Pope Francis poses with prelates of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, who are on their “ad Limina Apostolorum” visit to Rome 4-9 Feb 2018. The audience took place on Feb 8. L-R: Canossian Sr Margarete Sta Maria (secretary), Abp John Wong of Kota Kinabalu, Bishop Richard Ng of Miri, Abp Simon Poh of Kuching, Bishop Cornelius Sim of Brunei, Bishop Bernard Paul of Melaka-Johor, Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang, Cardinal Soter Fernandez, Pope Francis, Bishop Julius Gitom of Sandakan, Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau, Abp William Goh of Singapore, Abp Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur, Abp Emeritus Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur, Bishop Emeritus Antony Selvanayagam of Penang, and Bishop Joseph Hii of Sibu.
VATICAN CITY – Fourteen Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei met with Pope Francis on 8 Feb 2018, on their “ad Limina Apostolorum” Visit.
The Holy See Press Office reported on the meeting in a press release on the same day.
Altogether, the three countries have some 1,174 million Catholics: 850,000 in Malaysia; 303,000 in Singapore and 21,000 in Brunei (Wikipedia data).
The Episcopal Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei reviews the position of the Church in these countries, and also carries out activities that include youth, medical care, and means of communication.
Malaysia
On 27 July 2011, the Holy See and Malaysia established diplomatic relations between both States.
Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Substitute of the State Secretariat, celebrated Holy Mass on 24 November 2017, in the new Apostolic Nunciature of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the day after its inauguration.
Bishops
–Monsignor John Wong Soo Kau, Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu.
–Monsignor Cornelius Piong, Bishop of Keningau.
–Monsignor Julius Dusin Gitom, Bishop of Sandakan.
–Monsignor Julian Leow Beng Kim, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur with Archbishops Emeritus Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez and Monsignor Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam.
–Monsignor Anthony Bernard Paul, Bishop of Melaka-Johor.
–Monsignor Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang with Bishop Emeritus, Monsignor Antony Selvanayagam.
–Monsignor Simon Poh Hoon Seng, Archbishop of Kuching.
–Monsignor Richard Ng, Bishop of Miri.
–Monsignor Joseph Hii Teck Kwong, Bishop of Sibu.
–Monsignor William Seng Chye Goh, Archbishop of Singapore.
–Monsignor Cornelius Sim, Bishop of Puzia of Numidia, Apostolic Vicar of Brunei.
BUNDU TUHAN – This year’s diocesan priesthood vocation seminar drew 172 participants at the retreat centre here on 19-21 Jan 2018.
Among the participants, 109 were from Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, 26 from Keningau Diocese and 33 from Sandakan Diocese.
In his homily at the opening Mass, Archbishop John Wong said the participants were called by Jesus just like the first four disciples. He urged them to listen attentively to the voice of God throughout the seminar.
After dinner, Father Joshua Liew welcomed the participants and briefed them on the programme before Seminarian Morti led them into the ice-breaking session.
The next day, Father Michael Modoit shared on his vocational journey while Father Sunny Chung shared on his priestly ministry. Time was given for personal reflection after each session.
Participants were given time in the afternoon to speak individually to any of the priests present. At the same time, Father Philip Obaso of the Mill Hill Missionaries shared on the missionary vocation. Some seminarians also shared their vocation stories.
After dinner, there were Taize prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction. This allowed the participants to listen attentively the voice of God.
A forum with Q&A session was held on the last day, giving the participants time to ask their questions to the panel of selected seminarians.
Father Simon Kontou presided over the closing Mass. In his homily, he encouraged the participants to be daring in responding to God’s calling. He advised the participants not to run away from God’s calling because God is the one who chose us.
At the end of Mass, Fr Liew announced the names of the eight candidates who will join the aspirancy programme this year.
The names of the candidates are: KK Archdiocese: Evan Alicius Petrus (St Peter Claver Ranau), Corllin Sumail (Holy Nativity Terawi), Joehbeey Bin Majimin (Sacred Heart Cathedral KK), Stanley Bin Kurumbong (St Michael Penampang) and Stephen Johnny (St Paul Dontozidon). Keningau Diocese: Brad Brandon Bridge (St Peter Bundu Kuala Penyu) and Constantine N Olot (St Theresa, Tambunan). Sandakan Diocese: Ryennadem Vitalis (St Martin Telupid).
Sandakan – St. Mary’s Cathedral Chinese Catechumenate classes on February 4, 2018 (Sunday) at 7 o’clock in the evening class classroom class held “2017-2018 Catechumenate and generation parents exchange.” Attendees included: Classroom teachers, generation parents, Catechumenate and their families, about 30 people
L-R: Jeanny Chong (cafe owner), Roy Jessesly, Derek Chong, Jennifer Linggi pose with copies of their books at the book launch, 5 Jan 2018, Cana Cafe Penampang.
PENAMPANG – Cana Cafe here hosted a book launch for three authors, Derek Chong, Roy Jessesly and Jennifer Linggi to a closed audience of friends and acquaintances on 5 Jan 2018.
Derek Chong, 49, who hails from Kota Kinabalu, launched the 3rd edition of his book “30 Days to a Better Self-Awareness.”
“The human person is searching for meaning. When we have the right foundation, the personal meaning of our lives can be found,” he said this by way of introducing his book at the launch.
“We will search and find. However, when our foundation is wrong, our search becomes tiring and aimless. The 30 Days to a Better Self-Awareness is a tool that can help individuals to find and set right those foundations in our perceptions, hearts and principles of life, leading us to find the true meaning of our life,” he added.
The first edition was released at the end of 2013. Since then, he has used the book to journey with individuals and in groups to help them discover who they are.
Derek, who is also a life coach in his own right, feels strongly that everyone should re-look at one’s foundation. When it is right, life becomes powerful, meaningful and celebrated. When it is not, it means we have been building on wrong foundation.
“But we can change,” underlined Derek, emphasising that “one of the things that we want to do first is to build or re-build our foundation, the way we know (understand) and love ourselves, and this is where the reflection from the 30 days can assist you.”
Derek revealed that some of his associates have used the book as a tool for reflection with people wanting to grow, looking for change or finding it hard to express oneself.
One such person, Mariana Yapp, has a dream to illustrate since young, and with one-to-one coaching from a friend who walked with her through the book ‘30 Days to a Better Self-Awareness,” she finally found the courage to write, illustrate and print her first book. Her second book has also been released recently.
The “30 Days to a Better Self-Awareness” has found its way to the sharing tables of individuals and groups, either for self-reflection or group discussion in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Wellington.
ATC Publisher of India, who published the 3rd edition, is now marketing the book for the author. It is Derek’s hope that it would benefit a wider reach of people to lead them to a richer and more beneficial existence, both to themselves and to others around them.
The book is sold locally @ RM20 per copy. Derek can be contacted @ 019-8620660.
The second author, Roy Jessesly, launched his first book, Colour Me Book at the same event. His story has been published in the 21 January 2018 issue of Catholic Sabah on page 17.
Jennifer Linggi, 51, architect by profession, was at the event to introduce her book Kampung Legacy, the result of her devotion to the subject of basket-making and the need to document the traditional baskets of Sabah.
Linggi was at the book launch at the friendly invitation of Cana Cafe. Her book was launched earlier in May 2017. The Tun Fuad Foundation funded the publication of her book after realising the need to preserve the knowledge of local ancestral traditions.
KENINGAU – Some 500 faithful witnessed the blessing and opening of the Franciscan Capuchin’s ‘Rumah Sederhana’ (humble house) by Father Valentine Gompok OFMCap, located at Kg Mongitom, Bunga Raya here on 30 Dec 2017, followed by a Eucharistic Celebration.
Among the guests were Mother Frances Mani, FSIC Mother General and other Franciscan Sisters, OFS National Councillors Malaysia, members of the Sabah-wide Order of Franciscan Secular (OFS), St Francis Xavier’s parish PPC Chairman Datuk Ida Undan, and Peter Lim, contractor of the Capuchin house. Undan donated the land to the OFMCap for the purpose.
Since 2007 Fr Gompok has been praying for this intention and he has approached a few individuals to help him. God answered his prayer and moved Undan to give the OFMCap a piece of her own land to build the centre.
The immediate plan is to build a faith formation centre on the site for the Order. Meantime, Keningau and Tambunan OFS will take care of the building.
Acknowledging the increase of Catholics in Sabah and the need to have centres for an on-going formation after their baptism, OFM Capuchin is responding to this by helping the diocese to form the newly baptised in their faith, so that they who are just getting to know God will not stray from the faith.
The centre will also be a formation house for candidates of the Capuchin religious from Sabah.
Currently, there are 14 Sabahan Capuchin religious in formation: one final professed in Theology 3 (Br Gilbert James), two simple professed (Br Christi Rames Liew, Br Tony Bingkuan), one novice (Br Noel Damsus), four soon-to-be novices (Marthin Steven, Cornelsteve Dominic, Randall Lee, Sylver Ivan Sabinus), another four entering postulancy (Adam Joel Elias, Aldrin Benedict, Anndrysent Chong, Jerry Ghani) and two entering aspirancy (Frederick Joseph, Gary Damianus).
On the same day, seven OFS members of SFX Keningau Fraternity took their final vows.
In his speech, Fr Gompok thanked Bishop Cornelius Piong for his permission for the Order to set up Rumah Sederhana, for the house to be blessed and for Mass to be celebrated. He also thanked all who came from near and far. – Marina Anjuman
A family poses in front of the Christmas Crib at St Peter Claver Ranau, 25 Dec 2017.
RANAU – Parish priest of St Peter Claver Ranau (SPCR) Church, Father Nicholas Stephen said people today are hungry for good news, which gives them hope for a better day ahead in the midst of uncertainties.
“Every day we wake up and see on our smartphones or tablets all kinds of bad news which make us question the hope for mankind and our own safety for tomorrow. We live in all kinds of fears,” he said.
“But today I urge people from all walks of life, regardless of their faith as well as ethnic background, to be joyful because the Christmas that we celebrate each year is the point where all hopes for tomorrow are renewed,” he continued.
Towards that end, Fr Nicholas said, people today should go to the Bethlehem of their souls, which has since been left dry and empty, and to rediscover the joy of life where the Saviour of mankind is born.
He was speaking to a crowd of about 3000 Catholic Christians at the Christmas Mass at St Peter Claver here on 25 Dec 2018.
He prayed that this year’s Christmas bring peace to all families, especially to all broken families, that their relationships would be restored once again, thus bringing peace to society, the state, the nation and the world as a whole.
Earlier that day, Fr Nicholas also launched the parish’s first published magazine entitled Effatha!, which was produced by St Peter Claver’s SOCCOM (Social Communications) Committee. The magazine featured all the activities that took place in SPCR in 2017.
The first edition of Effatha! also highlighted the journey made by the statue of Our Lady of Fatima throughout the seven zones under the Ranau parish, ending with the major street procession over the town of Ranau on Nov 25 last year.
On Dec 30, Fr Nicholas joined other community leaders for a Christmas and New Year celebration at district level.
At the event, Siringan Gubat, who co-hosted the event, and who is also Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology, said that such celebration is important, especially for people living in a multi-cultural setting like in Malaysia, especially in Sabah.
“This is why we never stop organising this event each year. Because an open house is like a tonic for the fostering of unity, especially considering that we in Ranau are living in a diversity of ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
Dr Joachim Gunsalam who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing shared the sentiment and added that the event strengthened the brotherhood which has long been inherited by the people in Ranau.
“Good relationship among the people here has long existed and this acceptance between one another transcends the boundary of minds, interests and even political ideology,” he said.
Among the highlights of the celebration, which was held at the Dewan Masyarakat Ranau, were the singing of Christmas carols by choir groups from the different churches in Ranau, and distribution of Christmas goodies to children. – Clarence Dol
Some of the children at the Ranau mission kindergarten, 2018
RANAU – The newly established St Peter Claver Ranau (SPCR)’s Tadika Kasih Bonda continues to receive encouraging response from parents in the area when 20 four-year-olds were accepted to enroll in its new intake this year.
Headmistress Deyana Johnny said despite the inadequate facilities the kindergarten is experiencing since its inception in 2015, teaching staff at the school continue to hope for a better future for the school in the days ahead.
“Currently we are coping with problems like lack of staff and lack of classrooms. We are operating with 10 teachers, including myself, and only three classes. We are caring for 20 four-year-olds, 40 five-year-olds, and 45 six-year-olds.
“Imagine how the situation is when one of them needs to go to the washroom. We have to escort those children to the washroom in order to ensure their safety,” she said.
On the issue of classrooms, Deyana said the over-quota numbers of students gave them the thrust to improvise, which means getting some of the children at school to have outside-of-classroom activities.
Towards the end of 2017, SPCR received a donation of RM210 thousand from the Vatican Foundation to build a kindergarten (Tadika Kasih Bonda) which is currently located in the old church building (Fr Salm Hall).
SPCR parish priest, Father Nicholas Stephen said earlier that Tadika Kasih Bonda, which uses English as its medium, and now requiring a building to run its own programmes, receives a very encouraging response from Christian students in this area.
To accommodate the construction of the building, the church needs an allocation of RM750 thousand, and the Vatican Foundation has contributed RM210 thousand through the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, he added.
Therefore, he said, the contribution of all the people is needed to realise the completion of the building, thus helping the kindergarten to develop and enabling it to enroll more children in the future. – Clarence Dol
GEREJA ST JOHN, LONG MIRI diberkati oleh Rt Rev Richard Ng Bishop of Diocese of Miri 28 Dec 2017
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH in Long Miri
In the year of 1951 until 1963, there were still some families practicing the ‘Old Kayan Religion’ and later on the ‘Adat Bungan’. In 1964, the first person that accepted Christianity as Roman Catholic was the late Lake’ Akem Lah Anyie (from an ‘aristocrat family’ who was also known as Taman Ding Lah). The priest that is responsible for the first mission work in Long Miri and the Baram Tengah area during that time was Fr. Bergman.
When the first Kayan Teacher, Encik Wan Laeng (born in Long Miri), who was then transferred to Long Miri in 1971, he started gathering a few families for Sunday Mass. He was the first Church Committee Chairman cum Church Prayer Leader. They performed the mass at Lake’ Akem Lah’s house.
In 1973, they moved the mass to the late Pidoh Lahung Lah (Uyung Julan)’s house until 1974. The average congregation is about 30 plus people. After that, they just performed the mass at a verandah (‘Hawang Uma’). There were 40 households that converted to Christianity under Roman Catholic Church.
Construction of the first RC Church started in 1980. It was completed after 2 years in 1982. The church was built by its own congregation, where they sourced the materials such as wood, sand and stones from the forest and river. Construction of the priest’s accommodation was later done in 1983 until 1988.
The priests that have served or covered St. John Church, amongst others were Fr. Jacob, Fr. Geodore, Fr. Anthony Wan, Fr. Ding, Fr. Phillip Impaler, Fr. Francis, Fr. Phillips Chua and Fr. Andy.
Prior to 2004, Encik Wan Laing and, the then Church Committee Chairman, Encik Dominic Anyi Emang, had a vision to build a bigger Church. It was agreed to have an Octagon shape building, inspired by St. Anthony Church Bintulu.
The ground leveling work for the new church started in 2004, where the area of the altar was a little hill. This work was performed through ‘gotong-royong’ by average of 40 to 50 congregation members and it continued until 2006. After Encik Dominic Anyi met an architect, Encik Lutep, in Long Laput in the same year for a scaled drawings, the construction of the main building started. In 2007, the leadership of the Church Committee Chairman was taken over by Encik Laing Jau. It was inline with his talent as he is a skilled carpenter and house building contractor.
At the end of 2007, construction work started for the church building. The work was progressing concurrently by many contractors thereafter, as well as through the sweat and blood of its congregation. But its progress was slow due to lack of fund. Though some portion of the fund was acquired by the congregation through church’s palm oil little plantation of 2 acres land, which is part of the church compound. They also sourced sands and pebbles from the river bed for the church’s pew and exterior cement flooring.
The building was eventually completed of its basic frame, walls and all concrete works in 2012. Only in 2017, installation of electrical wiring and its equipment, window panes, tiling works, exterior concrete works and construction of generator set was done. The estimated total cost of the construction of the church is around half a million ringgit (500k), of which close to fifty thousand (50k) fund was from the sales of palm oil fruit. Finally after 13 years of construction, the church was ready to hold its first event during Christmas 2017 celebration. Thereafter, Blessing of Chapel was performed by Rev. Rt. Richard Ng, the Bishop of Miri Diocese on 28th December 2017. This event was attended by approximately 300 people from the whole village. Currently there are 42 numbers of household of Roman Catholic out of 140 houses in Long Miri, Baram.
Some 600 Filipino parishioners together with other communities gathered in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (KSFX) to celebrate the yearly event of the Feast of Infant Jesus, Feast of St. Nino De Cebu on 21 January, 2018. It marked the fourth year of celebration, themed “LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME.”
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rev. Fr. John Emerson Tepait from the diocese of Masbate City, Philippines, at 2.00 pm. The event began with the procession of the statue of the Sacred Senior Santo Nino (Holy Infant Jesus) from the entrance of Dataran Solidariti to the sanctuary.
Procession of the statue of the Sacred Sr. St. Nino (Holy Infant Jesus)
Fr. John Emerson Tepait, in his homily, said that the yearly celebration of St. Nino always reminds us of who we were and what we were before. No matter what we have become or what have we accomplished, we are always reminded of our humble beginnings. As a child, we want no more than attention, love, care, simple things and everything for us becomes fulfilling and complete.
Eucharistic celebration by Rev. Fr. John
In the Gospel – Jesus shows how we should deal with our children. “LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME” is an invitation for us to be aware of our important role in their lives. Jesus raised the dignity of children by rebuking the disciples as they hindered the children to come closer to Him.
We need to let our children know always that we are proud of them, that we love them, that we value them more than anything, because if we don’t do it, they will grow up without proper mental and spiritual orientation. He added that children are created and born like angels. By a simple glance, all your worries, pains, burdens and problems can be taken right away. Such is the impact of a child.
If a child feels loved it will have great self-esteem. There is no need to go overboard but a kiss or a hug once a day will do you both a lot of good. It lessens the chances of your kids becoming aggressive, anti-social and having other behavioral problems. While adolescents might be embarrassed at the physical affection, there should always be words of support and empathy to take its place. Parents should spend quality time with their children. Discipline them with love and affection.
Nemo dat quod non abet, a Latin saying, which says, you cannot give what you do not have. You can only give that which you have. If we don’t give love, time, attention and proper care to our children, what can they have? What can they give in return?
Cherilyn Rondidas the Chairlady of the Filipino Pastoral Committee (FPC) Cathedral, St. Francis Xavier, and the Vice chairlady of Persatuan Kababayan Sabah (PKS), expressed her gratitude to the celebration and thanked Rev. Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong for his blessings to Rev. Fr. Rudolf and the community. She also expressed her gratitude to the organizing committee for their effort and commitment and to all generous sponsors for all their support to make the Feast day celebration a great success. She also said that the FPC has set up FILIPINO PASTORAL RELIEF FUND (FPRF) to help our Filipino members in time of death of their loved ones, critical sickness and other calamities. Each family member may contribute RM10 – 20 for FPRF.
Fr. John blessings the statues of the Sacred Senior Santo NinoFr. John blessings the children
Mdm. Cherilyn, a Malaysian born Filipino, added, “It took me time to figure out on the very first year, as I do not know how to get it started and how to conduct myself in this feast. Well, I believe that, when faith is working within you, everything impossible becomes possible.”
In her speech she wished that the community continue to grow in faith in Jesus. And if we really believe in God, and live according to that faith, then God will be pleased. And we are going to be blessed. Mdm. Cherilyn also thanked the Filipino Pastoral group from St. Mary’s Cathedral Sandakan Diocese for coming to support the Feast day in Keningau. Their presence made the occasion more meaningful.
After the Holy Mass, parishioners participated in the procession of the Infant Jesus, from the Church entrance to the Dataran Solidariti hall. A luncheon fellowship was held and was served with traditional local and Filipino delicacies by members of the Filipino community with PKS members and other Filipinos in the district as well as visitors from all walks of life joining in the celebration, thus making it merrier. Members of the Filipino community from St. Mary’s Sandakan, St. Theresa and Holy Cross, Tambunan, Holy Spirit Church Sook, St. Valentine, Beaufort, PKS were present at the event. Their presence made the occasion more meaningful.
Procession of the statue of the Sacred Sr St Nino back to Dataran Solidariti
Cutting of the cake, Fr John together with the organizing committee
Song representation by Vanessa Banagua
Sinulog dance by senior FPC
Modern dance by Sandakan FPC Youth
Modern dance by Keningau FPC Youth
Little Boys & Girls of St. Nino Contest
Best Costume for adults contestDance presentation by children of FPC
KENINGAU: Pada 28 Januari 2017, Hari Minggu Katekatikal bertemakan ‘Kristus Pengharapan Kita’ telah diadakan. Setiap tahun, Gereja Katolik di Malaysia akan merayakan perayaan ini. Dikesempatan itu, upacara pembaharuan dan perlantikan baru katekis pembimbing turut diadakan. Upacara ini disempurnakan oleh YM Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong di Katerdal St. Francis Xavier.Perayaan Misa sempena Minggu Katekatikal Sedunia
Setakat ini, katekis pembimbing di seluruh Paroki Keningau sudah mencecah 236 orang, yang mana 54 orang menerima perlantikan baru dan yang selebihnya memperbaharui komiten pelayanan mereka di hadapan Bapa Uskup dan umat yang datang ke perayaan Ekaristi.
Pembacaan InjilPembaharuan Komitmen Katekis PembimbingPerlantikan Baru Katekis Pembimbing
Menerusi homili beliau, “Kita mempunyai alasan yang kuat mengapa kita meletakkan harapan pada Yesus, mengapa pelayanan–pelayanan yang kita lakukan bukanlah sia-sia, kerana pertama ialah Yesus sendiri sudah buktikan bahawa Dia adalah utusan Bapa, Dia diutus oleh Allah Bapa sebagai ungkapan cinta kasih Allah kepada kita, seperti kita dapat baca dan renung dalam Yoh 3:16. Kita harus meletakkan pengharapan kepada Yesus kerana Dialah ungkapan penyertaan Allah kepada kita sebab itu namaNya Imanuel (Mat 1:23)”.
Prelatus itu juga berpesan agar meletakkan pengharapan pada Yesus didalam tugas pelayanan. Apa yang pasti setiap pelayanan yang dilakukan haruslah berasaskan cinta kasih dan pengharapan terhadap Yesus terutama bagi katekis pertama di dalam keluarga iaitu ibu bapa sendiri, kerana merekalah yang pertama harus memperkenalkan siapa itu Tuhan kepada anak-anak, bukan hanya bergantung kepada katekis pembimbing sahaja. Sesuai dengan tema Keuskupan Keningau selama 25 tahun ini, iaitu ‘Keluarga Berpusat Kepada Kristus, Berbudaya Menyembah Tuhan, Memantapkan Iman Dan Bertanggungjawab Sosial’. –Feabiah Sandar
