Author Archives: Ken Wong

Ranau parish receives RM210k from Rome for kindergarten

RANAU – St Peter Claver Church (SPCR) here received a donation of RM210,000 from the Vatican Foundation to build a kindergarten (Tadika Kasih Bonda), currently located in the old church building (Fr Salm Hall).

Father Nicholas Stephen shared the good news during the Ranau Parish Day event officiated by Archbishop John Wong on 10 Sept 2017.

The Kasih Bonda Kindergarten, which uses English as its introductory language, started operating in 2015. It now requires its own building as a result of the very encouraging response from Christian students in this area.

To accommodate the construction of the building, the church needs an allocation of RM750.000, besides the donation from the Vatican Foundation through the courtesy of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu. The contribution of all the people is needed to realise the completion of the building.

Meanwhile, Abp Wong also announced the construction of the Catholic Centre to be built near  Sacred Heart Cathedral building Kota Kinabalu that requires an allocation of RM9.6 million.

To complete this centre, the archdiocese is seeking the generous contribution of all Catholics from the 22 parishes and sub-parishes in the archdiocese.

If every single person contributes just RM10.00, then the allocation of RM150,000 donated by the Ranau parish for the construction of the Catholic centre will be easy, the prelate said.

For that purpose, the archbishop launched the special Donation Fund from Catholics in the district. He personally led the donation into the fund followed by Father Stephen, Father Francis Tsen, Father Bruno Yasun and local church leaders.

During the ceremony, he also held a groundbreaking to officiate the construction of the kindergarten building at the back of the church.

Among the events at the Parish Day were the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation for 265 candidates, exhibitions from 21 church committees, lunch with Archbishop, lucky draws,  and cake cutting.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Unite Camp 4.0 ~ Hari Keempat ~Tim Dokumentasi Unite Camp 4.0, 2017~

Doa pagi serta evalusi dan maklum balas yang disampaikan oleh Saudari Daphney 

Misa kudus pada hari Ahad

Sing Along

Sesi 4:Realiti pelayanan dan cabaran kehidupan belia pada masa kini yang disampaikan oleh Saudari Anna Teresa

Dalam sesi ini, Saudari Anna membincangkan cabaran-cabaran yang dihadapi oleh belia masa kini terutama belia katolik. Begitu banyak sekali cabaran yang telah terjadi dalam kehidupan harian belia masa kini. Sesi ini diakhiri dengan menyanyikan lagu “Karna SalibMu” bersama-sama bagi mengenang kembali kesengsaraan Yesus. Selepas itu, slot penerangan pendek mengenai program-program belia yang akan datang dan juga sedikit pengenalan oleh Koordinator Paroki St Mary Sandakan Saudari Reginia Jane Hugo tentang belia-belia paroki St Mary Sandakan. Program ini diakhiri dengan doa penutup dan gotong-royong bersama-sama dengan peserta Unite Camp 4.0 2107.

Gambar beramai-ramai

Wajah-Wajah tim pelaksana Unite Camp 4.0 2107

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

YLC IS BACK!

Youth Leaders’ Camp atau YLC merupakan satu program peringkat Keuskupan Sandakan yang dianjurkan satu kali dalam setahun khusus bagi memenuhi keperluan jasmani dan kerohanian para pemimpin belia. Program ini telah dimulakan pada tahun 2012 di Paroki Sandakan dan telah diteruskan penganjurannya secara bergilir – gilir antara paroki setiap tahun.

  • 2012: Paroki Sandakan – Tema: Am I Ready?
  • 2013: Paroki Tawau – Tema: “My Journey Begins…Wake up and Believe!”
  • 2014: Paroki Lahad Datu – Tema: “Go and make disciples of all nations!” (Mat 28:19)
  • 2015: Paroki Telupid – Tema: Berbahagialah orang yang suci hatinya karena mereka akan melihat Allah (Mat 5:8)
  • 2016: Berhenti seketika untuk memberi laluan kepada penganjuran SYD 4.
  • 2017: Paroki Sandakan – Tema: “The Mighty One has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49)
 
Paroki Holy Trinity Tawau

Kini YLC kembali ke Tawau sebagai tuan rumah bagi penganjuran buat kali ke 6 dan mesyuarat pertama telah diadakan pada 15 September yang lalu bagi ‘menghidupkan enjin’ persiapan YLC 2018. Antara agenda – agenda yang diketengahkan dalam mesyuarat adalah sejarah YLC, menilai semula evaluasi peserta pada penganjuran yang lalu, pembahagian tugasan dan akhir sekali perkongsian harapan setiap tim yang hadir. Mesyuarat ke 2 akan diadakan pada 19 Oktober 2017 bagi membincangkan lebih mendalam tema, rasional dan objektif YLC kali ke 6 ini.

 
Turut serta dalam mesyuarat ini adalah Sr. Lilian Unsoh, fsic dan Sr. Julita Joseph, fsic
 
Angelic Del Rosario dari Sandakan memperkongsikan pengalaman beliau menjadi salah satu tim penganjur YLC 5 yang lalu

Diakhir mesyuarat masing – masing berharap agar setiap ahli akan dapat berjalan bersama sebaik mungkin dalam penganjuran YLC 6 dan membuat yang terbaik demi kemuliaan dan keagungan nama Tuhan. Semoga penganjuran YLC 6 ini sukses seturut rencanaNya!

Apapun juga yang kamu perbuat, perbuatlah dengan segenap hatimu seperti untuk Tuhan dan bukan untuk manusia. Kol 3:23

YLC 6 ….  START YOUR ENGINE!

Unite Camp 4.0 ~ Hari Ketiga ~Tim Dokumentasi Unite Camp 4.0, 2017~

Para peserta  mendaki Marian Mount untuk merayakan Misa bersama Rev Fr David Garaman

Pada hari ketiga, program dimulakan dengan Misa kudus yang dirayakan di Pondok Meditasi, Puncak Maria. Dalam homili Fr David telah mengatakan kepada para belia tentang talenta ataupun bakat adalah satu topik yang sangat menarik kerana setiap diantara kita mempunyai bakat masing-masing. Bakat itu adalah karunia dari Tuhan. Oleh yang demikian bakat itu perlu diasah. Dan dalam injil pada hari tersebut jelas mengatakan bahwa kita harus menggunakan bakat yang diberi itu dengan baik untuk kemuliaan Tuhan.

Misa di Marian Mount

Selepas saja menuruni bukit Maria, setiap peserta diminta masuk ke dalam kumpulan mereka masing-masing serta mengongsikan pengalaman dan perasaan mereka merayakan misa di Puncak Maria.

Sing Along yang dipimpin oleh Saudara Christopher Aban

Sesi perkongsian oleh Sr Lilian Unsoh, Fsic

Dalam sesi ini, semua peserta diminta masuk ke kumpulan masing-masing dan membincangkan dua soalan yang diberikan oleh Sr.Lilian Unsoh, Fsic iaitu “Bahagian manakah dalam tayangan video hari kedua mengenai Bonda Maria yang memperlihatkan Bonda Maria sebagai Model Iman” dan” Bahagian manakah yang memperlihatkan Bonda Maria sebagai Model Rasul”.

Sesi Perkongsian kedua

Tim Social (Lakonan pada malam Worship Night)

Worship Night (Konsert) Unite Camp 4.0

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

Unite Camp 4.0 ~ Hari Kedua ~Tim Dokumentasi Unite Camp 4.0, 2017~

Misa hari kedua unite camp yang dirayakan oleh Rev Fr Stanley William 

Hari kedua dimulakan dengan Misa kudus yang diselebrankan oleh Fr. Stanley William. Dalam homili, beliau telah menekankan tentang iman seorang kristian serta menyatakan bahawa “iman tanpa perbuatan adalah mati”. Beliau juga membawa para peserta untuk berfikir bahawa adakah “iman mereka begitu kukuh untuk mengikuti Tuhan Yesus?”. Selain itu, beliau menyeru agar sentiasa berdoa untuk iman kristiani dan mengenal antara satu sama lain dalam Unite Camp ini agar dapat menyebarkan cinta kasih-Nya bersama di tempat masing-masing.

Rev. Fr. Stanley menyampaikan sesi

Sesi Mother Mary and Rosary membawa para peserta lebih mengenali Bonda Maria. Beliau menyeru agar semua peserta membaca buku-buku ajaran gereja kerana semua terkandung di dalam dokumen-dokumen ajaran katolik. Jika kita bercakap mengenai Bonda Maria, terdapat empat perkara yang amat penting yang perlu diketahui oleh semua. Perkara pertama iaitu ajaran Bonda Maria(Divine Motherhood). Beliau menyeru semua agar membaca konsili Efesus 4-1 dan konsili Kaunsedon 451. Kedua, Bonda Maria keperawanan Abadi yang membawa maksud Bonda Maria adalah tetap suci kerana dia melahirkan Tuhan Yesus melalui kuasa Roh Kudus. Ketiga, ialah dikandung tanpa dosa. Ajaran Bonda Maria yang terakhir ialah Bonda Maria diangkat ke syurga yang bermaksud Bonda Maria tetap menjadi perantaraan bagi kita semua. Seterusnya ialah mengenai sejarah doa Rosari. Asal usul doa Rosari tidak dapat ditentukan secara jelas. Ia terjadi mengikut tahap demi tahap dan digunakanya butir-butir sebagai alat bantu doa serta tradisi sejak zaman gereja awal. Pada abad pertengahan, butir-butir tersebut dipakai untuk menghitung doa Bapa Kami dan Salam Maria di biara-biara. Struktur doa Rosari berkembang pada abad ke-12. Pada waktu itu 50 doa Salam Maria dihubung kait dengan Mazmur untuk memperingati kehidupan Tuhan Yesus dan juga Bonda Maria dan pada abad ke-16 terbentuklah doa Rosario yang terbahagi kepada 5 dekad dan 3 peristiwa iaitu gembira, sedih dan mulia. Pada tahun 1221 Santo Dominic telah memperkenalkan doa Rosario kepada kita umat Katolik.

Sesi 2 iaitu “Kerana Allah yang mahakuasa telah melakukan perbuatan-perbuatan besar padaku,Namanya adalah kudus” yang disampaikan oleh Rev Fr David Garaman. Bapa suci Fransiskus di dalam pesanannya mengatakan kepada para muda-mudi agar sentiasa maju, harus sentiasa ke depan dan jangan memikirkan peristiwa-peristiwa yang lalu tetapi menjadi berani untuk masa depan sebagai belia-belia dan sikap berani yang mempunyai pengharapan hidup kita boleh ditemui di dalam diri Bonda Maria.

Perkongsian secara berkumpulan mengenai pesanan Bapa Suci baru-baru ini sempena hari belia sedunia yang ke-32

 

Perbincangan 5 pekara dalam pesanan Bapa Suci  dalam kumpulan 

Sing along

Sesi 3: Maria sebagai model iman dan murid yang sebenar 

Di dalam sesi ketiga yang disampaikan oleh Sr. Lilian Unsoh, Fsic telah menayangkan sebuah video mengenai Bonda Maria dan diikuti dengan sesi perkongsian selepas itu. Tayangan video ini menceritakan bagaimana Bonda Maria menjadi seorang ibu serta kehidupan Bonda Maria yang memberi gambaran kepada kita tentang imanNya.

Taklimat dan penerangan mengenai Team Dynamic(Game) yang disampaikan oleh Saudara Arjohn

Zumba bersama sebelum game dimulakan

Team Dynamic(Games)

Malam perdamaian yang dipimpin oleh Sr.Lilian Unsoh Fsic

Diakhiri dengan pengumuman dan doa malam serta menulis sebuah doa pada sebuah kertas berbentuk hati  untuk diletakkan pada pray station


Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

“Fun Family Day”Sandakan

(September 16, 2017 (Saturday), Sandakan St. Mary’s Basilica Chinese Coordinating Committee under the Sunday school to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Association, held “Fun Family Day.” The purpose of the event is to promote personal relationships; that is, to provide a happy platform for the family, so that parents put down the busy work, and the children spend a good time.

 

(山打根讯) 2017年9月16日(星期六) ,山打根圣玛莉主教座堂华文协调委员会属下主日学为庆祝华协成立30周年,举办“Fun 家庭日”。举办此次活动的目的是为了促进亲自关系;即为家庭提供一个欢乐的平台,让家长放下忙碌的工作,与孩子们共度好时光。

由于当天是公假,主办当局贴心的把节目安排在早上8.30。登记后,活动正式由上午9.00开始。曾彗心老师带领大家作开始祈祷后,沈尚美老师在李碧亮老师和申秀媚老师的协助下,带领大家以一首轻松快乐的“深深在我心”歌颂赞美上主,大家在三位老师的带领下学习该歌曲的手语,轻快的歌声及简单的手语使场面温馨和谐。

过后,华协副主席黄士南兄弟以轻快的语调与大家分享家庭之乐。大家一起享用简单的茶点后,紧接着是一连串的亲子游戏。游戏开始前,每个家庭都被分配相同数量的玻璃弹珠。他们必须在一个小时内到每一个设定的游戏站去赚取玻璃弹珠。当然,他们也必须交付相符的玻璃弹珠以开始玩游戏。

游戏后,大家有片刻的休息时间。之后,大家齐聚一室,开始了另一个活动,即“孩子一片心”。主办当局贴心地准备了精美的圣家照,让孩子们赠予其家长,抱抱家长,与家长讲些贴心的悄悄话。颁奖礼后,特别邀请几位家长分享其心情和感受。

 

中午12时,家长日在结束祈祷后画下完美的句号。

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

Likas pastoral care ministry organises 6th outreach visit to senior citizens home

The writer (R) listens to Mdm Chin (L) during the visit by the Likas Pastoral Care Ministry to the Holy Family Senior Citizens Home Papar, 29 July 2017.

PAPAR – About 25 members and their families of the St Simon Catholic Church Likas Pastoral Care Ministry visited the Holy Family Residence for Senior Citizens here on 29 Jul 2017.

The sixth outreach visit for the ministry this year, led by Vera Chin, also involved 15 students from confirmation class and two teachers.

The team was blessed by its pastor, Father Cosmas Lee, before the convoy of 10 vehicles loaded with food stuff and goodies left for the 45-minute journey.

Franciscan Sisters Aileen and Regina were on hand to welcome them to the residence, home to 35 elderly.

Some of the highlights of the visit included meet-and-greet, fellowship and performances by the confirmation class students which moved some of their audiences to tears, among others.

However, amid all the formality of the event, one story of conversion caught this writer’s attention, that of Madam Chin.

Madam Chin, 84, was wheelchair-bound following a fall which injured her hip bone. She said she moved into the residence only four months ago.

Chin was born in Sandakan to a pagan family. When she was five years old, she envisioned an eagerness to see God and asked her elder brother where to find Him.

“It has to be the God from the Catholic mission (Tien Tzu Tong in Hakka dialect),” said Chin.

Her brother told her the church is the only place to find God. He was studying in a Catholic school then. While growing up as a Buddhist, she never forgot about the Catholic Church.

She eventually married and had children of her own. Then one Sunday morning 22 years ago, she felt a very strong urge to seek God. So she got hold of her baby grandson who was under her care then, called a taxi and instructed the driver to go straight to St Mary’s Church (now St Mary’s Cathedral), which was eight miles away from her home along Labuk Road.

She said the minute she heard the Church bell tolling and the hymns, she felt her burden, sorrow, unhappiness and sufferings all disappeared. She felt so peaceful, relaxed, and joy filled her body thoroughly (the feelings have never changed since then, she said).

That same Sunday, she enquired about how to become a Catholic. She was introduced to Fr Tobias Chi the rector of the church then. She joined the Chinese Catechism class and was baptised a year later.

Later, her husband got a stroke and she had to care for him. She confessed there was a time she became a lapsed Catholic while being engrossed with family matters.

When she decided to go to a retirement home she insisted it has to be managed by Catholic mission. She said the Holy Family Residence for Senior Citizens is her only choice because she feels she can be near God there. She said she prayed “very, very hard” in order to be admitted into the residence. She believes she has made peace with God now by attending daily Mass to make up for the times that she neglected God.

When Chin talked about God, her tone became very excited and her face radiant, and a flow of peace and happiness filtered through her. When she heard the song “Amazing Grace,”  her eyes brimmed with tears. She did not speak English but hummed along sweetly. She said she loves singing and would love to have a Chinese hymn book.

The writer felt privileged to meet this simple but remarkable lady whose struggle to know God took her through so many years of ups and downs that now she surrenders her later years in the senior home just to be near God and not with her children and family.

“It is my choice to come here… to have time with God,”  were her very first words to this writer when they shook hands. – Joan Pang @ SOCCOM St Simon Catholic Church

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Maxican bishops offer prayers for earthquake victims

Mexican rescuers search for survivors at a flattened building after a powerful quake in Mexico City on 19 Sept 2017.  A devastating quake in Mexico on Tuesday killed more than 100 people, according to official tallies, with a preliminary 30 deaths recorded in the capital where rescue efforts were still going on. / AFP PHOTO / YURI CORTEZ (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

MEXICO CITY – The Mexican bishops’ conference have offered their prayers for those affected by the earthquake that hit Mexico City and the state of Puebla on Tuesday.

“We unite ourselves with the pain for the victims of the earthquake that happened today, September 19, 2017, in various places in our country,” they said in a statement.

“Thousands of hands have formed chains of life to rescue, feed and do their bit in these emergencies.”

 The number of fatalities has climbed to over 200, with one of the most desperate rescue efforts at a school in southern Mexico City where a wing of the three-storey building collapsed onto children.

The quake came on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake that killed thousands, and came just hours after Mexicans held earthquake drills to mark the date.

The bishops pledged to work with authorities and charities to offer their assistance.

“We ask for the consolation of our Mother Mary of Guadalupe, so that through her intercession she may help and strengthen us in the reconstruction of our homeland.” – catholic herald

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

State government allocates RM31m to non-Islamic bodies, schools for 2017

KOTA KINABALU –  The Sabah government has allocated RM31.44 million in financial aid to non-Islamic bodies and schools throughout the state this year.

The financial assistance will benefit 551 religious bodies, including churches, Chinese temples, Hindu and Sikh places of worship, and schools.

Of the sum, RM14.005 million is allocated for schools and another RM17.435 million will be distributed among the non-Islamic organisations, of which RM11,870,000 is for churches, RM5,295,000 for Chinese temples, and RM270,000 for Hindu and Sikh temples.

Aman said he was pleased to receive feedback that past allocations have been used efficiently, allowing places of worship and schools to make necessary repairs and extensions among others.

“We acknowledge that we cannot meet the amount for the total sum, which the schools and religious bodies have requested for, but let me assure you we have done our best to allocate what we can.

“With prudent financial management, the state government has been able to steadily increase this annual allocation,” he told attendees at the ceremony at which he handed over the 2017 financial assistance to the schools and non-Islamic bodies at the Hakka Hall here on 19 Sept 2017.

He noted that the special financial aid from state government has increased over the past 13 years.

According to records, the government had disbursed RM7.085 million financial aids to non-Islamic religious bodies and schools throughout Sabah in 2004. Last year, the government allocated RM31.398 million.

Musa handed over RM16.832 million to representatives of schools and non-Islamic religious bodies from the west coast division and RM1.22 million to the lower interior region.

“Along with Islamic bodies, you play an important role in promoting positive values in society,” he pointed out to the beneficiaries.

“I also encourage you to keep up your good work and to continue serving your schools and religious institutions to the best of your abilities,” he said.

Among those present were Archbishop John Wong of Kota Kinabalu, Bishop Melter Tais of Sabah Council of Churches, Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, other Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, and other community leaders. – various sources

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

Papar parishioners celebrate assistant pastor’s 8th priestly anniversary

Fr Bisius (with eye-glasses) sings together with the children and PPC members before cutting the cake marking his 8th priestly anniversary at the Mother of Mercy open hall, 16 Sept 2017

PAPAR – After the Sunset Mass, parishioners of St Joseph’s Church here gathered together to celebrate the 8th priestly anniversary of assistant pastor Father Rayner Bisius at the Mother of Mercy open hall on 16 Sept 2017.

Fr Bisius, in his brief message, thanked everyone for the warm welcome accorded him when he arrived three months ago. He exhorted the parishioners to constantly pray for him and all priests in their priestly ministry.

Prior to that, Johnny Sitamin, chairman of the parish pastoral council, thanked everyone involved in preparing the event.

The evening programme included several solo and choral singing performances as well as traditional dances.

The night ended with a closing prayer and blessing by Fr Bisius.  – William Charles Mindus (SOCCOM Papar Limbahau)

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
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