Author Archives: Ken Wong

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university Rome.

Q: In the Order of Celebrating Matrimony there is a “Blessing of a Married Couple within Mass on the Anniversary of Marriage.” That blessing invites the couple to renew their commitment quietly, but also allows for a public commitment, but does not allow for the renewal of the wedding vows themselves. Many couples ask for a renewal of vows — why is this not permitted? Why would that be any different than those in religious or monastic vows celebrating jubilees who often renew their vows? Why then would not wedding vows be allowed to be renewed? Likewise, in the Roman Missal there is a renewal of priestly promises at the Chrism Mass. — LP, Tampa, Florida

A: The Ordo Celebrandi Matrimonium, editio typica altera (1991), includes in Appendix III the: “Ordo benedictionis coniugum intra Missam, occasione data anniversarii Matrimonii adhibendus” (Rite of blessing the spouses during Mass on occasion of the anniversary of marriage). This appendix allows for a special remembrance of marriage to be held on the principal anniversaries of the celebration such as the 25th, 50th or 60th.

In this ritual, the universal Church has proposed a renewal of commitment to married life, though the terms “renewal of vows” is avoided.

Even before the publication of this universal rite, however, several bishops’ conferences had included in the Ritual for Marriage a rite for the renewal of marriage commitment for use on special anniversaries. It is probably possible to use these texts on other anniversaries, for good pastoral reasons. The Book of Blessings also provides texts that are suitable for other circumstances, such as retreats, especially geared for married couples.

All of these rites make a slight but significant distinction between the original vows and the renewal of the ongoing marriage commitment. There are also different moments for the renewal. In some countries the renewal on jubilee anniversaries is done after the homily; in others, it follows the Prayer after Communion.

In the United States the formula is slightly different from the original formula for the vows, in order to reflect a spiritual renewal.

In the Canadian Marriage Ritual, Appendix IX, “The Celebration of Wedding Anniversaries,” on the other hand, the term renewal of vows is used, and it is the priest’s introduction that explains the meaning and reasons for the renewal of the original formula. To wit:

“My dear N & N,

you have come here with your family and friends

to celebrate your faithfulness to each other

and to thank God for the years he has given you to live in mutual love.

Through the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and trials of life,

God has been with you.

“The Church shares your joy today

and is thankful to you

for being such a powerful sign of God’s loyal and faithful love for the world.

(*God has enriched and strengthened you over the years by the sacrament of marriage.)

In renewing your vows today, you give witness once again to God’s love.

“You have proven your devotion to each other by your life together.

Now join your right hands and renew your consent before God and his Church.”

The ritual then refers the priest back to the original wedding vows. The text of the vows remains unchanged.

One of the more recent texts, which basically follows that of the Roman Ritual, is that of the bishops of England and Wales. The whole rite can be found at: http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Marriage/OCM-Anniversary.pdf:

“275. Then, in these or similar words, the Priest invites the couple to pray in silence and to renew before God their commitment to live their Marriage in holiness.

“N. and N., on the anniversary of that celebration at which you joined your lives in an unbreakable bond through the Sacrament of Matrimony, you now intend to renew before the Lord the promises you made to one another. Turn to the Lord in prayer, that these vows may be strengthened by divine grace.

“276. Then the couple renew their commitment quietly.

“277. If, however, the couple, taking circumstances into account, wish to renew their commitment publicly, the form provided here is used:

“The husband: Blessed are you, Lord, for by your goodness I took N. as my wife.

“The wife: Blessed are you, Lord, for by your goodness I took N. as my husband.

“Both: Blessed are you, Lord, for in the good and the bad times of our life you have stood lovingly by our side. Help us, we pray, to remain faithful in our love for one another, so that we may be true witnesses to the covenant you have made with humankind.

“The Priest:

“May the Lord keep you safe all the days of your life. May he be your comfort in adversity and your support in prosperity. May he fill your home with his blessings. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

There follows the Blessing of Rings and the Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful in the form usual at Mass, or prayer in common in the form provided in the rite. After the Our Father, the prayer Deliver us, is omitted. The Priest, facing the couple, with hands extended, says:

“We praise you, O God, we bless you, Creator of all things, who in the beginning made man and woman that they might form a communion of life and love. We also give you thanks for graciously blessing the family life of your servants N. and N., so that it might present an image of Christ’s union with the Church. Therefore look with kindness upon them today, and as you have sustained their communion amid joys and struggles, renew their Marriage covenant each day, increase their charity, and strengthen in them the bond of peace, so that (together with the circle of their children that surrounds them,) they may forever enjoy your blessing. Through Christ our Lord.

“All reply: Amen.”

The reason for these slight but significant changes is because in an essential way there is no such thing as the “renewal of the marriage vows.” The exchange of vows is seen as the sacramental form and is thus essentially unique for the same couple. Through their consent the spouses mutually give and accept each other through an irrevocable and perpetual covenant in order to establish marriage (see Canon 1057.2 of the Code of Canon Law and the Catechism, No. 1638).

It is precisely the strength of the indissoluble bond created by the celebration of marriage that makes the Church somewhat hesitant to permit a simple renewal of the marriage vows. One cannot renew a valid marriage in the sense of restart or resume.

However, the ongoing commitment of marriage may be celebrated, blessed and renewed in the sense of revitalised or reinvigorated.

It is true that Catholics annually renew their baptismal promises, priests their ordination commitments and many religious their vows.

But these promises, unlike the marriage vows, are complementary to the sacrament and do not constitute the sacramental form itself.

Thus, although we all renew our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil and priests renew their promises on Holy Thursday, the actual baptismal or ordination formula is never repeated.

Likewise, religious profession is a sacramental and not a sacrament. But even in these cases religious who have the custom of making a devotional renewal of their profession of vows every year will sometimes make slight adjustments to the rites and formulas to underline the different situation.

For example, they may omit the reference to the superior receiving the vow, as technically, nobody needs to receive a devotional renewal of a profession that has already been publicly declared and received by the proper authority. In a similar manner, they may also all face in the same direction as, once more, all the religious, including the superior, is renewing his or her vows and nobody necessarily receives them. – zenit.org

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

 

KUCHING –  The Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Commission (KAYC), in collaboration with all the parishes and youth groups in the archdiocese, will be organising Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Day for three consecutive years. The theme will be taken from the World Youth Day 2019 in Panama, which has been announced by Pope Francis.

The themes constitute a journey of faith, love, and hope and, on this journey, the youths will be accompanied by the Virgin Mary, “for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” (Lk 1:48)

The first two themes (2017 and 2018) are meant to be celebrated at the parish level and the highlight for the Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Day will be in 2019.

This year, 31 Aug- 3 Sept 2017, with the theme taken from the Gospel of Luke, “For The Mighty One has done great things for me, and Holy is His name,” (Lk 1:49), about 500 youths from different areas in the archdiocese gathered at the Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC) to deepen their faith and learn about the Blessed Mother.

The gathering ended with a Closing Mass presided by Archbishop Simon Poh. – kchadyouth

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Father Matthew Pittam is a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and currently serves as Parish Priest in a rural parish in the English Midlands. He is also a school chaplain and is passionate about ministry with young people. Fr Matthew is the author of Building the Kingdom in the Classroom, which details his experiences of ministry in schools. 

The rosary is immensely powerful, but it is God’s strength at work, not ours

Two weeks before Ealing Council voted to ban pro-life vigils, the local MP Rupa Huq accused the Good Counsel Network of “weaponising the rosary” as they prayed silently outside the local abortion clinic. It is interesting that this non-Catholic MP should have perceived that the rosary was being used in this way. For Catholics the rosary has indeed always been a spiritual weapon – and we should not be afraid to say so.

Many religious orders wear the rosary as part of their religious habit. For a number, such as the Dominicans since around 1475, the rosary is worn on the left hip because that was traditionally where soldiers wore their swords. The rosary is, for those religious who wear it, a protection and weapon against evil. As well as an aid to devotion, wearing a rosary in place of a sword is a powerful witness to the need for an awareness of spiritual warfare.

On October 3 the Church remembered Blessed Bartolo Longo, known as “the apostle of the rosary.”  He was born in Italy in 1841 but when he went to college he drifted away from the Catholicism of his childhood and came under the influence of the occult, later being “ordained” as a Satanist priest. He also developed a deep hatred of Catholicism and sought to draw Catholics into the life of the occult. Eventually he reached a point of despair and complete mental anguish, which led him to seek the help of a Catholic priest. The priest advised him to “promulgate the rosary” in order to seek salvation.

From being suicidal, Blessed Bartolo was transformed and became a great advocate of the holy rosary as a weapon in the fight against spiritual darkness. He would have commended actions like those taken by the Good Counsel Network.

When we pray the rosary we join a great spiritual chain with Our Lady and all those millions of others who pray each day. At the Annunciation Mary joined her will perfectly to the will of God. So when we say the rosary we join our will to hers, which is to seek the will of God in all things. It is in this very submission, in our weakness, where we find the strength of the weapon of the rosary.

It is in this personal vulnerability that the rosary differs so greatly from the weapons that we are so used to in our damaged world. Using a gun or swords (or even methods of abortion) means wielding our power over those who are more vulnerable than us. In wielding the rosary we make ourselves vulnerable, for the benefit of others, by submitting to the will of God through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Obviously, we do not consider it a weapon to do harm or to hurt another but by using the rosary in protest, we do as Jesus tells his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

My favourite idea about the rosary is that it is ‘Scripture on a string’. It is here that the weapon finds its power. When Jesus was tempted by the Devil in Matthew’s Gospel, it was his use of Scripture which allowed him to fight and win the spiritual battle. St Paul goes on to instruct the Church in Ephesus to put on “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  The rosary provides a good introduction to many of the events of the Gospels and is a good starting place to load our spiritual arsenal. For me,  it was certainly a springboard into greater immersion in the Word of God.

So in accusing the Good Counsel Network of weaponising the rosary, Rupa Huq unwittingly revealed its true purpose. If only more Catholics would return to this devotion and take up arms with Our Lady. – catholic herald, 20 Oct 2017

 

 

PENAMPANG – Come December, Catholic Sabah marks 60 years of existence.

Catholic Sabah, as the official newspaper of the three arch/dioceses in Sabah, shares in the mission of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Gospel values by providing information, education and a forum for discussion. The Catholic Sabah provides objective and accurate current information about the Church, both worldwide and local, received through wire services, news magazines and local reports.

Brief History
Catholic Sabah was first published in the year 1957 as a parish bulletin for Penampang Mission. In 1971 the bulletin became an eight-page tabloid-sized, fortnightly edition in English and Kadazan.  Later, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese pages were added.

The newspaper has gone through tremendous changes to be the product it is today. Over the years changes were made to the masthead, the number of pages, contents, and design.

It is currently published by the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu with a print-run of around 8,700 copies per issue.

The Catholic Sabah commands a readership of approximately 18,000 Catholics throughout the state.

Who reads Catholic Sabah
It is distributed/sold in all the Catholic churches in Sabah as well as a few parishes in West Malaysia. The paper features local parish news, Vatican news, news from the Catholic world, well-researched articles on contemporary religious issues and popular syndicated columns of Catholic interest.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

“Tawau News” Tawau Holy Three days this year to become the host of the parish celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the mountain song. On October 18th, at 9:30 am in the church held a trilogy of Thanksgiving Mass. Priests, nuns and students from different parishes, as well as up to more than 800 members of the church are wearing traditional racial clothing to participate in mass. The mass of the day was made by the bishop of the goddess of the mountain, the Archbishop of the Apostles of the Kota Kinabalu, the bishop of Cornelius Piong, and Cornelius Sim and Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez. The memory of the mass is adopted by the brotherhood chapter 5: 10-17 and read by english and english. Then the priest read the gospel by Father Philip Muji. Bishop Reuters quoted the Gospel as saying, “If the crops are many and fewer workers, you should ask the masters of the crops to send them to harvest their crops.” He continues to say that we must be steadfast in our faith and remain faithful at all times, especially in the various groups of the church. He says that evangelization is not only the responsibility of the faithful, but the leaders of the church, such as bishops, priests and clergy, are committed to the service of sacrifice.

《斗湖讯》斗湖圣三天主堂今年成为主办堂区庆祝山打根教区成立10周年。10月18日早上9时30分在圣堂举办一台三语的感恩弥撒。来自不同堂区的神父，修女，修生以及多达800多位的教友都穿上了传统种族的服装参与弥撒。当天的弥撒由山打根余廉主教主祭，亚庇教区总主教黄士交，根地咬教区Cornelius Piong主教以及邀请来的汶莱主教Cornelius Sim和枢机主教Anthony Soter Fernandez一同共祭。弥撒的读经一采用弟茂德后书4章10-17节并由英语和华语宣读。接着由本堂Philip Muji神父宣读福音。余廉主教引用福音说道：『庄稼多而工人少，你们应当求庄稼的主人，派遣工人来收割他的庄稼』。他继续说我们必须坚定自己的信德并无时无刻保持热诚的态度为主侍奉，尤其是在教会的各个团体内。他说福传不仅是教友的责任，教会的领导人如主教，神父和圣职人员都要努力付出为主为人牺牲的服务精神。

讲道后，由堂区四大团体菲律宾委员会，印尼委员会，TUKAD团体以及华文牧灵委员会以各种语言如嘉达善，伊班，华语及国语来宣读信友祷词。弥撒的饼酒及礼品奉献都是来至不同堂区的领导人献上。弥撒结束前，余廉主教利视频向大家展示以及讲解教区的宏愿与使命。教区未来的使命是要建立一个以基督的爱为中心的服务团体，培育以及激活教会的参与性质，栽培家庭的道德价值和团结。藉着福音增进和提高生活品质，加强信德和推广圣召。

最后，余廉主教在所有的神父见证之下，在教区牧灵计划书（Diocese Pastoral Plan，DPP）上签名然后把它呈交给总主教，根地咬主教以及山打根教区个别堂区。

弥撒后，所有教友步向堂区礼堂享用午餐。

 

Article reproduced from Dicocese of Sandakan 

KEUSKUPAN SANDAKAN – Puji dan syukur kepada Tuhan, Keuskupan Sandakan telah merayakan ulang tahunnya yang ke – 10 tahun pada 17 – 18 Oktober 2017 di Paroki Holy Trinity, Tawau. Dalam hari yang bersejarah itu juga Visi dan Misi Keuskupan Sandakan telah dilancarkan. Sememangnya perjalanan 10 tahun itu tidak mudah dan penuh dengan liku – liku perjalanan. Namun kegigihan dan semangat pimpinan Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom, para paderi, para religus dan pemimpin – pemimpin umat awam dan kesatuan umat gereja, Keuskupan Sandakan berkembang menjadi Keuskupan yang membangun seperti ‘bunga yang berkembang mekar’. Dengan ini para pemimpin belia di Keuskupan Sandakan ingin mengambil kesempatan untuk memberi ucapan selamat dan harapan sempena ulang tahun Keuskupan yang ke – 10.

Bertram Lansing

Syukur puji Tuhan dan ucapan tahniah kepada Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin, para paderi, religious dan umat awam atas kewujudan Keuskupan Sandakan yang telah mencecah usia 10 tahun. Di dalam perjalanan Iman selaku umatNya, kita perlu banyak mengambil masa untuk merancang, melaksanakan serta menilai perjalanan pelayanan kita. Perayaan ulang tahun merupakan satu kesempatan untuk rahmat itu. Syabas dan tahniah atas segala usaha-usaha pastoral yang membantu umat lebih mengenal, mengasihi dan mentaati Tuhan Yesus. Dengan terbinanya bangunan Pusat Pastoral Keuskupan Sandakan, maka tentu sekali usaha-usaha pastoral untuk membangunkan Iman umat awam akan dapat dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan. Tahniah dan Puji Tuhan. “Melayani Sesama Dengan Kasih Allah”. – Bertram Lansing. – Telupid

Victoria Yam

Saya mengucapkan Selamat Ulang Tahun Keuskupan Sandakan yang ke-10 tahun. Dengan penuh rasa sukacita, syukur Tuhan kerana akhirnya keuskupan kita kini memiliki Visi dan Misi, di mana Visi dan Misi ini merupakan hasil kerjasama daripada semua komiti dari semua paroki. Diharapkan dengan adanya Visi dan Misi ini, matlamat dan tujuan pelayanan keuskupan akan lebih fokus. Seterusnya, saya berharap agar lebih ramai belia akan terpanggil untuk menjadi religus dari keuskupan ini. Akhir sekali, tahniah kerana kita dapat meraihkan hari keuskupan pada tahun ini dengan penambahan 1 paroki iaitu paroki Our Lady Of Fatima, Beluran. – Victoria Yam. – Lahad Datu

Esther Albert Alim dan Keluarga

Syukur kepada Tuhan dan tahniah kepada Keuskupan Sandakan atas ulang tahun penubuhan yang ke-10. Saya bermigrasi ke keuskupan ini pada Disember 2007. Saya menyaksikan banyak perubahan baik dalam “pertumbuhan” Keuskupan Sandakan dalam 10 tahun ini. Selama 10 tahun ini, saya sangat bersyukur dan terasa diberkati dengan perjalanan saya ke “Emaus” bersama rakan pemimpin belia yang baru saya kenali masa itu dan kemudian saya menemui lebih ramai kawan dalam pelayanan ini. Dalam perjalanan saya ini, secara peribadi telah banyak mengubah saya kepada yang lebih baik. Perubahan ini menambah kekuatan dalam diri saya untuk terus dan terus melayani. Hal ini sangat jelas saya rasai apabila saya memilih untuk “terlibat” dalam pembangunan Keuskupan Sandakan sebagai salah seorang pemimpin belia kerana saya sangat tersentuh dengan “karan Yesus” yang tidak pernah padam dan saya jadikannya sebagai moto “karan tatap marak”. Saya berharap agar saya dan semua umat Katolik di Keuskupan ini agar benar-benar menghidupi Visi dan Misi Keuskupan supaya memberikan impak yang baik kepada semua komuniiti. Tahniah sekali lagi Keuskupan Sandakan atas ulang tahun yang ke-10. – Esther Albert. – Tawau.

Gregory Michael Harumal

Selamat Ulang tahun keuskupan yang ke 10 buat Keuskupan Sandakan. Semoga umat dan belia di Keuskupan Sandakan ini akan terus bersatu dan melayani sesama dengan cinta kasih. A Blessing for Diocese of Sandakan for this faithful journey – Gregory M.-Tawau

 

Christina Lasius

Shalom dan salam damai semuanya. Pertama sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan selamat menyambut Hari Ulang Tahun Keuskupan yang ke-10. Syukur dan puji Tuhan, 10 tahun telah berlalu dengan pelbagai cabaran dan dugaan yang dihadapi bersama di dalam pelayanan. Dengan penuh harapan, semoga keuskupan Sandakan dengan pimpinan Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom serta para umatnya akan sentiasa seiring berjalan bersama sebagai sebuah keluarga besar dalam Kristus. Semoga melalui curahan Roh kudus dan berkat Tuhan, keuskupan Sandakan akan sentiasa berdiri teguh bersama para gembalaNya. Tuhan memberkati. Amen. – Christina Lasius. – Beluran

Martinus Simon

Selamat ulang tahun yang ke-10 untuk keuskupan Sandakan kita. Sedar tidak sedar, 1 dekad sudah kita bernaung, melayani, merayakan misa, bekerja dan meneruskan misi Kristus bersama-sama sebagai satu keuskupan di keuskupan Sandakan. Saya percaya, kita semakin kearah perkembangan sebuah keuskupan secara sederhana dan yang paling penting, perjalanan keuskupan kita adalah seturut dengan apa yang dikehendaki oleh Allah Bapa kita sendiri. Sebagai salah seorang anak muda dalam keuskupan ini, saya berharap agar saya dapat berkhidmat dan melayani secara berterusan untuk memenuhi Visi dan Misi keuskupan yang akan dilancarkan tidak lama lagi. Sementara itu, harapan saya juga agar lebih ramai lagi anak-anak muda yang berkeinginan dan suka untuk menyahut panggilan bersama-sama sebagai satu komuniti keuskupan bagi melayani demi kemulianNya. Bersama Bonda gereja, marilah kita bersama-sama memanjatkan pertolongan kepada Bonda Maria demi kekudusan dan Misi keuskupan kita. Semoga Tuhan mendampingi kita semua. – Martinus Simon – Lahad Datu

Paulus Kopong

Salam damai dalam kasih Kristus saya Paulus Kopong mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan selamat ulang tahun Keuskupan Sandakan yang ke-10 buat Yang Mulia Bapa Uskup kita Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom, para paderi, para sister, katekis, tim Kerasulan Belia Keuskupan (KBK) yang berjalan bersama saya dan semua umat khususnya yang berada di keuskupan ini. Sepuluh tahun bukanlah perjalanan yang mudah, sudah pasti ia penuh dengan cabaran, suka dan duka. Namun semua itu adalah beban yang manis. Semoga dimasa hadapan, Keuskupan Sandakan lebih maju bukan saja dalam aspek pembangunan tetapi juga dalam  aspek kerohanian dan semoga banyak peribadi-peribadi yang dipanggil untuk menjadi saksi terang kristus di dalam pelayanan. Tidak lupa juga buat semua belia yang berada di Keuskupan Sandakan ini, mari kita semua menjadi agen pembaharuan dan duta-duta kecil bagi kristus dengan menjadikan Firman Tuhan sebagai panduan kita. Tuhan memberkati kita semua. Amen. -Paulus Kopong – Beluran

Herry Francis Kamuntah

Shalom dan Salam Kasih Kristus kepada semua. Tuhan itu baik dalam segalanya dan 10 tahun kewujudan keuskupan kita membuktikannya sekali lagi. Dia tidak pernah tidak bersama dengan kita. Keindahan keuskupan kita adalah dalam kepelbagaian kita, sungguhpun terdiri daripada pelbagai bangsa tetapi tetap satu dan kuat sebagai umat Katolik. Melihat kepada segala yang telah kita capai dan lalui dalam tempoh 10 tahun ini dan menjadi sebahagian daripada semuanya adalah satu berkat yang amat besar. Semoga tahun-tahun yang mendatang membawa lebih banyak berkat buat dkeuskupan kita. Christ is always on a mission and so should we. God bless and to God be the glory!!! – Herry Francis Kamuntah – Tawau

Fettwinda Sipaan

Shalom. Tahniah dan Puji Tuhan atas ulang tahun ke-10 Keuskupan Sandakan. Secara peribadi, saya berasa sangat bersyukur, bertuah dan diberkati kerana berpeluang menjadi kepingan yang terpanggil untuk berjalan bersama semasa dalam proses pembentukan Visi dan Misi keuskupan secara tidak langsungnya. Harapan saya setelah 10 tahun penubuhan Keuskupan Sandakan, semoga semua umat dalam kalangan pelbagai komuniti berani untuk menyahut panggilan melayani bersama secara bersungguh-sungguh serta melibatkan diri dalam pelbagai program yang dijalankan untuk membentuk dan melahirkan umat yang benar-benar menghidupi Visi dan Misi Keuskupkan Sandakan. Selamat Menyambut Ulang Tahun Ke-10. Tuhan Memberkati. -Fettwinda Sipaan – Telupid.

Alfian Muering

Syukur dalam nama Yesus kerana Keuskupan Sandakan sudah mencapai umur 10 tahun. Banyak perubahan yang berlaku selama 10 tahun ini. Banyak kapela-kapela baru yang telah dibuka di dalam ladang (estet) bagi memudahkan umat kita yang bekerja jauh dari paroki untuk beribadat dan paling mengembirakan apabila muncul lagi sebuah paroki baru di dalam Keuskupan Sandakan iaitu paroki Beluran. Semoga perkembangan iman terutama orang muda sentiasa bertambah terutama dalam menyahut panggilan Tuhan sebagai alat-Nya. -Alfian Muering – Lahad Datu

Philippa Philip

Selamat hari ulang tahun yang ke-10 buat Keuskupan Sandakan. Syukur dan puji Tuhan atas segala rahmat yang telah diberikan kepada kita semua sepanjang 10 tahun ini. Lebih-lebih lagi tahun ini, visi dan misi Keuskupan Sandakan telah pun terbina. Saya berharap agar semua komuniti sentiasa memberikan sokongan antara satu sama lain, sentiasa berjalan bersama serta melayani sesama dengan cinta kasih Allah. Tuhan memberkati.-Philippa Philip – Tawau

Airene Anne Gumanas

Syukur dan puji Tuhan! Keuskupan Sandakan merayakan ulang tahun yang ke 10. Saya merasa bersyukur kerana dapat membesar di Keuskupan Sandakan sehinggalah hari ini. Keuskupan Sandakan sangat unik kerana para umat khususnya belia-belia Keuskupan Sandakan datang dari pelbagai latar belakang, suku dan bangsa. Harapan saya sebagai salah seorang pemimpin belia di Keuskupan Sandakan, saya berharap dan mendoakan agar semua umat di Keuskupan Sandakan khususnya para belia, dapat mempertahankan Iman Katolik yang diimani sehinggalah ‘dipanggil ke Rumah Bapa’. Untuk bersaksi bagi Yesus terutama sekali di zaman millennium ini, bukanlah mudah. Ia memerlukan kekuatan dalaman dan keyakinan diri untuk berani ‘menjala ke laut yang dalam’. Saya berharap agar semangat dan jati diri untuk terus melayani di Keuskupan Sandakan tidak akan pernah pudar tapi percaya bahawa pengharapan itu selalu ada, kini, sekarang dan selamanya. Marilah kita gunakan peluang melayani bersama dengan Bapa Uskup, para Paderi, para Religius, saling menyokong dan berjalan bersama serta mengaktifkan talian jaringan antara Paroki di seluruh Keuskupan Sandakan agar sama-sama merealisasikan visi dan misi Keuskupan kita. Tuhan memberkati! – Airene A. Gumanas – Sandakan

0 tahun sudah Keuskupan Sandakan! Praise the Lord! It was not an easy road yet God had promised that He will journey with us till the end of time. It has been a great privilege to be part of the Diocese, especially being in the ministry for the young people. I am so honored to have serve side by side with an amazing leaders to share, to spread and to be the light of Christ to those who are need. I thank God for the gift of our Bishop, the strongest of heart and faith in shepherding his people in the Diocese. And I know it is not easy to be ‘him’. But no worries Bishop, WE ARE HERE to serve with you, together with our fellow priest, religious, church leaders and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will journey side by side with you as our leader to build the Kingdom of God here in this Diocese! Blessed 10th Anniversary Diocese of Sandakan! – Anna Teresa Peter Amandus – Sandakan.

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

 

 

Each year on the evening of October 3, the Franciscan family throughout the world celebrates the solemnity of St Francis’ Transitus, that is the passing over from this life to the next. The line Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape in St Francis’ famous Canticle of the Creatures, reflects the importance and natural character of death in the life of all creation. Francis did not fear death as he recognised it as a transition from one way of living to another.

This year, the Transitus was celebrated by the Franciscan family in the Church of the Risen Christ, Air Itam. Franciscan friars, religious sisters, postulants and laity gathered to mark the passing of Francis as a reminder to renew their own commitment to follow Christ in the same way as the poor man of Assisi. A key part of the celebration is the reading and reflecting upon the Gospel passage that Francis asked his brothers to read aloud at his death bed.

The Gospel passage is taken from John 13:1-20 where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. The readings gave a glimpse into the life that the poor man from Assisi sought to live and which the Franciscan family has inherited. At the heart of the reading stands the example of the servant leadership modelled by Jesus Christ Himself.

The celebration drew to an end with those present placing lighted candles at the foot of the statue of St Francis.

The evening continued with Fr Arul Mariadass, OFM, parish priest of Risen Christ Church, introducing members of the Franciscan family who attended the celebration. The members came from the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), Order of Friars Minor Capuchins (OFM, Capuchins), Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC), Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM), and the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS).

It was indeed a most meaningful and enriching celebration. For the non-Franciscans present, this celebration may, perhaps, lead them to emulate St Francis in loving God, being faithful to the Catholic Church, giving precedence to the Holy Gospels and living a life of simplicity.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

By Lavinia Louis
Parishioners of St Francis of Assisi (SFA) celebrated their parish feastday at the Holy Family Church on October 4, 2017. The overall theme was The Man from Assisi and His Message of Hope for Today.

The celebration began at 7.15pm with the recitation of the rosary, followed by Liturgy of the Hours and the Novena to St Francis of Assisi. Mass was celebrated by Fr Surain Durai Raj, parish priest of Holy Family Church.

The theme for the day was Never Give Up. In his sermon, Fr Surain asked the congregation to reflect on the question, “Are we saints or sinners?”

“Nowadays, we find ourselves struggling to make clear decisions. Just like the saints, we too struggle inside but the key point is to never give up,” he said.

“Even St Francis struggled when he was founding this order. People knew him as a peasant from Assisi but deep down inside of him, he had a discernment. God sent a message that the Church had to come back to being poor and that is why he is known as the patron of poverty,” he said.

After Mass there was fellowship and entertainment.

The next day, the celebration continued with the theme All is Not Lost. Parish priest Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap shared an incident that happened on January 15, 2009, called the miracle on the Hudson River.

“There were 155 souls on that unfortunate US Airways flight 1549. The passengers prepared for their final moment and said their last prayers. But to everyone’s amazement, that plane did not crash; instead, it just skidded on the water. It was a miracle,” he said.

“This goes to show that something good can come out of something bad,” he continued.

On Friday Oct 6, Fr David Reegon OFM Cap was the main celebrant. The theme for the third day of the novena was Rediscovery of Hope.

“October 13, 1884 was the day mankind was given another chance. It was the day Pope Leo XIII, after celebrating Mass, collapsed. He was given a vision of Satan ascending the throne of our Lord. The Lord had told Satan that he would never be strong enough to take down the Church. Satan then asked the Lord to grant him another 100 years and the Lord agreed. Later, he wrote down the Prayer to St Michael the Archangel. This prayer was said during Masses across the world in the hope that it would prevent any evil from taking over the Church. October 13, 2018 will be 134 years after 1884. We still see so much evil all over the world,” he said.

On the fourth day, Fr David spoke on Hope is my Anchor. He said, when we encounter difficulties in life, there are no easy answers. However, we must be hopeful. “We need guidance from the Church and the community. The greatest joy and the greatest strength is to find a good Christian and journey with him or her. It does not matter if you are a priest, religious or lay person, everyone needs this,” he stressed. The last and final day of the celebration concluded with a two hour adoration, recitation of the rosary, liturgy of the hours and Novena to St Francis of Assisi, followed by a multilingual Mass celebrated by former Parish Priest of SFA, Fr John Anandan OFM Cap.

The theme was Heroes of Hope. Fr John shared that we are all called to be messengers of hope.

“Who is your hero? I would say God is our hero of hope. He has never given up on us. He has great trust and hope in us,” he said.

Fr Andrew thanked the parishioners who had come from near and far to celebrate the parish feastday, despite not having a physical church.

“We are the Church and the Church is still active in many ways. I am glad to see the response we have been receiving. So thank you all,” he said.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUALA LUMPUR: During the July Meeting of the Pontifical Missions Society (PMS) Directors’ in Penang, it was agreed to focus on two areas for Mission Sunday

(1) Mission Sunday collection for the Pope
(2) Collection from Children (children to give a Love-offering for poorer children).

This year, PMS Malaysia has decided to use the Folded Love Offering boxes instead of stickers. The box needs to be assembled from flat stencilled 10”×14” paper. These packages were sent to all Arch/dioceses in August.

The boxes may be returned by Epiphany next year or by Christmas this year.

Each Arch/diocese is also free to organise other activities or events to celebrate Mission Sunday.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KOTA KINABALU – The catechetical ministry of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish here organised a rosary procession in conjunction with the centenary of the Fatima Apparitions (13 May – 13 Oct 1917) on 22 Oct 2017.

The event commenced with offering of flowers and short prayers at the feet of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Father Max Hontor proclaimed the Word and gave a short reflection on the Fatima Apparitions.

The Glorious Mysteries were prayed in English (first and fifth decades), BM (second and fourth) and Mandarin (third) at designated stations around the cathedral compound starting from the cathedral itself, behind the parish centre, exit junction, St Francis Kindergarten, and back to the cathedral.

The candles were lighted outside the cathedral before the procession began after the First Glorious Mystery.

Rain fell while the devotees were praying the fourth decade at the kindergarten but there was no unruly behaviour while scampering for shelter.  Many came prepared for rain.  They blew off their candles before entering the cathedral.

The event ended with a blessing from Fr Hontor inside the cathedral.

Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence opportunity for the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions throughout the centennial year, from 27 Nov 2016 to 26 Nov 2017.

There are three ways to obtain the indulgence, detailed in a statement from the Fatima Shrine in Portugal.

To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions: go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

1. Make a pilgrimage to the shrine

To the faithful who make a pilgrimage to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration of prayer dedicated to the Virgin. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke the Mother of God.

2. Pray before any statue of Our Lady of Fatima

To the faithful who visit with devotion a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October 2017, and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.

3. The elderly and infirm

To the faithful who, because of age, illness or other serious cause, are unable to get around, may pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and must spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month, between May and October 2017. They must also “offer to merciful God with confidence, through Mary, their prayers and sufferings or the sacrifices they make in their own lives.”

 

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu