Category Archives: Jan 2018

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit’s (CHS) Parish Pastoral Assembly was conducted very differently from previous years. This time it focussed on the organisation of the pastoral formation of the parish from 2018 onwards. The preparation started on Sept 9 with the Study Day conducted by the Diocesan Animating Team (DAT) to dialogue, discern and see what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today.

The DAT reviewed the proceedings of the Penang Diocesan Synod at the Church of St Anne, Bukit Mertajam and the PMPC IV at Plentong, Johor in 2016. A breakout session provided feedback.

On Nov 3, Parish Priest, Fr Joachim Robert, held separate dialogue sessions with the various ministries and social groups under five Cluster groups to see how the parish could be more creative, inclusive and bridgebuilding.

On Dec 3, after the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament more than 200 parishioners went to the Dewan Holy Spirit for the Parish Pastoral Assembly. With Fr Fabian Dicom as Chairman, the Parish Assembly began with a prayer by Fr Francis Anthony, Assistant Parish Priest.

PPC Chairman, Pedro Geronimo, in his welcome address expressed his appreciation for the continued patience of the parishioners throughout the 16 months while the new building was under construction. He then reviewed the events that were celebrated during the year 2017.

Iruthayadas, PAT Chairman, presented feedback from the Study Day, as well as the discussions held with the five Cluster groups.

Fr Francis spoke of the wisdom, maturity and resilience of the parish and how it had progressed since the year 2005 when he came in as parish priest. Certain structures were missing but, once put in place, everything picked up and there was oneness.

Fr Joachim said that when he came as parish priest in May this year, he was amazed by the diversity and enthusiasm in the Parish. He then reflected on the Pentecost backdrop in the sanctuary of the Cathedral, depicting the Holy Spirit coming down in tongues of fire upon the disciples, with Mary leading the Church to go out and evangelise.

Later in the Acts, the Apostles prayed and broke bread. There was fellowship and brotherhood and they grew in numbers day by day and set a direction. With this inspiration, Fr Joachim urged the assembly to revisit the memory of that mystery. He also urged everyone to look back to the humble beginnings of the parish, saying, “If we want to chart the future, we first have to look back at our history.

“In 1950, the parish took shape at the Greenlane Convent canteen. It became a parish in 1969 and was elevated to cathedral in 2003. We will soon celebrate our 50 years as a parish and 15 years as cathedral. He spoke of the many diversities within the parish, such as languages, talents, gifts and charisms. We can use these diversities to move forward. As the Holy Spirit has inspired us, we can look with confidence to God. However, when there is too much diversity there will be challenges. Too much uniformity is also not good. We have to strike the right balance with a lot of give and take.”

He proposed Unity in Diversity as the parish theme for 2018. The one year celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Parish will be a good opportunity to adopt this theme and put it into practice.

Fr Joachim proposed that the parish thrust be based on the following:

1. Teachings of the Apostles
2. Fellowship
3. The breaking of bread
4. Prayer

Fr Joachim concluded saying, “As we move forward we should strive to be missionaries of hope. We strive to be creative, inclusive and bridgebuilders through unity in diversity.”

There was a Q & A session with Fr Fabian as moderator. The main comment was about Masses in Bahasa Malaysia. The senior citizens felt they could not manage with Masses in BM and needed some alternatives. Sunset Mass on the third Saturday of every month is in BM at CHS. However, the youth felt it was a necessary move, as they are more fluent with BM than with English. They also felt that Catechism should be conducted in BM in future.

The Assembly ended with Fr Fabian calling for consensus on the theme Unity in Diversity as the thrust of the parish for 2018.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

 

PENAMPANG – Members of the Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei will make their ‘ad limina’ visit in Rome on 4-9 Feb 2018.

In a circular received by kkdiocese.net on Jan 4, Bishop Francis Sebastian of Penang, president of the bishops’ conference, asks for prayers from all the faithful in the three countries to pray for this event.

“…we wish for all Catholics, through prayer and solidarity, to feel a part of the Ad Limina visit, which confirms and celebrates that which we profess each week when we express our belief in the ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church,’ the bishop writes.

The Ad Limina visit is formally called ‘ad limina apostolorum,’ which means ‘to the thresholds of the apostles’ Peter and Paul, who were martyred in Rome.

This visit is made by the Ordinaries of a Region (e.g. Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei), which include the cardinal, archbishops and bishops in charge of a diocese.

The visit consists of three parts:

1. A personal visit to the tombs of Sts Peter and Paul.  It connects the present successor to the Apostles (bishops, archbishops, cardinal) to the two major Apostles credited with the spreading of the faith.
2. A visit and interview with the Holy Father on Feb 8.  This is a time when the cardinal, archbishops and bishops renew their obedience and loyalty to Pope Francis, the successor of Peter, and receive his teaching in the form of a reflection and they render oral reports on the state of their individual arch/dioceses.
3. A scheduled visit to the various offices of the Roman Curia, presenting the written report to the Secretariat of State.  Each diocese is sent a questionnaire of the information being requested by the Vatican.  This five-year report provides statistical and written descriptions of all the priests, deacons, religious and laity serving in the diocese; the state of the sacramental life of the diocese; the financial health of the diocese as a whole; the types of programmes being offered which can range from prison ministry to evangelisation to family life to ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue; the process of Catholic education in Catholic Mission schools and parishes; evangelisation efforts to the active, inactive and unchurched; and the current status of our priestly vocations.  This report also presents the successes and challenges since the last report give

The last ad limina visit was made 10 years ago in June 2008.

The circular will be read at all Masses on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Jan 20-21.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – The wardens’ fellowship night drew over 170 participants at the right wing of the Sacred Heart Parish Centre here on 2 Jan 2017.

The men and women wardens came from the four-language units (English, Chinese, BM, Kadazan) serving in Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing, St Paul Dontozidon, Church of Mary Immaculate Bukit Padang, Our Lady Queen of Peace Kobusak and St John Kopungit.

All the units contributed in cash and kind to make the barbecue night an enjoyable one enlivened by karaoke singing.

Gracing the event were Archbishop John Wong and his assistants Fathers Paul Lo, Max Hontor, and Joshua Liew as well as former assistant Father Johnny Raju.

Wardens have the role of keeping good order, peace, and tranquillity for worship in church. The duties and responsibilities of wardens include the following:

1. Ushering parishioners to seats before Mass.
2. Collection of offertory from parishioners during Mass.
3. Manage and direct movement of parishioners during Processions and Holy Communion during Mass.
4. Manage and direct movement as well as parking of vehicles in church.

Every warden strives to serve with love and undertakes to serve and not to be served.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – In his exhortation, Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community head encouraged the members to be what God wants them to be.

“This can be done through friendship with Jesus,” said Anthony Lim, presiding elder of the community, during the annual new year thanksgiving celebration at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre here on 1 Jan 2018.

Over 200 members and their families turned up for the gathering to thank God for all the blessings received in 2017 and to pray that the Lord will continue to protect and bless them with peace, love, joy, good health and prosperity in the new year.

Themed Coming Together and Growing Together, the event started with praise and worship led by the BM worship team followed by dinner.  All three language units – BM, English, Chinese – presented performances in song or dance.  A game for the children and teens was also organised.

A video presentation of the past year’s activities and events was screened.

The invited guests included Archbishop John Wong, Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, the assistant pastors Fathers Paul Lo, Max Hontor, and Joshua Liew as well as the Pauline Sisters.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Miri

KOTA KINABALU – The Raffle Ticket Draw in aid of the Catholic Centre Building Fund was drawn on 31 Dec 2017 at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre here.

Within three months (Sept-Nov 2017) a total of 14,169 booklets (RM20/booklet) out of 16,500 was sold by the different groups/communities under the Sacred Heart Cathedral and Church of Mary Immaculate.

The tickets sold amounted to RM283,380 exceeding the target amount of RM250,000.

Simon Tam Sai Man,33, won the sixth prize, a MIDEA ED-258W Chest freezer with capacity 198L, which was presented to him by Archbishop John Wong.

There are altogether 20 prizes including 10 consolation prizes.  All prizes must be claimed within three months at the parish office.

The following are the prize-winning numbers:
1. 028428
2. 017222
3. 070939
4. 089825
5. 051803
6. 152609
7. 018090
8. 082856
9. 066826
10. 005977

Consolation Prizes
1. 073809
2. 138954
3. 088377
4. 088929
5. 056365
6. 076757
7. 030923
8. 048781
9. 168336
10. 032888

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PENAMPANG – The golden anniversary organising committee of the Stella Maris Catholic Women’s League (SMCWL) paid a courtesy call on Archbishop John Wong at his office at the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre here on 30 Dec 2017.

The objective of the call was to present a cheque of RM2000.00 in aid of the Catholic Centre Building Fund.

Datin Theresa William said the amount was part of the proceeds collected from the advertisements and sales of the anniversary dinner tickets.

The SMCWL celebrated its golden anniversary on Aug 17.  Abp Wong graced the function which was attended by 500 guests including the past presidents of the league.

The courtesy call was also to thank the prelate for his staunch support extended to the organising committee in the form of presiding at the thanksgiving Mass and gracing the anniversary dinner.

The four-member delegation comprised William and committee members Monica Chung, Maria Lee, and Amy Yung.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – The Sacred Heart Chinese community organised an evening to celebrate Christmas at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre here on 29 Dec 2017.

Some 500 parishioners joined Archbishop John Wong, his assistant Father Paul Lo, and the Franciscan and Pauline Sisters for an evening of fellowship meal, songs (solo, duet, choral), dances, and lucky draws by various groups including the grandnephews and nieces of Abp Emeritus John Lee.

Organised by the Chinese Coordinating Committee, it also marked the 53rd priestly anniversary of retired Abp Lee (Dec 27) and the 41st priestly anniversary of Father Cosmas Lee (Dec 27).

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu