KK Bishop Warns Pastoral Plan Not An Overnight Solution
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- The new pastoral plan is not an overnight solution to all the problems faced by the Kota Kinabalu Diocese, warned Bishop John Lee recently.
"We need to understand that it is not an overnight solution to all our problems; it is not the end of our pastoral planning although it has laid down some concrete actions that will help the diocese move toward its desired end," the bishop said during the launching of the Diocesan Organisation Pastoral Plan (DOPP) at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Sept 16.
The bishop explained that the DOPP "is a document where the vision of the diocese, its mission, problems and priority needs and courses of action are stated."
The plan is to serve as a "guideline or reference document for the diocese for the next seven years, up to 2004," and it is "the first fruit of our Review and Renew process," he told more than 1,000 faithful.
The diocesan head cautioned the faithful from rushing to implement the programmes to the extent that relationships were hurt or broken and that the spirit of personal and communal renewal has "to be maintained at all costs."
The launching was done a day after the diocese celebrated the 25th anniversary of her pastoral council, PAX. Both events were graced by the presence of the Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia, Archbishop Luigi Bressan, and of Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau.
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KK Bishop Calls On PAX To Review Its Existing Approach
PENAMPANG(CS).- The Pastoral Council of the Catholic Church of Sabah (PAX) needs to review its current centralised approach if it wishes to continue playing an essential role in the Church, said Bishop John Lee recently.
In line with the signs of the time as the world enters into the new millennium and the "existence of the Diocesan Organisational Pastoral Plan (DOPP), PAX will need to review its centralized approach," the bishop said in his address at the dinner reception in conjunction with the council's 25th anniversary Sept 15.
Recalling the early days of the council, the bishop said PAX was set up as a response to the transitory period the universal Church was going through due to the changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council as well as the political state of Sabah in the early 70s.
"It was through PAX that we were able to sail through the socio-pastoral and politico-economic circumstances of that time," the bishop said.
From the start, he continued, the council has adopted a centralized approach by playing the function of the highest parish council in helping parishes to solve their problems. PAX commissions were set up to coordinate the various church apostolates.
In the late 70s, the bishop added, "instead of tackling parish problems, the council initiated annual themes as a way to get the parishes to move together?With all good intention and sincerity, PAX moved on to be a forum for decision-making. It has become an institution that was synonymous with the Church in Sabah."
However, the diocesan head continued, the council found itself "marginalized" by the new situations of the late 80s when society became more sophisticated due to the advancement in science and technology.
"PAX was becoming less relevant and was uncertain of its course," the bishop said. "It was in such a situation that I called for a Review and Renew process in our diocese during the 1992 PAX Assembly."
The bishop warned the faithful that "the road ahead of us may be somewhat more difficult. Today we are faced with a world of relativism; everything is conditional and is subjected to its relation with others. Even the lordship of Jesus Christ could be compromised."
That being the case, he said, the Church needs to streamline PAX within the stipulations of Canon Law, in the context of the present realities of the Church as Communion.
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KK Diocese Celebrates Double Blessing
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Kota Kinabalu Diocese had a double celebration recently.
More than 1,000 faithful from the diocese converged at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here Sept 16 to witness the launching of their Diocesan Organisational Pastoral Plan (DOPP) while on the eve of that day (Sept 15), the Pastoral Council of the Catholic Church in Sabah (PAX) celebrated its silver jubilee.
The launching of the plan which contains the vision, mission, priorities and goal of the diocese was officiated by Bishop John Lee during the concelebrated Eucharistic celebration.
Among the concelebrants were Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Luigi Bressan, Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau and clergy from both dioceses.
The launching proper was conducted after Communion with the bishop giving a briefing on the process and significance of the pastoral planning.
He then pressed a button that activated a machine which slowly elevated a replica of the encased in a glass box. Soon after, scores of colourful shredded papers were blown to the air and the faithful responded with thunderous applause.
The Vision was then read followed by a recitation of the Mission Statement as well as a prayer of thanksgiving and guidance. The Pastoral Plan was distributed to all the parish priests in the diocese, chairpersons of the parish councils, heads of religious congregations and other dignitaries.
The bishop and the apostolic delegate gave their respective exhortations before the final blessing.
A pre-launching of the DOPP was conducted on the afternoon of Sept 15 at the Catholic Pastoral Centre (CPC), Penampang.
It started with a Bible Enthronement followed by a reflection by the bishop, a video show on the first and second Diocesan Pastoral Planning Workshops (DPPW), sharing by a few people and a talk by Fr Manny Guazon of the Philippines.
In the evening PAX celebrated its silver jubilee with a dinner reception at the Putra Theatre Ballroom, Bukit Padang, attended by more than 1,000 people, included the apostolic delegate.
Aside from the usual speeches and cake-cutting, a slides show on PAX history was shown, followed by tokens appreciation presentation to present and former PAX Board of Directors and the launching of the DOPP theme song cassette. Various youth groups and The Dreamers entertained the guests with stage performances.
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Bishop Lauds New Priest's Father During Ordination Rite
LIMBANAK, PENAMPANG(CS).- Bishop John Lee praised the father of newly ordained Fr Simon Koutou for having "a heart for the Church eventhough he is not a Catholic" during the ordination Mass recently.
"I am proud of the responsive attitude shown by Simon's father. He is not a baptized person yet he has responded generously to God's call by letting go of his son to the service of the Church," the bishop said in direct reference to Kontou Loujim during the Sept 1ceremony at St Aloysius' Church here to more than 1,000 faithful who attended it.
The neo-ordained and his father were in tears when they hugged each other during the sign of peace.
Kontou, third and youngest child of Loujim from Kg Duvanson, Putatan, has a brother, Patrin, and a sister, Anna, who were both present. He is the eighth priest from Penampang but the first to be ordained at St Aloysius.
Baptised in 1969, the neo-ordained received the Sacrament of Confirmation in 1984 before attending the vocation seminar in December that same year. He joined in a vocation retreat two years later.
He entered the aspirancy at the Catholic Diocesan Centre, Penampang, under the late Fr Jan van der Salm from May to December 1987. He had his seminary formation at St Peter's College Kuching from 1988 to 1996. He served at St Dominic's parish before and after his deaconate ordination and where he will continue to serve after his priestly ordination.
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