Bishops Say Local Church And Culture Cannot Be Separated
PENAMPANG(CS).- The local Catholic Church cannot be separated from the culture of the people according to the bishops of the two dioceses.
"Culture symbolizes the way we actually live and it journeys alongside the way we obey God," said Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau in his opening address at the Kaamatan Festival cum the diocese's fourth anniversary celebration held May 3 at St Peter Bundu Kuala Penyu.
"Our culture must not be in confrontation with our Christian faith?through faith, we can enrich culture," Bishop John Lee said May 21 at the KK Diocesan Kaamatan Festival at the Sacred Heart Inobong.
The celebration in Inobong started May 20 with some 150 people attended the catechesis given by Fr William Poilis, Sr Keyna Ginibun and Datuk Sylverius Golingai.
Msgr Primus Jouil presided over the concelebrated Mass May 21 with around 1,000 people.
In Kuala Penyu the celebration started with the blessing of the rectory before the Mass presided by Piong who later blessed the parish hall.
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Life Getting Better For Remote Villagers, Says Volunteer
KOTA MARUDU(CS).- The lives of the people of Kg Sonsogon Magandai, one of the most remote villages in Sabah, are getting better, said a volunteer from the Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community (LJCCC) recently.
In 1994, LJCCC's Alpheus Andrew visited the village for the first time and decided to stay there.
"I don't know, but the moment I saw them I felt it was my responsibility to share whatever knowledge I have with them," said Andrew who hails from Kinarut, near Kota Kinabalu.
Since then, he has taught most of them (31 families) how to read, write and count, he said. He added that 51 out of 100 people had become Catholics.
Sonsogon Magandai means "forced to release" but nobody really knows the origin of the name. Located 82 KM from Kota Marudu, one has to drive five hours through logging tracks to reach the village. In bad weather, only four wheel drive vehicles could be used, but if it rains heavily the wooden bridge across the Bengkoka River is totally inaccessible. The alternative is to take a three-day walk through the thick jungle.
Being isolated from mainstream development, the people live a nomadic life. Staple diet consists of tapioca, sweet potato, hunted game and fish.
La Salle Br Herbertus Gampok joined Andrew recently to help the villagers in the faith and life development.
"Only after we are satisfied with their life and faith development will we move to other villages (referring to the six small villages that form Sonsogon: Sonsogon Sungoi, Suyad, Binontungan Suyad, Makatol, Makatol Sarayo and Mogis) in the future," Andrew said.
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Keningau Bishop Elected CFM Committee Member
PENAMPANG(CS).- Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau has another venue of service when he was elected to be a member of the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) at its biennial meeting recently.
He was one of the three representatives, the others being Bishop Antony Selvanayagam of Penang and Bishop James Chan of Melaka-Johor, from the Catholic Church in the new executive committee of the 12-year-old CFM, the highest Christian body in the country.
Besides the Catholic Church, the CFM is also made up of the Council Churches of Malaysia (CCM) and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF).
Bishop Datuk Yong Ping Chung of the Anglican Church is the new chairman, taking over from Chan. Vice chairmen are Bishop Dr Peter Chio Sing Ching, GS Rev Dr Prince Guneratnam and Selvanayagam while the secretary is Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng who is assisted by Rev Cor Episcopa Philip Thomas.
The treasurer is Gabrielle Yang, assisted by Kong Yeng Phooi while Bishop Dr Lim Cheng Ean, Pastor Taipin Molidoi, Chan and Piong are committee members.
Other participants from Sabah were Waky Taim, Fr Aloysius Fidelis, Bishop John Lee, Fr Paul Mikin and Zesmus Ongkudon.
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