TANJUNG ARU – Stella Maris parish here held an inaugural assembly to formulate the vision and mission for the parish on 26 Aug 2017.

The assembly consisted of 72 delegates representing 30 parish ministries and groups.

The assembly began with Bible enthronement by Father Peter Abas.

Dominic Lim enlightened the parishioners on the importance of a parish vision.  He emphasised that the process of formulation among the parishioners is important.  The ‘why and how’ that would arise from the formulation would give a clearer direction for the parish and her future leaders.

This was followed by ten small discussion groups who came up with a first draft which later was clustered by five main groups to further crystalise the vision.

With the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the main groups consented unanimously to the proposed Vision.

Fr Abas was confident that the parishioners of Stella Maris could formulate a well-defined vision led by the Holy Spirit. He said the next move is to work on the mission once the vision is approved by the parish priest.  The mission session would be held on  30 Sept 2017.

INANAM – St Catherine here welcomed back Father Mitchelly Kiun in his new assignment as assistant pastor of the parish effective  Sept 1 with a simple welcoming cum farewell fellowship at the St Catherine Hall on  20 Aug 2017.

The three-in-one event, organised by St Catherine, Holy Family Telipok and Good Shepherd Manggatal, was also to say farewell to Father Paul Lo who replaces him at Sacred Heart Cathedral on the same day.

Two years ago, Fr Kiun served in the parish with Father Sunny Chung.  Fr Chung is currently serving the Diocese of Sandakan on ‘loan.’  When they were transferred out, their responsibilities were taken over by Fr Lo and Fr Rayner Bisius.

Earlier, Fr Bisius was posted to St Joseph Papar on July 7 and has been replaced by Father Mattheus Luta.

Over 600 parishioners turned up for the occasion.  Some had to stand outside the hall.

The parishioners took the occasion to also celebrate Fr Luta’s 7th priestly anniversary graced by the presence of parish priest Father David Sham – Michael Guntili

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Beatrice Beth Baikan, who holds a doctoral degree in Turfgrass Science/Golf Course Environmental Management from Cornell University USA, writes on her journey with her cousin, the late Father Fundes Motiung, who died on 4 Sept 2017.

It was on Easter Monday of 2000, that I had the first of many conversations with my beloved little cousin brother, the late Father Fundes Motiung, regarding his state of health, the beginning of his journey of silent sufferings and pains.

It was customary for him to drop by my office whenever he was in Donggongon as he was now serving in the Penampang Parish. Though we had just reconnected several months earlier after years of going our separate ways during our college years and my long absence from Sabah due to my college years, the bond of our family’s closeness was never broken and we instantly reconnected as if we were never separated, reminiscing our childhood.

“Beth, I am dying” he said as he slumped on the chair in front of me.  I looked at this handsome young cousin of mine who was just ordained priest barely two years, right in the eye and asked him, “Why are you talking about death? Are you tired of living?”  He cast his eyes down and with a serious tone, he said, “Beth, I am ill and I am dying.” “What’s wrong?” I asked as I sensed the seriousness of his voice. “The doctor said that my white blood cell is very high” he said resignedly, and has confirmed that he has leukemia.

I felt a deep pang of pain in my heart and I was lost for words to comfort him at that moment. All I could say was a promise to journey with him in his pain and sufferings and in whatever I could do.

“I don’t know why God put you through this but there must be a reason… I will journey with you in this. You will not bear this alone,” I promised him.

It saddened me that a young priest who wanted to dedicate his life to the service of the Lord was given such a heavy cross to bear before he could see the fruit of his service. Having been just ordained priest, he was at the beginning of his prime years; how could this happen to this young vibrant priest? I wondered.

The Church and the Bishop, in their wisdom, decided that it was best for Fr Fundes to get treatment in Rome where medical facilities were advance and medical specialists in the disease were readily available. Hence he left for his year-long treatment in Rome.  But a year later after he began treatment, he was told to try a new drug for leukemia in Singapore.

So he returned to Sabah and began his arduous travel to Singapore on a monthly basis for his treatment while carrying out his pastoral duty in Sabah.  His frequent travels to Singapore were not without glitch as there were many instances of fainting and collapsing due to his weakening body.

Despite all the pains and sufferings that he was going through, he soldiered on tirelessly to minister the flock God has entrusted him. He soldiered on preaching the Gospel of Christ and bringing the lost back to Christ. In the four years after returning from Rome and while undergoing treatment in Singapore and administering the medication on himself, he never complained.  He never slacked in his priestly duties. He carried on his pastoral duties silently and obediently, always uniting his sufferings to the wounds of Christ and accepting wherever he was posted, even forgetting that he was ill.

He never showed his sufferings and pain to others but carried on his pastoral duties with zeal and love for the people and the Eucharist.  When it comes to pastoral duties, there was no arguing with him.  He was determined to carry on, whether he was in pain or not. He spoke passionately of his vow of obedience.

But as the years went by, the pain at times became too much and unbearable, and he was getting weaker and weaker.

A week before we gathered to celebrate his 40th birthday in 2005, he pulled a chair in front of me and said “Beth, please help me find a cure. It’s too painful and I can’t bear the pricks of the needles anymore – there is no part of my body that has not been pricked by the needle and I can’t bear the pain.  Please Beth, help me.”

I was determined to bring him for treatment in the USA and was preparing for the trip.  But the trip to the USA wasn’t to be as just two days later, on his birthday, he collapsed while celebrating a wedding Mass at Stella Maris.

He was only a few days in the ward and with streams of people and parishioners coming to see him, he contracted a lung infection and turned for the worst with serious case of pneumonia that he was then admitted to the intensive care unit.  It was the most critical stage of his health and he wasn’t able to breathe.  Families, friends and parishioners were keeping vigils for him; thousands of faithful were united in prayer for his healing but his condition was getting more and more critical.  By the third day in the ICU, the doctor asked us to prepare for the worst.

Receiving the news that Fr Fundes was out of danger was one of the greatest miracles that I have witnessed of how God, in His great mercy and compassion, heard and answered the fervent and united prayers of all the faithful to give him reprieve from his sufferings.

Eight days later, he was discharged.  Though he continued to go for treatment in Singapore and taking his medication on a daily basis, his health continued to improve to a bearable level that he was able to soldier on in his priestly mission…never complaining, always joyful, always loving his duties.

For the next ten years, he often joked that his body had now turned to chemical due to the medicine he has to take on a daily basis.

As his health continued to improve, I retreated back to my own chores, only journeying with him from behind the scene, knowing that he would know where to find me when he needed to.  Journeying with him also meant that I must let other people who equally love and care about him the chances to care for him.

On 30 Oct 2016, Fr Fundes was re-admitted and I fell on my knees and prayed the same prayer I had prayed 12 years earlier before the Blessed Sacrament.  I pleaded with God to spare his life once again.

A week later, I flew back to be with him in the hospital.  It was the last heart to heart talk we had on his condition.  He talked about his readiness for death and that he had already accomplished what he set out to do.  Though, he said, he hoped that he would be able to do more, he was aware that it wasn’t going to be.  “Beth, it has been 16 years.  I am thankful that I live for 16 years with these sufferings,” he said.

Although in my most selfish heart I prayed and wrestled with God that he would be well again and stayed longer to continue to minister, but God knew and saw that he was tired and needed an eternal rest.

Even in the last few minutes of his life, I tried to wrestle with God, pleading Him to revive Fr Fundes, but deep within my heart, I heard Father [Fundes] say to me, “Beth, I can’t bear the pain anymore – no part of my body that has not been pricked with needles and I don’t want the needles anymore” and painfully and with aching heart, I watched him breathe his last.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Father James Chia writes from Buffalo, USA at the invitation of Catholic Sabah to share about Fr Fundes Motiung, whom he talked with in his visit to Kota Kinabalu in August 2017. Fr James Chia of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, also known as The Mercedarians, hails from Kota Kinabalu, was ordained in Philadelphia USA in 2012, and currently serves in the Diocese of Buffalo USA as parochial vicar.

BUFFALO, USA – In Matthew 16:24, we hear Jesus saying to His disciples: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” As Christians, we are called followers of Christ. Following Jesus always involves the cross. When Fr Fundes picks up his cross and follows his Master, he also follows his Master all the way to the Cross, that is, Calvary. This is our journey too!

What I am sharing with you is not so much from my conversation with Fr Fundes about his sickness and suffering but rather, but a witness account of what Fundes spoke with his life and actions that evening on Aug 17 during the Stella Maris CWL Golden Jubilee Dinner.

Many might have read and can read about his achievements as a priest. My sharing is about my priest-friend named Fundes, in particular how he preached the Joy of the Gospel in the final months of his life focusing on the evening of Aug 17.

Fr Fundes was always very welcoming to me whenever I “revisited” Stella Maris during my vacation. He was a pastoral priest – one that has a merciful heart who always thinks of the salvation of souls in his priestly ministry when he administers to the souls Jesus sends him. He was not clerical but rather informal and approachable. He also had a good sense of humor!

Prior to going back to KK this vacation, I had wanted to visit him since I knew it would probably be our last meeting. So, when I arrived at the table for the CWL golden jubilee event, I saw Fundes and he recognised me when I spoke to him although he could not see me clearly. I sat next to him and we talked amid streams of teary-eyed faithful visiting him. That evening was a gift from God Who knows our heart.

During our conversation that evening, I said to him: “Fundes, in my opinion, if Jesus were to call you back to Himself and to the Father, you would go straight to heaven!” His humble response was: “That is what we all hope for.” This is to say as Christians, we all hope to go straight to Heaven when we die.

For most people when they are sick and near death, they would probably recluse themselves and disappear from the public.

However, not Fundes! He was living his life to the fullness amid his sickness and suffering. He was preaching the joy of the Gospel with his life. What he did that Aug 17 evening spoke so much louder than what he actually spoke. His appetite was good and he was not picky about what he ate. He was eating just like anyone else that evening.

Throughout the evening, Fr Fundes was jovial and he was the one consoling the teary-eyed parishioners who went to see him. I believe, that evening, Fr Fundes was thanking and appreciating all the gifts that our merciful God has given him. It was his – Fr Fundes’s – farewell gift to us!

That evening, there was a youth who is also an altar server at Stella Maris. He went to Fundes, knelt down, wrapped his hands around him and began to sob unceasingly. Fr Fundes embraced him and said to the young man: “It is OK bah! I am OK!” There, the man who was called to be the priest of Jesus was consoling one of his sheep who was deeply saddened by fact that his shepherd was dying. At the moment of this writing, I cannot stop seeing the image of the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

At the end of the Jubilee dinner, we parted ways. I took with me that image of Fr Fundes who was living his life to the fullness, carrying his cross and following his Master all the way to the cross (Calvary), and not giving up the cross designated by Jesus from all eternity. No doubt, it was a heavy cross but God also sent many Simons of Cyrene helping Fr Fundes carry his custom-made cross. Jesus was walking with Fr Fundes through the gift of the Holy Eucharist.

Fr Fundes showed that life is worth living and that our sufferings, when united with Jesus’ suffering, has values and can do wonders by God. The world we live in does not like suffering but Fr Fundes showed that our suffering is redemptive in nature.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

BUNDU TUHAN – One hundred and forty youth ministers were challenged to embrace the joy of the Gospel presented by Pope Francis to the Church as their way of mission at the 10th Archdiocesan Youth Consultation or KBK-10 (Konsultasi Belia Keuskupan), at the retreat centre here on30 Aug- 3 Sept 2017.

The youth leaders comprising Parish Youth Pastoral Team (TPBP) and the Catholic Student Council (CSC) came from the various parishes in the KK Archdiocese. They were accompanied by the Franciscan Sisters and spiritual adviser Father Joshua Liew.

KBK is an annual event organised to achieve specific objectives utilising the Pastoral Cycle of “See-Judge-Act.”  This year, KBK aimed to refresh the spirit of the youth serving in youth ministries and to refocus their direction in this ministry.

Father Charles Chiew of Keningau Diocese, who facilitated the session on the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, said that the Joy of the Gospel teaches us how to live the Gospel in this generation, especially with issues that challenge the faith and beliefs of our young people. The Joy of the Gospel lays out the vision for a missionary youth ministry, and youth ministers are encouraged to first appropriate it in their life, family, parish, and campus ministry.

The consultation kicked off with the Opening Eucharist, which was presided by Archbishop John Wong. Referring to the theme adopted by KBK this year “The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is His Name” (Luke 1:49), borrowed from the World Youth Day in Panama 2019, Archbishop Wong urged the participants to model after Mary in self-giving in their service, as well as to appropriate Marian attitudes in their own lives.

The two days were spent to walk through the Pastoral Cycle of “See-Judge-Act” during the reporting from each TPBP and CSC on the issues they are facing in their respective ministries, and to see the movement of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Thrust (Go Inward, Go Small, Go Outward) in their ministry.

To start with, Fr Joshua facilitated a recollection to assist the participants to look inward into their personal relationship with God, reflecting on Who God is and how God has helped them in meeting the challenges of their lives. With this, they were enabled to appropriate the pastoral cycle of “Seeing”.

With the help of Jerald Joseph and Father Paul Lo, the participants were presented with a social analysis in Malaysia and a theological reflection of how the values in the Bible are able to help them face the challenges of their lives, social or otherwise.

According to the pastoral cycle of “Judging,” the youth ministers must be able to “judge” for themselves when challenged and to voice out and stand for truth, for the dignity and human rights of each person. Knowing their intrinsic value as children of God and the knowledge that nothing can separate them from the love of God would enable them to judge without fear.

To help them live out the pastoral cycle of “Acting,”  Dominic Lim encouraged the participants to live out their faith within the Church and through their participation in society, that is, “Going Outwards”

Quoting Pope Francis, he said, “If I say I am Catholic and go to Mass, but then don’t speak with my parents, help my grandparents or the poor, or go and see those who are sick; this does not prove my faith; there’s no point.”

Lim also said, “The Social Teaching of the Church or DOCAT explains to us the reasons why we are to be involved in the issues of society. The Christian Faith includes a social dimension. We are commissioned to be the light and salt of the world. If we do not ‘Go Outward,’ then our faith remains only as a private matter.”

Concluding his session, Lim urged the participants: “Let’s take DOCAT as an important guide to help us live out our faith in this society, in order to build a culture of love in this world.”

A Solidarity Night was held on the last evening as a platform for the youth leaders to interact and share, through their God-given talents, what they have learned and reflected throughout KBK.

The days in KBK began and ended with Morning Prayer (Lauds) and Night Prayer (Compline), as well as Angelus, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and personal reflection. Daily Mass was looked on as the main source of faith.

On the final day of KBK, a prayer with Mother Nature led the participants into the Presence of God in His creation. This has also brought about an awareness of our common responsibility to protect and preserve it.

As a gesture of commitment to take Mother Mary as the model in their lives and ministry, an image of Mother Mary and prayer cards printed with the KK Archdiocesan Youth Prayer were presented to each participant.

The organisers hoped that all youth in the archdiocese will pray this prayer as part of their journey towards World Youth Day in Panama 2019! – Archdiocesan Youth Commission

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Ashes and urn of the late Rev Fr Terry Burke MHM was brought back from Reading, United Kingdom to St Joseph’s Cathedral Kuching, Sarawak on the 15th October 2017. Requiem Mass was celebrated on the 16th October 2017 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, followed by Committal Rites at the St Peter’s Padungan Columbarium.

Requiem Mass for the late Fr Terry Burke, MHM  video

Article reproduced from Archdiocese of Kuching

Pada 24 September 2017, sambutan Hari Santo Penaung bagi Gereja St. Matius telah diadakan buat pertama kalinya. Disempurnakan oleh Rev. Fr. David Mamat. Gereja yang baru dibina 3 minggu lepas itu boleh memuatkan seramai 50 orang.    Kg. Korolok adalah umat baru di daerah Kemabong yang baru disenaraikan. Penduduk seramai 30 keluarga, jauh dari kawasan Pedalaman di Zon Rundum.   Kini mereka sudah memiliki Gereja sementara yang diperbuat dari bahan asas semula jadi iaitu kayu dan buluh.

Article reproduced from Dioccese of Keningau

21 pasangan dengan 24 orang bayi dan kanak-kanak berumur 9 tahun ke bawah semasa seminar singkat dan pembaptisan bayi dan kanak-kanak pada 16 September 2017. Pembaptisan ini disempurnakan oleh Rev. Fr. Benedict Daulis di Gereja Bonda Maria, Kemabong.

Article reproduced from Dioccese of Keningau

KOTA KINABALU – Unusually strong winds bent the three flag poles and flipped the outside billboard canvas to the other side at the Sacred Heart Cathedral on 14 Oct 2017.

This took place before the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the cathedral after 5 pm.

Aside from that, the winds also broke several tree branches inside the compound of the St Peter’s College Initiation Year Formation House at Jalan Sang Kancil Tiga here.

Local weather reports say that the average hourly wind speed in Kota Kinabalu is essentially constant during October, remaining within 0.1 miles per hour of 3.1 miles per hour throughout.  But yesterday’s event certainly proved otherwise.

KOTA KINABALU – The Carmelite Family – nuns, seculars and friar – celebrated the feast of St Teresa of Avila at the Carmelite Chapel here on 15 Oct 2017.

Friar Gregory Hon presided at the Mass.  It was also his 9th priestly anniversary.  He also facilitated the triduum for the feastday Oct 10-12.

After the Mass, he cut his anniversary cake at the breakfast prepared by the lay members.  Currently the lay order has three aspirants, four novices (one first year, three second year), one temporary professed and 15 definitive professed.

Born on 30 Sept 1963 in Kuala Lumpur, Hon entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD) in Singapore in 2002.  He made his first profession in 2003 and took his solemn vows on 14 Dec 2007 in Rome.  He was ordained priest on 15 Oct 2008.

In his homily, Hon gave a summary of the saint’s life and works as well as on prayer.  Limited copies of Conversation with Christ (on personal prayer by St Teresa) were immediately sold out after Mass.

Born on 28 March 1515 in Avila Spain, Teresa Sanchez de Cepeda y Ahumada lived in an age of exploration as well as political, social, and religious upheaval.  She was born before the Protestant Reformation and died in 1582, almost 20 years after the closing of the Council of Trent.

The gift of God to Teresa in and through which she became holy and left her mark on the Church and the world is threefold: She was a woman; she was a contemplative; she was an active reformer.

As a woman, Teresa stood on her own two feet, even in the man’s world of her time. She was “her own woman,” entering the Carmelites despite strong opposition from her father. She was a person wrapped not so much in silence as in mystery. Beautiful, talented, outgoing, adaptable, affectionate, courageous, enthusiastic, she was totally human. Like Jesus, she was a mystery of paradoxes: wise, yet practical; intelligent, yet much in tune with her experience; a mystic, yet an energetic reformer; a holy woman, a womanly woman.

Teresa was a woman “for God,” a woman of prayer, discipline, and compassion. Her heart belonged to God. Her ongoing conversion was an arduous lifelong struggle, involving ongoing purification and suffering. She was misunderstood, misjudged, and opposed in her efforts at reform. Yet she struggled on, courageous and faithful; she struggled with her own mediocrity, her illness, her opposition. And in the midst of all this she clung to God in life and in prayer. Her writings on prayer and contemplation are drawn from her experience: powerful, practical, and graceful. She was a woman of prayer; a woman for God.

Teresa was a woman “for others.” Though a contemplative, she spent much of her time and energy seeking to reform herself and the Carmelites, to lead them back to the full observance of the primitive Rule. She founded over a half-dozen new monasteries. She travelled, wrote, fought—always to renew, to reform. In her self, in her prayer, in her life, in her efforts to reform, in all the people she touched, she was a woman for others, a woman who inspired and gave life.

Her writings, especially the Way of Perfection, The Interior Castle, and Conversation with Christ have helped generations of believers.

In 1970, the Church gave her the title she had long held in the popular mind: Doctor of the Church. She and St Catherine of Siena were the first women so honoured.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu