PM Assures Church Leaders Of Religious Freedom
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has given an assurance to Christian church leaders in Sabah that religious freedom in the country will continue to remain.
Speaking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with members of the Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) Feb 18 at a leading hotel here, he said the meeting was also to explain the government's policies on religion and the meaning of religious freedom.
The prime minister emerged from his meeting with 13 representatives from different church denominations in the state, smiling and said the outcome was a positive one that benefited everybody.
Present at the meeting were Datuk Arun Selutan (SIB, SCC president), Bishop Cornelius Piong, Bishop John Lee, and representatives from the Anglican Diocese of Sabah, Basel Christian Church of Malaysia, Methodist Church of Sabah, Sabah Baptist Association, Grace Chapel, Sabah Evangelical Church, Protestant Church of Sabah, Calvary Charismatic Centre, Scripture Union of Sabah, Sabah Campus Crusade of Christ and the Agape Counselling Centre Malaysia, Sabah Branch.
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Bishop Lee Ordains Kontou To The Diaconate
LAHAD DATU(CS).- Bishop John Lee ordained Simon Kontou to the diaconate at St Dominic's Church here recently.
The ceremony, held Feb 3, was attended by more than a thousand people including the candidate's family members and relatives.
It was the second diaconate ordination held in the parish, the first being that of Fr Ambrose Atang in April 1989, who is now serving as assistant priest in Tawau.
Kontou, 31, who is assisting Rector Fr Gerard Preyde here, underwent eight years of formation (1988-1996) at St Peter's College Kuching. Prior to that, he attended a preparatory programme for six months at the Catholic Diocesan Centre, Penampang, in 1987.
Before completing his studies in the seminary, the neo-ordained had his exposure in Tambunan, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Sandakan and here.
The youngest son of Kontou Loujim of Kg Duvanson, Putatan, he has a brother, Patrin, and a sister, Anna, who are married.
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Youth Leaders Say Youth Ministry Seminar-workshop Is Best Of Its Kind
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- The Diocesan Youth Ministry Seminar-Workshop held here recently was the best programme of its kind, said two church youth leaders in Sabah.
"It gives us the know-how of youth ministry and at the same time, instill in us the essential fact that youth must always be with the whole community in whatever we are doing in our journey of faith," said Dominic Lim, PAX Youth Commission Head of the KK Diocese.
His counterpart from the Keningau Diocese, Fr Gilbert Engan, said, "The objectives of the seminar were fulfilled. It certainly encouraged me and the other participants to continue our involvement with the youths."
The Feb 13-16 seminar, conducted by Fr Mario Villegas Baclig sdb, Jessica 'Joy' Candelario and Lawrence 'Larry' Simon of the Philippines, was attended by 167 participants, including 40 from Keningau Diocese.
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23 Young Girls Ready To Join Putri Karmel
TAMBUNAN(CS).- Twenty-three young girls accepted the invitation to live a semi-contemplative life of the Putri Karmel in Indonesia during a vocation seminar here recently.
"This is too good to be true," said Sr Angelica, "why would so many respond to be Carmelites? We did not realize that our way of life could still be appealing to the youth of today in this place."
Sisters Angelica, Yustini and June of Putri Karmel (Daughters of Carmel) in Malang, Indonesia, conducted the three-day seminar for 59 young men and women on Nov 13-15 last year.
According to parish Rector Fr Joseph Liansim, the congregation's emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially healing, and their familiarity among local people, attracted many.
"The charism of the Putri Karmel is definitely something different, especially the ministry of healing," he said, adding, "if people can heal, they are special. Special people get attention and many would want to be like them."
One of the participants, former teacher Ivy Soon, has already left for Malang while Justina William will join her soon.
Currently there are three Sabahans undergoing formation in Malang, including former FSIC Sr Jude.
Putri Karmel was founded by Fr Yohannes Indrakusama, a Carmelite priest and a doctor popular for his gifts of healing and ability to conduct good retreats.
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