri untuk kebangkitan Juruselamat kita, Yesus Kristus.

“Let your heart be broken, not your garments torn.~Joel 2:12-18”

“Be Reconciled to God…Now is the favourable time.~2 Cor 5:20-6:2”

“Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”

Di dalam homili Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom mengatakan “semua umat katolik memulakan pra-paskah dengan mengingatkan diri sendiri sebagai orang yang memerlukan pertobatan. Maka dengan itu, kita ditandai dengan abu di dahi yang menandakan bahawa kita ini hanyalah abu dan kepada abu kita kembali. Tetapi sebenarnya abu yang ada di dahi kita adalah datang daripada daun-daun palma tahun lalu yang menandakan atau memperingatkan kita tentang kesengsaraan, kematian dan kebangkitan Kristus. Maka tujuan kehidupan kita sebenarnya bukanlah hanya menjadi abu tetapi kita akan mendapat  kehidupan dalam Kristus yang telah bangkit dengan mulia.” Selain itu, Bapa Uskup juga berkongsi tentang 3 perkara yang disampaikan oleh Bapa Suci Fransiskus iaitu berdoa, berpuasa dan memberi. “Bapa Suci Fransiskus berpesan kepada kita agar tidak terlalu terikat dengan peraturan-peraturan berpuasa yang sebenarnya memberi kesenangan kepada diri kita sebab kita telah mematuhi peraturan. Tetapi Bapa Suci mengatakan apabila kita berpuasa kita melihat lebih kepada diri kita untuk datang kepada Tuhan serta dapat memperhatikan  keperluan-keperluan orang lain dengan cara berpuasa. Dengan demikian, kita lebih mengetahui kelemahan kita sendiri dan kelemahan orang lain. Bapa Suci juga mengatakan tentang doa. Doa adalah kekuatan orang-orang beriman. Doa juga menandakan bahawa kita hanyalah bersandarkan kepada Tuhan. Maka, kita boleh mempersatukan diri kita dengan Tuhan dengan cara berdoa. Selain itu, kita juga orang yang lemah yang memerlukan kekuatan daripada Tuhan sendiri. Tentang memberi sedekah, Bapa Suci mengatakan segala yang diberikan kepada kita adalah percuma yang datang daripada Tuhan termasuklah kehidupan kita sendiri. Kita telah diberikan segala sesuatu maka dengan itu marilah kita memberikan kepada orang lain yang memerlukan. Segala 3 perkara ini bukan sahaja menguatkan iman kita tetapi menjadi sesuatu yang mulia apabila mendatangkan kebaikan kepada orang lain.”

Upacara Komuni

“Remember you are dust and to dust you will be return. Genesis 3:19”~Penerimaan Abu 

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

What is the meaning of Chinese New Year for Catholics?

For the first time RCIA (English) 2017/2018 celebrated CNY at St. Jerome’s room in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sandakan with all their facilitators, the catechumens and their family members on 9th February 2018. The gathering started with an opening prayer from Mr. Raymond Wong.

 

Most of us were wondering, “What is the meaning of CNY for Catholics?”. We all live in a multi-racial community and we have many festivals. Being a Catholic does not mean that we only celebrate Catholic festivals, but we also follow our customs in celebrating other festivals such as Chinese New Year for the Chinese and Kaamatan for the Kadazans. One activity is to watch a lion dance in our church compound during the first day of CNY which is the custom of the Chinese community. Catholic as a religion does not forbid its members to respect other customs/culture rather it values the unity in our diversity.  This is what being shared by Mr. Raymond Wong.

Potluck style being served while CNY songs being played.

Games and singing hymns were the activities. Solving riddles and passing mandarin oranges were some of the games being played. Amusingly, the penalties are to finish the mandarin orange and saying some good words to their love ones.

The beautiful and memorable celebration ended with a closing prayer by Mr. Alban.

Closing prayer by Mr. Alban

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan