Author Archives: Ken Wong

KOTA KINABALU – Thousands of faithful gathered to bid farewell to the late Father Fundes Motiung at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here on 8 Sept 2017.

An estimated 5,000-odd crowd turned up for the funeral of Fr Motiung, many from the different neo-catechumenal way communities in the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese.

Archbishop John Wong presided at the Requiem Mass.  Joining him were Archbishop Emeritus John Lee and over forty priests from the three arch/dioceses who had just finished their annual retreat in Bundu Tuhan.

In his homily, Abp Wong reminded the faithful that “for the Christian, life has not ended, only changed.”  He stressed on the hope of eternal life held out to all in the Word of God.

Fr Motiung died on Monday, Sept 4, shortly after Abp Wong’s visit.

Hundreds of people – whose lives he had touched throughout his 19 years of priestly service – came to pay their last respects as he lay in state at St Michael Penampang from Monday to Wednesday (Sept 4-6) and at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing on Thursday (Sept 7).

Out of those 19 years, 16 were filled with pain as he underwent treatment for leukemia.  Yet whenever he was able, he would go about his priestly ministry cheerfully.

He was buried at the Mile 4.5 Catholic Cemetery Jalan Penampang Lama.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PENAMPANG – Father Fundes Motiung was called to eternal life on 4 Sept 2017.  He was the first of Sabah’s seven priests from the Neocatechumenal community to return to the Father.  He was 52.

Born on 19 Nov 1965 in Kg Kepayan, Fundes was the youngest in a brood of seven boys and two girls born to Paulus Motiung and Dorothia Tokiu.

After completing his formative studies at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Rome, he was ordained on 6 July 1998 together with Saimon William of Membakut at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Kota Kinabalu, the firstfruits from the Neocatechumenal community.

After ordination, he took up a licentiate course on family counselling at his alma mater in Rome. When he returned to Kota Kinabalu, he served in Penampang (2002), Tanjung Aru (2003-2014) and back to Penampang in 2014.  He was also the spiritual adviser to the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission.

In a statement released Sept 4, Archbishop John Wong said: “He was always a zealous servant of the Gospel, building the Kingdom of God generously without counting the cost.”

Despite being diagnosed with leukemia in 2000 and under treatment since then, he went on his pastoral ministry cheerfully as and when he was able.

He went back to St Michael on Saturday, Sept 2,  for three reasons; one was to witness a donation from the federal government, another was to greet the Penampang Youth Day (PYD) participants, and finally, to taste the food being prepared by the Angat brothers, Eddie and Armando and other volunteers.

On Sunday, Sept 3, as he was preparing to attend Mass at Stella Maris where he had once served as pastor, he slipped and fell in the bathroom. He was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance.

Many had thought that it was yet another brief stay for Fr Fundes, who had been in and out of hospital for his leukemia treatment – but this time it was not to be.

At about 9 pm, he complained of breathing difficulties and those who were by his bedside called for the doctor to attend to him.

His blood pressure had dropped and the doctor said he had inflammation of the lungs. He also needed blood transfusion.

When Fr Fundes breathed his last on Sept 4 just before noon, his brother Fidelis was by his bedside. Abp Wong had visited him earlier.

The beautiful renovation works at St Michael Penampang are his legacy to the parishioners.  The deceased was present at the re-dedication of the parish on Aug 18.

“While there he told me his work at St Michael’s was finally over,” said Thomas Mumpin, one of his closest aides.

Mumpin said Fr Fundes had told him that he had done what he could and it is up to others to improve on them.

The remains of Fr Fundes are now at St Michael’s Church until 10:00 am Thursday, Sept 7. Thereafter, his body will be taken to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Sacred Heart Cathedral where he will lay in state.

The Requiem Mass will be presided by Abp Wong at the Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday, Sept 8 at 10:00 am followed by the burial at the Mile 4.5 Catholic Cemetery Jalan Penampang Lama.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – Beloved Mill Hill Missionary (MHM) Father Terry Burke was called to eternal life on Thursday 31 Aug 2017 in Tilehurst England, aged 73.

Terence Laurence Burke was usually known as Terry. He was a Londoner, born in Barnes, South London on 24 March 1944 to Richard Burke and Mary Hogben. He had one brother and one sister. He was educated at St Edward Secondary Modern School, Richmond from 1955 – 57 and Kingston Technical College from 1957 – 64, followed by a year at Campion House, Osterley. Terry studied Philosophy at Roosendaal from 1965 – 67, and Theology at Mill Hill College from 1967 – 71. He took his Perpetual Oath on 1 May 1970 and was ordained to the missionary priesthood on 12 June 1971 by Gerald Mahon who was the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. Terry had spent a short time as a student in Kuching and in 1971 after his ordination, he was appointed to serve there as a missionary priest. He was very pleased when, many years later after a lifetime of mission work in several countries, he was re-appointed to Kuching in 2007.

Academic work and studies came easily to Terry and this ability was recognised and followed up early in his career. After four years in Kuching he was appointed to Rome to study when he gained an STL Magna cum Laude in Moral Theology, after which he returned to Kuching in 1977 where he continued his pastoral ministry.

In 1980, Peter Chung Hoan Ting, at that time the Archbishop of Kuching, told Terry that he had seven young men who wanted to be priests. He had an old building and he had Terry and he wanted him to start a seminary. And so he did. However,  the main ingredient missing was teaching staff. So after the first year during which he had the help of another Mill Hill priest, Terry went home to try and find teachers. He spoke to the Irish Missionary Union and asked them for help in sourcing priests who could go to Kuching for a few months at a time. Due to a very cold winter night in Ireland, a priest on sabbatical from New Orleans offered to go and so was born a connection which continued for many years.

In 1984 Terry had to leave Kuching because of a Government law that said all expatriate missionaries had to leave after ten years. He was appointed to the British Region for APF work, but first, he went to New Orleans for further study – a Master of Arts in Religious studies where he met the priests who had been supporting Kuching Seminary financially as well as with teaching staff.  From 1986 to 1993 Terry worked in Formation within the Society in Roosendaal and Mill Hill College – Missionary Institute London. In 1995 Terry had a very brief appointment in India, then returned to the British Region where he spent the next ten years back in the academic world as a chaplain in Reading University.

In 2007 Terry was given a joint appointment – dividing his time between the Seminary in Kuching and as chaplain to the expatriate community in Bali, Indonesia, as well as working in the prison there. He was very happy with the contrasting worlds for three years; then a new bishop in Bali didn’t renew his appointment.

Terry was disappointed for his own sake but more so for the people he served in Bali as there were few English speakers among the priests there. But it did mean that he was back in his beloved Kuching.  During his time back in Kuching Terry served the Society in many ways – as Recruitment Coordinator, Group Leader, Society Representative and in 2017 when he no longer had responsibility for the Society Members he was officially appointed to a position which he had already filled unofficially for many years – that of Society Bursar.

He was the writer of ‘Padi Seeds,’ a column where he shared his pastoral reflections in Today’s Catholic (Sarawak) and Catholic Sabah  which was also translated into Bahasa Malaysia, ‘Benih-Benih Padi’ published in both papers for many years.

Towards the end of 2015 Terry became seriously ill with cancer and during the next two years, he exhibited the same courage he had shown at other times in his life when he struggled with personal difficulties. He travelled to Singapore when necessary for treatment and still carried on working.

In June 2017 when the doctors told him they could do no more for him medically he returned to England where he was cared for lovingly by his sister, Margaret in Reading. Terry was admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospice in nearby Tilehurst on July 21. He died there peacefully on Thursday, August 31, at 3:00 pm.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

By Jacinta Anthony Joseph
The Church of St Francis of Assisi (SFA) organised a pilgrimage for the Feastday celebrations of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) in Mentakab, Pahang.

The pilgrims departed by bus at 1.30pm from SFA on Saturday, August 19, accompanied by parish priest Fr Andrew Manickam OFM cap. They arrived at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help around 4.00pm.

Holy Hour was followed by the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Mass was celebrated at 6.00pm with Fr Andrew as the main celebrant and OLPH parish priest, Fr Justus Pereira and Fr Peter Anthony, from the Church of St John Vianney, Tampin, concelebrating.

The theme for the Mass was Mary, Mother of Hope. Fr Andrew spoke of the message of hope and the life of Mother Mary. The message for all pilgrims was to be Disciples of Hope wherever we are.

After Mass, there was a candlelight procession outside the church as pilgrims recited the rosary in 4 languages.

A large image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was carried, followed by the celebrants and the congregation. Mrs. Shirley Lim, one of the pilgrims, expressed her joy and thanks for the healing she experienced during the Mass.

One of our pilgrims had a fall, injuring her head. A good Samaritan from the parish rushed her to Mentakab Hospital and then to Temerloh Hospital. A local parishioner, Anne Retnam, waited together with two of our own pilgrims until they left the hospital. All the pilgrims came to Temerloh Hospital to visit our injured parishioner.

The parish thanks Anne Retnam, her parents and all who assisted for their help during the emergency.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUCHING – Archbishop Simon Poh urged the laity to reach out more extensively to help the poor and the needy in society.

He said this at a blessing ceremony held on 16 July 2017 at the Catholic Services Centre here that functions as a rest centre for rural visitors, a food bank and soup kitchen.

The prelate told those present to look to Mother Teresa of Calcutta as their model and emulate the example of Pope Francis in being genuinely charitable and loving towards others, especially those who are suffering.

He also encouraged more Catholics to volunteer their time, effort, material or financial resources to help those in poverty, those who are suffering physical illnesses or handicaps, and those who are unable to fend for themselves.

“This centre has volunteers who prepare daily food packs for distribution to some 244 poor and needy families and individuals.  The centre is working with St Vincent De Paul Society and Society for Kuching Urban Poor in food distribution,” he added.

Catholics, he said, must play a role to bring God’s mercy and kindness to those in need.

About RM1 mil is needed by the Catholic church to run charitable projects in the Kuching Catholic Archdiocese every year.

The archdiocese also has homes for the elderly.

The St Vincent De Paul Society helps poor students with school items and school bus fare as well as tuition.

Abp Poh said a fundraising run will be organised on Sept 9 by the Catholic Welfare to try to raise RM2.5 mil for future charity causes.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

INANAM – Inanam lad Deacon Leslie J Bingkasan was ordained priest for the Society of Jesus on 1 Sept 2017 at St Catherine’s Church here.

Some 500 people including the ordinand’s family members, relatives and friends turned up to witness the ordination.

Archbishop John Wong officiated the rite of ordination after the homily.

Among the 18 concelebrants were eight Jesuits: Father Christopher Soh, Jesuit Regonal Superior of Malaysia-Singapore, and his assistant, Father James Tan, Father Christopher Wee, Father Alvin Ho, Father Sebastian Koh, Father J Sudarminta, Father A Setyo Wibowo and Father Riyo Mursanto.

From Keningau Diocese were Msgr Gilbertus Engan and Father Charles Chiew.  The rest were from KK Archdiocese: Father David Sham, Father Paul Lo, Father Wilfred Atin, Father Ambrose Atang, Father Rayner Bisius, Father Mattheus Luta, and Father Maxmillianno Hontor.  Father Patrick Jerome represented St Peter’s College Kuching.

The latter is the first priest from Inanam Parish (1991) while Fr Hontor is the second (2014).

In his speech, the neo-ordained thanked all those who have journeyed with him in his formative journey and he mentioned some names from the parish who are now undergoing formation either in the diocesan priesthood or in the Society of Jesus.

Abp Wong, too, thanked everyone who has helped the new priest in his priestly journey and called on all to pray for him so that he can live up to his vocation and for all ordained ministers in the church to stay faithful in their calling as representatives of Christ in this modern age.

On the other hand, Fr Soh, in his message, said the powerful seed of God’s Word has fallen not only in the receptive soil of the newly ordained’s heart but also into that of his family into which he was born and raised, that of the friends with whom he grew and matured, and that of the church community in which his faith was fed and nourished.

After Mass, all adjourned to the parish hall for lunch and entertainment by various groups including the Bingkasan family.

Born on 27 Apr 1977, Fr Leslie is the eldest in a brood of four boys and one girl born to Joseph Bingkasan and Mary Sodikit of Kg Kionsom Inanam.

Educated at SRJK (C) Yick Nam Inanam (1984-1989), Tshung Tsin (1990-1995), and Institut Sinaran (1996-1998), the ordinand was taking a course in microbiology at the University Malaya (1996-2002) when he resigned and worked as a journalist at the Herald Catholic Weekly (2002-2004).

He entered the Society of Jesus in 2004 and took his first vows in 2006.  After his theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, he was ordained deacon at the university church on 29 Oct 2016.

Prior to priestly ordination, he has a two-month pastoral in his home parish of Inanam, Manggatal and Telipok.

After ordination, he will serve at St Francis Xavier Petaling Jaya before going to Rome for licentiate studies in canon law.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

MEMBAKUT – Pauline Sister Laura Anggie conducted two Media Literacy Education (MLE) sessions in the Diocese of Keningau recently.

The first session was held at St Patrick Membakut on 26 Aug 2017 on Church and Social Communication.

Membakut is a town about 80 km from the State capital of Kota Kinabalu.

Over a hundred people – young and old – attended the session organised by the Keningau Diocesan Social Communications Commission (KOMSOS).

The participants were divided into two groups – adults and children – for group sharing and discussion.

The next day Sr Laura left for St Peter Bundu Kuala Penyu for another session on Aug 28.

Kuala Penyu is about 20-minute drive from Membakut and is noted for its beautiful beaches.

Over 1000 young people including spiritual advisers took part in the diocesan camp for altar servers (boys and girls) from the nine parishes and one mission under the Keningau Diocese. However, some of the participants came from Sandakan Diocese and from Limbahau Parish (Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese).

Sr Laura’s session dealt with how social media influence anti-social behaviour in the family.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu