Category Archives: Oct 2017

Sandakan -The main family of the Chinese Coordinating Committee of the Basilica of St. Mary Marquise was held in the Chancellor Classroom from September 29 to 30, 2017. The second Chinese pre-marital counseling weekend was held in 2017.
The purpose of the premarital counseling weekend camp is to prepare the couples who are going to get married to be fully prepared to face the imminent marriages and the responsibilities of the married guys, especially in the face of the environment Challenge and seduce the moment.
There are two pairs of couples (Li Jianjie and Wu Lizhu, Zhang Jizhong and Deng Peifen) who are enrolled in this weekend. The three groups of members of the happy family (Huang Shinan couple, Chen Yuyuwen couple and Chen Chuanyu couple) are responsible for arranging and speaking this course. Course topics cover “know me / you / we, men and women of the psychological, common planning and decision, marriage with the sacrament, natural birth control” and so on.
In the three pairs of members of the rotation and detailed explanation and easy to explain, the two couples attended the course of the purpose and content of this course, and benefit a lot.
The weekend camp ends from Friday night (29/9) until Saturday (30/9) at 4.30 pm. Before the end of the two pairs of couples were awarded the certificate.

山打根圣玛莉主教座堂华文协调委员会属下快乐家庭于2017年9月29至30日在慕道班课室举办了2017年度第二次的华文婚前辅导周末营。

举办该婚前辅导周末营之目的是应教会的要求，让将要结婚的情侣们有充分的准备以面对即将来临的婚姻生活及应有的已婚教友的责任，尤其是面对大环境诸多挑战及引诱的当儿。

此次的共有两对情侣（李建杰与巫丽珠， 张继中与邓佩芬）报名参与此周末营，由快乐家庭的三对组员（黄士南夫妇，陈于宇文夫妇及陈川宇夫妇）负责安排及主讲此项课程。课程讲题涵盖“认识我/你/我们，男人女人的心理，共同策划与决定，婚配圣事，自然节育”等。

在三对组员轮流及详细的讲解与深入浅出的说明下，出席的两对情侣皆明了此课程的目的及内容，并获益不少。

此次的周末营从周五晚（29/9）开始直至周六（30/9）下午四时三十分圆满结束。结束前，两对参与的情侣皆获颁结业证。

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

Objektif bagi Kem Penyambutan ini adalah Menghayati dan Mengenali Yesus dalam Ekaristi.

Program ini dimulai dengan pendaftaran dan sarapan pagi seawal 7 pagi disusuli dengan Pentahtaan Alkitab pada 7.45 pagi yang dipimpin oleh Rev. Fr. Simon Kontou.

Sesi pertama dimulakan dengan sesi suaikenal serta Icebreaking dan diteruskan dengan bengkel tentang Sakramen Baptis yang dikendalikan oleh Pengerusi Komiti Katekatikal Paroki, Sdra Sebastian Francis. Pada akhir sesi ini, calon penyambutan dan pembimbing melakukan aktiviti 14 pernyataan Pembaptisan yang betul atau salah.

Setelah makan tengahari, para calon dibawa bermain permainan mencari Harta Karun, dimana para calon akan diperlihatkan kelengkapan misa dalam bentuk gambar dan mencari gambar berkenaan di sekitar dewan. Setelah permainan ini selesai, para calon dibawa melihat sendiri kelengkapan Misa.

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

Lahad Datu: Kem Krisma yang julung kalinya telah diadakan di Gereja St. Dominic pada 16hb September 2017. Kem ini dihadiri  oleh calon penguatan daripada Paroki St Dominic dan Outstasi sekitar. Seramai 14 Calon dewasa dan 136 Calon Remaja serta 20 orang para pembimbing telah menyertai kem ini.

Kem Krisma ini merupakan yang pertama diadakan di Paroki St. Dominic kerana sebelum ini hanya diadakan retret bagi Calon Penguatan. Kem ini bertujuan untuk mempersiapkan para calon untuk menerima Sakramen Penguatan pada 5hb Nov 2017 akan datang. Objektif utama bagi Kem Krisma ini adalah ‘Menjadi Saksi Kristus Yang Berkesan’.

Program ini dimulai dengan pendaftaran seawal jam 7 pagi disusuli dengan Pentahtaan Alkitab yang dipimpin oleh Rev. Fr. Simon Kontou.

Sesi pertama ialah Menghidupi Panggilan Baptis yang dipimpin oleh Sr Evelin Tivit. Beliau mengadakan bengkel dan soalan. Antara soalan-soalan yang dikemukakan ialah ‘cabaran utama orang muda untuk menghidupi panggilan Baptis’.
Dalam sesi kedua ialah Penyataan tentang Sakramen. Melalui sesi ini, para calon diajak untuk mengenali Sakramen dengan lebih mendalam.
Masuk kepada sesi ketiga, Sr Evelin memberikan katekisis tentang Ekaristi, Yesus Roti Kehidupan. Di dalam sesi ini, para calon mengadakan aktiviti tentang urutan Misa.

Melalui sesi Pertobatan, pembimbing PMK saudari Vilma mengadakan aktiviti ‘Knee Injury/ Spiritual Healing’ untuk memperlihatkan para calon bagaimana melalui proses pertobatan.

Sesi terakhir, Sr Evelin memberi penjelasan tentang tajuk sesi iaitu ‘Kamu adalah SaksiKu (7 Maksud Buah Roh Kudus)’ dan berakhir dengan aktiviti menyusun teka silang kata .

Kem Krisma ini ditutup dengan perkongsian, renungan dan evaluasi yang dipimpin Sr Evelin Tivit dan di akhiri dengan Raptai Calon Penguatan di dalam Gereja.

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan 

RANAU –  Mass at St Peter Claver Church here was a colourful sea of snuggly animals, as over 200 people toted their favourite animals to be blessed on 4 Oct 2017, a long-time dream of Father Nicholas Stephen, the parish priest.

This scene of friends – furry and otherwise – was one of many throughout the world, as parishes celebrated St Francis’ feast day on Oct 4, in many places a week full of activities that included animal blessings, Transitus services, commemorations, festivals and special Masses.

The day before, the church celebrated the Transitus, remembering the death of St Francis. “Embracing Otherness” and “Engaging Francis” were the themes of some events that, in addition to honouring St Francis’ care for all creation, encouraged people to join social ministry projects and celebrate the colours, cultures and creeds of others, just as the patron saint would.

Fr  Stephen used the opportunity to reflect on St Francis as the patron saint of ecology. He said, “Have you ever wondered why many churches offer a special blessing for animals on the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology?”

He said, “People bring their pets for a blessing because they want to thank God for their non-human companions, for their friendship and beauty. But there is an even more important reason to bless animals, especially at this time of the unprecedented ecological crisis that we face. First, the blessing of animals reminds us that all creatures have been created and blessed by God. Their worth extends far beyond a mere commodity value that we humans ascribe to them. Second, the blessing of the animals offers us an opportunity to strengthen within us a sense of compassion for all God’s creatures. It can also reawaken in us our religious responsibility to protect them – much like Noah did – from a disaster.”

“In memory of the blessing of Francis, we give thanks, we simply give thanks, for gratitude is the memory of the heart.” Fr Stephen continued, “We thank those in all our ministries who have supported us and worked with us to help people (the poor, the missions, local works), and to pray that love will continue to live on in our lives and in our ministries as we fill our hearts with beautiful memories of Christ, of Francis, of Franciscan men and women whose work we continue into the next century.” – Friar Aiden Peter Jr OFM

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

This year is the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima. This month of October is a good time to pray the Rosary as BECs, families or individuals to honour Our Lady of Fatima. On this centenarian celebration the Church invites us to focus on “conversion of sinners.” It also calls all Catholics to say the Rosary daily.

The practice of praying the Rosary has gradually been abandoned by many families and individuals because of the various daily distractions. Many  Catholic parents and adults are so occupied, with work, business, family matters and other distractions, that they do not have time to pray by themselves or with their families.

Praying the Rosary is not easy. Finding a moment to recite the Rosary during our busy day can be a challenge. At times we do partial rosaries. We just say a decade or two a day. At times we may say hurried rosaries because of our busy schedules. We may also say the rosary while driving to work and returning from work. Perhaps we ‘pray-on-the-go’. All these activities could detract from the merits of praying the rosary. A common excuse for not saying the rosary is that it’s boring to recite .

Why do we need to pray the Rosary? It doesn’t matter how busy our day is but the important thing is that we should take every effort to pray as a family despite our busy schedules. The moment we pray the Rosary in the midst of our hectic schedule, we give an opportunity to let Mother Mary come into our lives.

When we pray the Rosary, we grow stronger as a family. Praying the Rosary daily gives us a spiritual power to battle with sin. Whenever temptations are high, we must always remind ourselves, to pull out our rosaries from our pockets or hand bags and say at least one or two decades of the Rosary at once. It may give you sufficient strength and spiritual power to defeat evil. We need to regularly focus and reconnect ourselves with our heavenly Mother to gain strength from Her Son, Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons why people lose their faith is that they drop the practice of praying the Rosary, either as a family or individually. We need the Rosary. We should pray the Rosary without fear or doubt. God will answer your prayers when you pray sincerely and with faith. Many parents are very worried about their children. With the rosary in our hands and with the assistance of our Blessed Mother Mary, we have a place to send our worries and anxieties for our children to come back to our Lord Jesus. The Rosary will save our children when they divert themselves from the path towards God. When we say the Rosary daily it will stop them from ever leaving their faith in Christ.

May we be resolute in setting aside a special time just to pray the Rosary. We see around us much disunity within church communities and families today. The Church believes that the Rosary unites and brings peace. Many families and communities faithfully dedicate themselves to the daily recitation of the Rosary for peace, harmony, selflessness and love.

At Fatima, Our Lady said this directly: “Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and to save the world.”—SJC

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

MEMBAKUT :  Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan Keningau telah berlangsung selama tiga hari bermula pada 31 Ogos 2017 dan berakhir pada 2 September 2017 yang lalu. Paroki St. Valentine Beaufort dan Paroki St.Patrick Membakut merupakan dua paroki yang telah bekerjasama menjadi tuan rumah bagi kejohanan ini yang diadakan setiap dua tahun sekali.

Kejohanan ini dianjurkan oleh Komisi Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan Keningau dan telah melibatkan seramai lebih kurang 500 orang atlet dari sepuluh paroki dan mission yang terdapat di Keuskupan Keningau dan merupakan program utama Komisi sukan Solidariti Keuskupan Keningau.

Kejohanan ini dimulakan dengan misa pembukaan yang telah diadakan di gereja St.Valentine Beaufort. Misa disempurnakan oleh Rev.Fr.Paul Mikin dan kemudiannya diikuti dengan fellowshippembukaan kepada semua atlit dan umat yang hadir pada malam tersebut. Fellowship tersebut telah diadakan di dewan gereja St. Valentine Beaufort.

Kejohanan selama tiga hari tersebut diisi dengan perlawanan bola sepak yang telah diadakan di padang stadium Beaufort, futsal yang telah diadakan di gelanggang futsal Membakut, bola tampar yang diadakan di gelanggang bola tampar terbuka padang Pekan Beaufort, badminton yang diadakan di Dewan Baru Beaufort  dan pingpong yang diadakan di dewan gereja St. Valentine Beaufort.

Pada majlis penutupan yang diangsungkan di Dewan Gereja St.Patrick Membakut, saudara Fredolin Umis selaku pengerusi Komisi Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan mengucapkan tahniah dan syabas kepada semua pasukan yang telah bertanding secara adil dan penuh dengan semangat solidariti. Beliau menganggap penganjuran sukan selama tiga hari tersebut telah berjalan dengan lancar dan menepati objektif sukan solidariti yang ingin dicapai. Beliau juga mengucapkan terima kasih dan tahniah kepada paroki St. Valentine Beaufort dan paroki St.Patrick Membakut kerana telah banyak berusaha menjayakan sukan tersebut terutama sekali didalam menyediakan tempat-tempat pertandingan. Beliau berharap agar kerjasama seperti ini akan mengeratkan lagi hubungan diantara semua paroki-paroki dan mission didalam keuskupan Keningau dalam mengalakkan solidariti dikalangan umatnya.

Rev.Fr. Ronnie Alfred Luni, Paderi Paroki pula berkata, memang baik sekali sukan solidariti keuskupan telah dapat dianjurkan dengan lancar. Namun begitu, beliau masih mengharapkan sokongan daripada umat untuk menyokong penganjuran keuskupan seperti sukan solidariti. Menurutnya lagi, beliau tidak dapat lari daripada rasa kecewa kerana bilangan umat yang datang menonton setiap perlawanan mahupun pada majlis pembukaan dan majlis penutupan, adalah terlalu sedikit. Beliau berharap setiap atlet yang menyertai kejohanan ini akan pulang dengan membawa semangat solidariti, semangat kesatuan dan mengongsikan kepada umat diparoki masing-masing tentang cinta kasih Tuhan serta keindahan solidarity dan bukan hanya tentang kemenangan pingat semata-mata.

Program sukan ini yang telah berlangsung selama tiga hari menyaksikan pasukan dari paroki St.Francis Xavier Keningau muncul sebagai juara keseluruhan manakala paroki  St. Anthony Tenom telah dipilih sebagai tuan rumah bagi Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan pada tahun 2019. – KOMSOS St.Patrick Membakut

Article reproduced from Diocese of Keningau

KENINGAU : Tamu Solidariti KSFX telah berjaya disempurnakan pada 1 Oktober 2017. Tamu Solidariti kali ke-15 ini bertempat di Dataran Keuskupan Keningau.

Umat-umat daripada setiap KUK, KKD dan juga Zon sekitar Paroki Keningau datang bersama untuk menyokong dan memeriahkan lagi Tamu Solidariti. Turut menghadirkan diri Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin dan isteri serta rombongan.

Tamu Solidariti merupakan salah satu program yang diadakan setiap tahun di paroki KSFX untuk mencari dana bagi keperluan-keperluan pastoral. Selain itu juga, Tamu Solidariti merupakan salah satu persiapan dalam manyambut Jubli Perak Keuskupan Keningau pada tahun 2018. Tamu Solidariti juga diadakan untuk membantu dalam pembangunan gereja-gereja stesen luar Paroki KSFX juga pembangunan Pusat Ziarah Keluarga Kudus Nulu Sosopon. Setiap pembelian adalah dengan menggunakan kupon.

Majlis dimulakan dengan Tarian Tradisional bagi menyambut kedatangan Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong dan para tetamu jemputan. Seterusnya sesi ucapan alu-aluan dan perasmian Tamu Solidariti yang dilaksanakan oleh Bishop sendiri.

Saudara Paul Jawa selaku Pengerusi juga wakil bagi Tim Perlaksana Tamu Solidariti mengucapkan kesyukuran ke atas keterlibatan semua pihak sekitar Paroki KSFX dan sokongan-sokongan umat serta penderma-penderma. Beliau juga berterima kasih atas sokongan dan keparcayaan yang diberikan oleh Uskup, para paderi dan Komuniti Religius  kepada Tim Perlaksana sehingga Tamu Solidariti dapat berlangsung dengan jayanya.

Pelbagai acara yang disediakan dalam Tamu Solidariti ini. Antaranya ialah jualan makanan, minuman, beras, sayur-sayuran dan macam-macam lagi. Disamping itu, terdapat juga gerai-gerai yang menyediakan permainan mini untuk menarik perhatian umat yang datang. Persembahan pentas, cabutan tiket bertuah, karaoke terbuka dan sumbangan lagu juga diadakan bagi memeriahkan lagi suasana Tamu Solidariti.

Article reproduced from Diocese of Keningau

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

The annual nine-day feast of Our Lady of Good Health culminated on September 9 with the evening Mass. Some 1,700 faithful converged at the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Health (OLGH) for the celebration, beginning at 5.30pm with the recitation of the Rosary and Novena prayers to Our Lady.

The 6.00pm multi-lingual Mass, with the theme Mary, make me a Disciple of Hope, was presided by Fr Sebastian Aputharaj OFM Cap. Joining him were Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Chapel Administrator Fr Edwin Peter, Fr Mari Arokiam, Capuchin Fr Iruthaya Raj from India and Fr Joseph from Uganda.

Fr Sebastian, in his remarks, quoted Pope Benedict XVI in his Encyclical, who said we are all travellers on earth. Our Mother Mary is the star of hope, she will guide us and she will support us.

The Indian Capuchin priest said Mother Mary is the star of hope and if we follow her, we will become disciples of hope.

“If you seek her help, Mary will support you. If you ask her for strength, surely she will support you. If you trust her, she will certainly support you.”

We need to follow Mary and love God to become disciples of hope. Be humble and follow the example of Mary, who is the disciple of Jesus. She lived as mother and disciple of Jesus, learned from Jesus and practised what she learnt.

Fr Sebastian also said Mother Mary loved God so much and that is why she said “Yes” in her fiat.

The Capuchin priest said we should try to express our love in actions. We learn from our parents that all the problems in the family will be solved with love. We need to be humble.

Touching on the Annunciation, when the Angel brought the message to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God and she said, “I’m the Lord’s servant, may it be done to me as you have said,” she accepted the will of God and, through her obedience, she brought salvation to the world. Fr Sebastian told the assembly that we should accept the will of God cheerfully to become disciples of hope.

After Mass, the float with the icon of Our Lady of Good Health led the procession, followed by the clergy and the assembly, going around the vicinity of the chapel while the Rosary was recited. Upon returning to the chapel 45 minutes later, Fr Sebastian led the Benediction.

This year the various themes for the nine day Novena and Mass were specifically focused on Caregivers, People with Special Needs, the Sick and those on the Peripheries. It called everyone to be devoted, to be instrumental, to be supportive, to be courageous, to initiate, to be proactive, to be loving and to be enduring. It is hoped that the faithful would progressively be transformed, with Mary’s guidance, to be Disciples of Hope in the nation.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Vatican Ambassador to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino, planted a tree in Grace Garden at the Infant Jesus Convent, which the school has cultivated for many years, to instruct its students to care for the environment.

He was then introduced to the teachers and staff before being taken on a tour of the school by senior teacher Lee Siew Kee.

In his address to the teachers, parents and students, Archbishop Marino said it was a great honour for him to be here to mark the 92nd anniversary.

He said it signifies, in the first place, a spirit of dedication which inspired the first three religious sisters in 1925 to establish a school primarily for girls.

He said such a prophetic initiative at that time to give priority to women who, in many parts of the world, were not even recognised to have the right to participate in the democratic process of elections.

“It signifies, too, the benevolent and generous leadership of Sultanah Rogayah who, after recognizing the high quality of education taking place here, decided to donate a piece of land so that the school could expand,” he said.

He mentioned that the Church and State can work together, especially in the area of education, so all the citizens will benefit. This is certainly the reality of this school which represents a beacon of light in this part of Malaysia.

The Vatican ambassador noted that the Catholic Church is involved in education with much joy and enthusiasm as she has only the overall good of the students in mind.

He said the Church, through its schools, makes this contribution by bringing expertise to her institutions, employing the finest methods in imparting knowledge to the students who have been entrusted to her.

Expounding further, he said the Church carries out the work of education with a spirit of genuine and effective openness, embracing people of all religions and backgrounds in a truly exemplary fashion.

He said, “One cannot but express admiration for this attitude especially in today’s world which, in so many places, is marked by an unfortunate divide among peoples of faith.”

He also stated that Christian missionaries have left an indelible mark on the social and cultural life of this part of the world, primarily in the area of education, introducing solid values which all people of goodwill embrace and live by.

The Archbishop also pointed out that the Church seeks to contribute in operating schools that attend not only to the cognitive, but also to the spiritual and moral development of children which is essential for a stable and prosperous society.

He stressed that the teachers and those in administration have a high responsibility in assuring that these values are truly taught by word and by example.

He said the basis for a good education is good teachers who are committed to their work of educating children, imparting knowledge and human values which serve the common good.

However, he said, attaining this goal is not only an academic preparation, which of course is essential, but also giving true testimony to what is being taught and the values that are being given, adding that, “learning by example is as powerful as learning by the word.”

In fact, the Archbishop noted, research has shown that what education needs today are teachers that provide witness to what is good and right and just and this is what inspires children to acquire knowledge with enthusiasm and joy.

He went on to say that this school has been blessed with teachers who carry out their obligations with a sense of mission, that is, with a sense that teaching is more than a job, it is a way of life and a vocation, requiring discipline and preparation.

Turning to the students, Archbishop Marino said, “You have been given a unique opportunity by your parents and guardians to be a part of this school, with its long and glorious history.”

He encouraged them to approach each day as an opportunity to learn something new, to discover something different and to know another friend.

He said school life requires a real sense of discipline and openness in an environment which enables the development of a community of learning, marked by respect for one another.

In all of this, Archbishop Marino said that a school with all its vast diversity gives an example to what society must be, a place where everyone is treated equally and fairly, a place where everyone is given space to grow and develop and a place where harmony is lived and celebrated.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online