Category Archives: Mar 2018

“Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.

One such moment of grace will be, again this year, the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, which invites the entire Church community to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic adoration. In 2018, inspired by the words of Psalm 130:4, “With you is forgiveness,” this will take place from Friday, 9 March to Saturday, 10 March. In each diocese, at least one church will remain open for twenty-four consecutive hours, offering an opportunity for both Eucharistic adoration and sacramental confession.”(Pope Francis, 2018 Lenten Message)

For a third straight year, “24 Hours for the Lord” is a worldwide initiative called for by Pope Francis to invite the entire church community to pray for a Worldwide Peace through Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. St. Mary’s Cathedral being the mother church of Sandakan Diocese responded to the Pontiff’s call to open its door 24 hours for the common intention.

For St. Mary’s Cathedral, the prayer commenced right after the Station of the Cross, marked by the Eucharistic celebration at 6.00 pm on Friday, 9th March, and concluded the next day at 6.00 pm, Saturday, 10th March with Sunset Mass.

In the Opening Mass on Friday, His Lordship Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom shared that it is the Holy Father’s wish that in every part of the world, the merciful, forgiving presence of Jesus be manifested during this 24-hour period through Eucharistic Adoration and Sacrament of Penance. He also emphasized the importance of peace that should start from our hearts, within the family, as well as to pray for peace in our country and throughout the world. With that, he ended his homily where peace means we pray towards one another, particularly we pray for conversion around the world.

The Parish Liturgical Committee has assigned a schedule to the various ministries, communities and groupings in the parish to take turns on an hourly basis to lead the prayer and was well attended for a 24-hour event in the Cathedral.

Article reproduced from Dicocese of Sandakan

Sandakan: Seramai 19 orang ahli KKD Maria Ratu Rosari telah membuat lawatan mesra ke Rumah Warga Tua Sri Harapan dan Persatuan Rumah Amal Sabah (Sabah Cheshire Home) bertempat di Batu 5, Jalan Sibuga pada 10 Mac 2018.

Lawatan ini diketuai oleh Puan Connie Joseph. Lawatan ini bertujuan untuk membuka hati para ahli KKD tentang kehidupan golongan tua dan istimewa.

Lawatan bermula seawal jam 1.30 petang di Rumah Warga Tua Sri Harapan. Dalam lawatan itu, En. Edin salah seorang kakitangan di tempat tersebut telah menerangkan serba sedikit tentang tugasan harian yang mereka lakukan kepada penghuni rumah amal tersebut. Beliau juga menambah bahawa mereka akan lebih mengambil berat kepada golongan lebih sensitif.

Ah Fong, salah seorang penghuni di Rumah Amal

Lawatan dilanjutkan ke Rumah Amal Sabah pada pukul 3 petang. Para ahli KKD berpeluang untuk beramah mesra, berhibur dan menangkap gambar bersama-sama golongan istimewa. Selain itu, para ahli telah memberikan sumbangan berupa barangan keperluan harian kepada rumah amal tersebut. Lawatan berakhir pada jam 4 petang.

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU – On an evening in March 2018 across the arch/dioceses of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Keningau, the arch/bishops will gather with their priests, seminarians and deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful to celebrate the Chrism Mass where two important things take place:  the priests publicly renew their priestly promises before their bishops, and the Oils of Catechumens and the Sick are blessed and the Holy Chrism is consecrated.

Traditionally the Chrism Mass is celebrated on the morning of  Holy Thursday.  However, it has been a practice here to have the rite moved to an earlier day close to Easter as it is difficult for many of the priests to be at the cathedral with their bishops in the morning and in their parishes in the evening  of Holy Thursday.

The Chrism Mass, which the bishop concelebrates with his presbyterium with the blessing of the oils, manifests the communion of the priests with their bishop in the same priesthood and ministry of Christ.

In his homily at the Chrism Mass celebrated at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing on 22 Mar 2018, Archbishop John Wong highlighted the common mission and priesthood of the church, ordained and lay: “… to be faithful witnesses in the world to the salvation Christ won for all mankind” (Collect).

In a unique way, Chrism Mass focuses on the ordained priesthood of the bishops and priests which is manifested in the renewal of commitment to priestly service after the homily to “be faithful servants of the mysteries of God, to celebrate the Eucharist and the other liturgical services” (Rite of Renewal of Commitment to Priestly Service).

The oils were brought to the altar by Father Abel Madisang (Oil of the Sick), Father Postinus Kurup (Oil of the Catechumens), and Father Florian Marcus (Oil of Chrism).

After the Mass, Msgr Primus Jouil blessed the oils brought by the faithful.

Chrism Mass is, in effect, one of the most beautiful Masses in the Church’s repertory as it represents the Church in miniature and benefits the entire diocese.  In a sense, this is a Mass of Holy Orders as well as of the Holy Oils.

The Chrism Mass will be celebrated at St Mary Sandakan Mar 23 and at Katedral St Francis Xavier Keningau on Mar 27.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PENAMAPNG – Forty-seven students and teachers of Class 1979 of St Francis Convent Secondary School Kota Kinabalu met after 39 years on 21 Mar 2018.

The event was hosted by Preetha Joseph at her residence at Teck Guan Villa Penampang.  Although residing in the United States, she comes home yearly to commemorate the death anniversary of her mother.

It was certainly a joyful reunion for all the classmates – one science class and two art classes – some have never met since they left school in 1979.  They spent the night sharing food and  stories.

Teachers invited included Franciscan Sister Cecilia Liew (principal, SFC primary), Mrs Christina Chen, Chai Moi Len (formerly Mrs Poon), and Mrs Wong Wan Cher.

Before the night was over, they promised to meet again on their 40th anniversary next year.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

St Ignatius Church (SIC) commissioned choir members, lectors, commentators, cantors, hospitality ministers and those who assisted with liturgy matters for serving during Bahasa Masses on Sunday, March 4, 2018.

SIC Assistant Parish Priest Fr Lawrence Ng CDD conducted the rite of commissioning at the 1.30pm Bahasa Malaysia Mass.

Volunteers who helped to animate the once-a-month Bahasa Malaysia Mass at SIC belong to the Komuniti Umat Bahasa Malaysia (KUBM) who are distinguished by their light blue T-shirts.

Stations of the Cross in Bahasa was held earlier at 12.50pm.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

PETALING JAYA: Some 250 women commemorated International Women’s Day at the Church of St Francis Xavier on March 3, sharing their life experiences at a day-long gathering recognising their many contributions to society and their important roles as mothers, wives, citizens, and care-givers. The entire day’s events were wrapped around the theme Facing Adversity, Finding Joy.

“Women have come a long way,” noted parish priest, Fr Norris Seenivasan, SJ whose opening remarks set the tone for the day.

The event began with a grand opening of a pantomime on the Sabah legend of Huminodun, depicting what defines a woman when she or her loved ones suffer. Huminodun, a princess, sacrificed herself for the people so they could have an abundant harvest. It was further interspersed with other entertainment including a lively Zumba dance which got all the participants on their feet.

The gathering featured inspiring sharing by women from all walks of life. There was a forum with Hannah Yeoh, Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly and author of Becoming Hannah and Dr Anasuya Jegathesan of HELP University who has a doctorate in Counselling. The forum was moderated by Malar Villi, an EQ specialist.

Hannah shared her belief that women could better cope with adversity by surrounding themselves with like-minded people. It was important to find a right balance between work and family. In her case, her duties as a politician and her obligations to her two daughters and husband.

Dr Anasuya pointed out that women were often the care-givers in a family. Women should not say they had no choice when taking on the role but, rather, acknowledge that they had taken the hard choice when others in their family turned away.

Other women, aged from 18 to 81, shared their experiences, thoughts and struggles. These ranged from surviving cancer to the trials of being a migrant worker.

Archbishop Julian Leow visited the event and told the women, “You hold up more than half the world.”

In her closing remarks, Organising Committee Member, Regina Morris, said, “The take-home message today is, I am enough! We don’t need to reinvent ourselves to please others. Despite imperfections or brokenness, women still have achieved so much. Imagine, if we put our talents together, how much more could be achieved for a better world.”

The participants closed the event with a therapeutic and enthusiastic beating of drums in a Drum Circle.

The commemoration, organised by Sisters Abiding in Light and Truth (SALT), the Women’s Desk of SFX Church, PJ, was aimed at inspiring, educating and empowering women to find joy amidst life’s difficulties and challenges.

SALT, established in 2016, aims to create a space for women to grow together in faith, draw support from one another to build inner strength and maintain their distinctive qualities. SALT can be reached at saltsfxpj@gmail.com and on Facebook @salt.sfxpj

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

SANDAKAN – Some 19 members of the Mary Queen of the Rosary BEC made two Lenten visits on 10 Mar 2018.

They visited the Sri Harapan Senior Citizens Home and Sabah Cheshire Home (SCH) at Mile 5 Jalan Sibuga here.

The visits were headed by Connie Joseph with the aim of opening the hearts of the members to the elderly and the handicapped.

At the senior citizens home, Edin, one of the staff, explained to the visitors how the home is being run and the need to be sensitive to the needs of the residents.

While visiting the Sabah Cheshire Home, the BEC members took time to entertain the residents and distributed provisions to them.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KENINGAU – Around 34 staff and associates of the Keningau Parish Kindergarten attended a recollection on 10 Mar 2018 at the Holy Family Pilgrimage Centre Nulu Sosopon here.

The recollection began with a talk by Deacon David Gasikol on commitment and happiness in life.  It closed with a Mass presided by Bishop Cornelius Piong.

In his homily, the bishop said that teaching is not just a job but a way of bring the children to encounter Jesus.  Therefore, teaching is a vocation, a calling from God.  He exhorted the attendees to pray often and to ask the Holy Spirit to help them in their ministry.

After Mass the attendees adjourned to the canteen for a fellowship lunch with the bishop.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KENINGAU – Eighty-six catechists from Keningau Parish attended a recollection on 16-17 Mar 2018 at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre here.

The event began with a friendly football match at the Keningau Prison field.  The team led by Father Rudolf Joannes won the match 6-5 against the ream led by catechist Alexius Tawasin.

This was followed by the recollection facilitated by Fr Rudolf on the need to face various challenges in life with eyes fixed on Jesus through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

The recollection ended with a fellowship meal at the Holy Family Pilgrimage Centre canteen.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – Ninety-two BM speaking Elect attended a recollection facilitated by Deacon Russell Lawrine on 17 Mar 2018 at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre here.  The spiritual exercise was to prepare the Elect for the reception of the Easter Sacraments on Apr 1.  The preparatory rites will be held on Holy Saturday morning Mar 31 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at 8 am.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu