Author Archives: Ken Wong

PAPAR – This year’s Christmas theme for St Joseph Parish here related well with the parish’s present pastoral activities in delivering the Archdiocesan Pastoral Thrust: ‘My Family, My BECs and My Church’ (Keluarga, KKD dan Gereja Ku) with acronym KKG Ku.

In his Christmas Eve message, Father Thomas Yip invited the parishioners to emulate the humble and holy family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus, always obedience to God in accordance to His Will and not their own.

“May the peace and humility in their lives and the word of God inspired us and open the path towards repentance and forgiveness towards one another in our family and communities,” he said.

In his homily on Christmas Day, Father Rayner Bisius said that the crib of baby Jesus brings forth hope, joy, happiness, peace and mercy to all.  He invited the parishioners to bring joy and peace to those who cannot celebrate Christmas in one way or another.

He said that the migrant parishioners in one of the outstation chapels in Kogopon were not afraid to risk their lives in attending the Christmas Eve Mass so as to bear witness to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Likewise, he continued, we, too, must not be afraid to walk the path and to bear witness to Christ in our lives and church ministry no matter how big the challenges are.

After the Mass, the priest, children and parishioners together had a cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the birth of our Lord. – William Charles Mindus, SOCCOM Papar

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Telupid: Pada 16 Disember 2017, Pesta Koir telah dianjurkan oleh Kerasulan Wanita Katolik Paroki St. Martin. Pesta ini merupakan salah satu Takwim tahunan bagi KWK Paroki St. Martin. Tuan Rumah Pesta Koir kali ini bertempat di Zon Jalan Tongod, St. Patrick Entilibon. Tema untuk acara ini masih dikekalkan iaitu “SUKACITA KRISMAS”.

KWK Zon Pekan sebagai Tuan Rumah Pesta Koir 2017

Acara dimulakan dengan misa pembukaan oleh Rev. Fr. Jasery G. Emmanuel selaku paderi paroki Gereja St. Martin Telupid. Dalam homilinya, Fr.  Jasery mengatakan bahawa pesta koir dianjurkan pada musim Adven bertujuan agar umat dapat mempersiapkan jalan bagi Tuhan iaitu dengan cara pertobatan dan perdamaian di antara sesama keluarga kristian khasnya.

KWK Zon Jalan Nangoh

KWK Zon Jalan Ranau

Pengerusi pelaksana Pesta Koir pada tahun ini ialah Puan Julia Bahari. Dalam ucapan, beliau menyatakan rasa syukur kepada Tuhan dan terima kasih khasnya untuk Fr Jasery kerana telah membuat misa kudus khas untuk takwim tahunan KWK ini. Beliau juga berpesan bahawa kalah atau menang itu adalah perkara biasa tetapi yang paling utama ialah berjalan bersama melayani dengan kasih Allah di antara satu dengan yang lain.

KWK Zon Jalan Sandakan

KWK Zon Jalan Tongod

Sebanyak lima zon telah menyertai pertandingan ini iaitu Zon Pekan, Zon Jalan Sandakan, Zon Jalan Nangoh, Zon Jalan Ranau dan Zon Jalan Tongod.  Puan Victoria Salati selaku Penyelaras Kerasulan Wanita Katolik Paroki Telupid telah menyatakan tujuan sebenar penganjuran pesta koir ini adalah untuk mengeratkan lagi ikatan kekeluargaan di kalangan ahli seterusnya di dalam pelayanan dan khasnya untuk semua umat agar dapat merasai persiapan menyambut kelahiran Kristus ke dunia.

KWK Zon Pekan

KWK Zon Pekan menerima hadiah Johan

Johan bagi pertandingan Pesta Koir tahun 2017 ini telah disandang oleh Kerasulan Wanita Katolik Zon Pekan dengan tajuk lagu “SABDA KEDATANGAN KRISTUS”, Naib Johan – KWK Zon Jalan Nangoh dan Tempat Ketiga – KWK Zon Jalan Ranau.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Two recently ordained deacons say they look forward to serving people and growing in holiness.

Friars Claurence Motoyou, OFM and David Au, OFM were ordained deacons at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Dec 5.

The diaconate period marks a step closer towards priestly ordination for them.

Friar Claurence, 46, who comes from a family of six children and completed his seminary studies at the St Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Singapore, said his ordination theme was, Vine and Branches. Friar Claurence said, “Christ calls everyone and His call is for us to be rooted in Him, the true Master.”

Friar David, 44, comes from a family of three children and he is the youngest. He too completed his seminary studies at the St Francis Major Seminary, Singapore.

Friar David too, chose his ordination theme as Vine and Branches, adding that “My entire vocation and, indeed, my Christian life depends on me surrendering more and more to Christ, so that He may continue to mould me into the person He wants me to be. I draw life from Christ, the True Vine.”

After his ordination, Friar David said he felt humbled and unworthy, yet very graced by God, to spread the Good News.

He said, “He makes use of me in my inadequacies and calls me to lean on Him every day.”

Friar Claurence said, “It is only by God’s grace that all things are possible. I know that I am far from perfect.”

Some 700 people packed the Cathedral for the ceremony, presided over by Bishop Bernard Paul. Concelebrating were Msgr Peter Ng, VG and Michael Mannayagam, VG, Fr Christopher Lee, Chancellor and Friar John Wong, OFM, Custos of St Anthony for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Some 25 priests were also present.

In his homily, Bishop Bernard said the Scriptures indicate who deacons are. The Book of Numbers refers to them as the Levites assigned to assist priests and serve the community.

St Paul mentions the kind of character deacons must have, what their role is and their qualities.

“A deacon has to read, meditate and even break the word. He also assists the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist in the preparation of the altar,” he said.

He said deacons also minister to the families.

“They are to be a good reflection of God’s servants serving only one Master,” he added.

The ordination rite saw Bishop Bernard laying hands on the two, investing them with the stole and dalmatic (an outer liturgical vestment) and presenting them with the Book of Gospels.

“My formation in the seminary has certainly equipped me to serve the people,” said Deacon Claurence. “However, formation is an on-going life long process and I continue to grow.”

Deacon Claurence has been serving at the Sacred Heart Cathedral since Easter this year. Prior to that he was attached to St Theresa’s Church, Masai.

Meanwhile, Deacon David said he got to know the friars during his university days and had the notion that he wanted to serve God beyond the parish boundaries, hence a religious vocation seemed a good fit.

Deacon David, who is currently serving at St Anne’s Church, Kota Padawan, Kuching, said he drew inspiration from St Francis who led a very radical life of intimate friendship with God, denouncing his wealth and status. He said, “I reconnected with the Franciscans and attended a retreat with them,” adding that after much discernment, he began his journey as a postulant at the age of 37.

Deacon David looks forward to gaining more actual pastoral experience in his diaconate posting, while Deacon Claurence will continue at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Deacon Claurence said he realised his call after he joined the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Conception (FSIC), Sabah, and the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) in their activities, especially in their monthly mission outreach programmes to share the love of God.

He explained that under the spiritual guidance of Sr Frances Mani, FSIC, he gradually realised his call to a religious vocation.

When asked about his vocation story, Deacon David said he was attracted to prayer in his late teens and spoke to his spiritual director about his priestly vocation.

Deacon David said, “He asked me to discern further because I was deemed too young, hence I returned to Malaysia after graduating as a mechanical engineer and later worked for ten years in Kuching, and then in Miri.”

He went on to say that he was very much inspired by the community as they were very spirit-led and serious about their faith, adding that “this rekindled my interest in pursuing a religious vocation.”

Both deacons thanked the Bishop, their spiritual directors, formators, Franciscan Brothers, and the clergy of the diocese for their support, advice, guidance and encouragement throughout their formation process to become servants in Christ’s vineyard — sharing in Christ’s mission and grace in a special way.

They also expressed their gratitude to their families for their encouragement, love and sacrifice in seeing them embark on the Lord’s call, first as friars, and now as his deacons.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu