DOPP Implementation Is Ongoing, Says Bishop
PENAMPANG(CS).- Kota Kinabalu Diocese has started implementing its Diocesan Organisational Pastoral Plan (DOPP) which was launched recently, said Bishop John Lee.
According to the seven-year plan launched Sept 16, the Pastoral Council of the Catholic Church (PAX) and the Catholic Pastoral Centre (CPC) are currently being re-oriented and strengthened.
PAX is being reviewed by a team led by Vicar General Msgr Primus Jouil and CPC by another team headed by Fr Francis Tsen. Both groups are expected to present their working paper to the DOPP Core Group Dec 9.
Meanwhile circulars on the roles and functions of parish DOPP committees in conjunction with the upcoming parish pastoral planning workshop have been sent to the parishes.
Each parish is expected to organize activities to ensure that the vision and mission of the diocese are known and digested by all the faithful.
In a related development, all 500 copies of the English version of the DOPP book were sold out after it was launched and a reprint has been made. The Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Kadazandusun versions are expected to be out soon.
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Don Bosco Home Assists Hundreds Of Children
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- Hundreds of students from poor background in and around here have benefited from the assistance offered by the Don Bosco Children's Home.
Established in 1966 by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC), the home has gone a way from its humble beginning.
It started by becoming a shelter for a two-week-old baby and five children but as time went on, more and more children made it their home.
"The small premises became a home for orphans, poor children or those coming from broken families," said Mill Hill Br Benedict Snoeren, overall in-charge of the home.
He said as the number of children grew it became necessary to solicit funds. The home then started to receive all kinds of donations from government agencies, the private sector, clubs, associations, hotels and generous individuals.
Now the home has two major buildings complete with a dining hall, two classrooms, kitchen and rooms for staff and visitors.
To cater for the needs of the children, Sekolah Rendah Don Bosco was established nearby.
"Today, we have 91 children including 59 girls," said Snoeren, "some are as young as three years old while the oldest are in secondary schools."
Financialwise, he said, continue to come but "they are never enough because the number of children keeps going up and as they grow their needs also grow."
One of the latest donations came from the Adventist Relief and Development Agency, a non-governmental body from Japan.
The donation amounting to RM9,380 was presented to the home by the Japanese General Consul for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, Dr Teruo Kamihigashi.
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CDC Bookstore, Library Open To All
PENAMPANG(CS).- Thinking of buying or reading spiritual books? Try the Catholic Diocesan Centre.
Located at Taman Hiburan along Jalan Penampang, the centre houses among others a bookstore and a library.
"We have been selling books and other religious articles for quite some time," said a spokesperson, "however, not many people know about it."
The store has all kinds of certificates: baptism, confirmation, first holy communion, marriage as well as registration books for baptism, confirmation , funeral and Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), she said.
She also said the store has bibles, Code of Canon Law, Khabar Gembira, Catechism of the Catholic Church and other titles as well. It also sells small and big paschal candles with a selling price of RM150 and RM300 respectively.
The library, on the other hand, has a wide range of English and BM books, publications, videos and cassettes.
"Like the bookstore, we are open during office hours six days a week," the spokesperson continued, "all are welcome but unlike other libraries, the books are for research and reading only in the library, not for lending out."
Apart from the bookstore and library, the centre houses the Bishop's Office, PAX Secretariat, Catechetical and Youth Commissions, Campus Ministry and Catholic Sabah offices and the Diocesan Archives.
For further information, call 088-712297 or 724305.
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