RCSCMSB Looks East For Leadership
KENINGAU(CS).- In an unprecedented move, the members of the regional communication commission voted to look east for its new team leadership recently. It seemed quite natural since Kuala Lumpur (KL) has been heading this commission for more than two decades.
The Regional Commission for Social Communications Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (RCSCMSB) elected Mr John Lainsin of Keningau Diocese to head the regional commission at the end of its annual meeting June 26-27 held at the Rumah Retret Keuskupan Keningau (Keningau Diocesan Retreat House), Tatal, here.
What served to make it more historical was that for the first time in RCSCMSB's history, there was a near full attendance by nine members of the commission representing the arch/dioceses in the region.
Present were Archbishop Murphy Pakiam (president, RSCSMSB), E Samson (outgoing chairperson), Sr Theresa Lim fsp (outgoing secretary), Lawrence John (KL Archdiocese, president of Signis Asia), Fr Peter Ng (Melaka-Johor Diocese), Fr Andrew Tan (Sibu Diocese), Fr Richard Ng and Ms Stella Chin (Kuching Archdiocese), Mr Philip Layok Saging (Miri Diocese), Sr Anna Yap fsp (Kota Kinabalu Diocese), Fr Johnson Fernandez (Singapore Archdiocese), Fr Robert Leong (Brunei Apostolic Vicariate) and Sr Rosalie Lojiu fsp (Daughters of St Paul).
There was no representative from Penang although an invitation was sent to the diocese.
Three lay observers: Benedict Topin and Irene Obon of KK Diocese and Ludwig Bertudin of Brunei Vicariate were present as well.
The meeting was enriched by the presence of Bishop Cornelius Piong who presided over the Opening Mass and gave the welcome address, and that of Mr Augustine Loorthusamy, president of Signis World.
Signis is the World Catholic Association for Communication, born in 2001 of a merger of UNDA and OCIC, two associations operative in the field of radio-television and cinema-audiovisuals respectively, since 1928.
Chairperson Samson,60, said it was time to step down after being at the helm for 27 years.
Samson, together with Fr Laurent Le Guen, then parish priest of St Joseph's Church, Sentul, pioneered the communication ministry in the Peninsular Church in 1967 with much faith and determination despite encountering misunderstandings from both the hierarchy and lay people alike.
The modern Cahayasuara Communications Centre in KL (completed in 1997) stands proudly as a testimony to his vision, faith and determination.
Lainsin, 49, hails from Membakut. He has been involved with church activities since his youth. He took a course in catechetics and church music in Indonesia from 1977-1983 and since then has been involved with the running of the Keningau Catechetical Centre and in 1993, the Diocesan Social Communication Commission (DSCC).
At their meeting in KL last year, RCSCMSB members agreed to the suggestion of Archbishop Pakiam to meet in Keningau, as a way of "looking east."
This came about because the archbishop felt that it was time to look into the communication programmes (particularly radio programmes) that would help strengthen the bumiputera Church as the native Catholic population in East Malaysia (Kadazandusuns and Muruts in Sabah; Ibans, Bidayuhs and Dayaks in Sarawak) is more numerous and far flung.
This was picked up during the two-day Keningau meet, resulting in not recommending the only Signis project application submitted by KL for the funding of Signis Media Awards for good programmes done by professionals in secular media, to be organised by East Malaysia. It was proposed that this project be undertaken by East Malaysia.
However, the East Malaysian members were not prepared for this. In lieu of this, Fr Peter Ng suggested to them that they form a joint committee to look into this, especially the radio apostolate, as most of the villages can only be reached by radio.
After dinner video programmes produced by Signis World and Signis Indonesia were screened for the RCSCMSB and DSCC members to view and comment.
The second day was taken up by the meeting proper where members reported on various activities carried out in their respective arch/dioceses, especially on World Communications Day; briefings on assemblies/meetings attended, with the highlight on the election of the office bearers - chairperson and secretary - for 2006-2008.
While Lainsin was elected chairperson, Yap was elected secretary.
Depending on the situation, RCSCMSB members agreed to meet either in KK or Kuching in June next year.
In his closing remarks, Pakiam thanked Samson for his services in the social communications apostolate, and Lim for having served as secretary for two terms.
The event closed with a Mass presided over by the archbishop, followed by a fellowship meal and cultural presentations by some youths.
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LJCCC Organises Inner Healing Seminar For Married Couples
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- Around 18 couples, six singles and one teenager participated in the first inner healing and transformation seminar for married couples organised by the Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community June 22-25 at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre here.
Among the participants, many of them young couples, were some from Kuala Lumpur, Tawau, Kunak and Brunei. The 13 children who came along were looked after by Margaret Lee and their laughter was often heard during the sessions.
The facilitators led the participants to discover through a series of inputs, exercises and sharings the original plan of God for marriage, the obstacles to it and the need for inner healing and transformation of one's psycho-emotional-spiritual make-up and attitudes.
Time was given for counselling - single or couple - and as usual, there was not enough time for all in need of it. Evaluating this, the facilitators decided to give more time to this the next time around.
Frs John Wong and David Sham generously took time out to celebrate Mass and listen to the confessions of the participants.
Aside from the Prayer Walk with Jesus (alone), the facilitators led the participants through an inner healing session before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, followed by a Praying-Over (empowering) the next day.Instead of spontaneous sharing from the participants, they were asked to write down their experiences which is one way of owning and deepening their experiences.
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Know Your PPC Members
KK(CS).- PPC SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL: Melissa Nicholas Palikat, Monica Mak (Secretary), Anita Tunggolou, Anni Anthony, Sr Rita Chew fsic (Ex-Officio), Catherine Wan, Peter Thien, Thomas Chong (Treasurer), Damien Lee (Chairman), Leon Lim, John Chan, Christopher Voo (Vice Chairman), Teresa Tong Morais, Vivien Rajah, Catherine Yong, Dr Jeffrey Soon, John Ho, Rayner Anjumal.
PPC CHURCH OF MARY IMMACULATE: Victoria Voon (Secretary), Patrick Chin (Vice Chairman), Michael Chung (Chairman), Paul Lee (Treasurer), Sr Maggie Chong fsp (Ex-Officio), Joan Phang, David Limus, Arthur Lim, David Ho, William Chen, William Tham, John Bagiu, Louis Liew, Betty Chong.
PPC ST SIMON: Winnie Voo Kual, Patrick Mak (Treasurer), Matthew Chong, Fr Nicholas Ong, Dtk Terence Chong (Chairman), Sr Teresa Chye rgs (Ex-Officio), Vera Chin (Secretary), Ronald Chung, William Chai, James Tan Mackinjal, Thomas EB Lee, Murphy Victor Wong, Gerard Yee, Johnny Pingguan.
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Bundu Kuala Penyu Celebrates Golden Jubilee
BUNDU KUALA PENYU(CS).- Parishioners of St Peter Bundu Kuala Penyu celebrated their parish golden jubilee July 1 quietly but joyously.
The day dawned fair and bright although it rained heavily the previous day.
In his homily, Bishop Cornelius Piong lamented the sad fact that although the parish is now 50 years old, with a beautiful church and parish hall, it has not been so fruitful vocationwise.
There are only two priests - Bishop himself and Fr Boniface Kimsin - and four religious sisters: Srs Rita Chew fsic, Imelda Angang fsic, Maria Thomas Pusing fsic and Terry Magretha Andrew Apin pkarm who answered the call to serve the Lord as priests and religious. They all came for the celebration.
After Communion the bishop declared open the celebration by clicking on the powerpoint presentation on the parish history.
Concelebrating with the bishop and Rector Fr Benedict Daulis were Msgr Gilbert Engan, Fr William Poilis, Fr Lazarous Uhin and Fr Thomas Makajil of KK Diocese.
Makajil had served the parish from 1978-1982; Poilis 1982-85, 2005-present; Engan 1994-99; Uhin 1999-2001; and Daulis since 2000.
Present for the occasion were FSIC Mother General Sr Grace Deosing and some members of her congregation, some Putri Karmel Sisters and CSE Brothers.
According to parish rector Fr Benedict Daulis, the preparation for the celebration started June 17 with Mass, friendly matches among the different communities and the return of the three-foot statue of St Peter Apostle to the main church.
The next day, June 18, there were children's colouring competition and blood donation campaign.
Catechesis on the occasion took place on June 29 and 30 during Mass. There was also song composition competition on June 30 which netted only five entries.
A reconciliation ceremony was also organised as part of the preparation but only five out of the ten outstations took this up.
The different outstations, St Valentine Beaufort and the Sunduver Community Penampang took part in the programme after the Mass.
The winners of the song composition competition entertained the guests as well, among whom was Bishop's 78-year-old mother.
The parish displayed some of its publications published through the years, including a comic book, in the hall.
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How The Mission Started In Bundu Kuala Penyu
When the first priests arrived in Labuan in 1881, they must have seen the beautiful white beaches of Klias Peninsula, just a few miles across the eastern part of the island.
No wonder then that one of them went to have a look there. In the northern part of the peninsula he found a fairly large group of people who called themselves Tatana. He thought them to be quite religious. Their adat (tradition) being a mixture of the Dusun and Chinese religions. Would they not be eager to listen to the Good News and accept Christ? Father Benedict Pundleiter thought they would.
In 884, he came to live among them. He built a small house at Kg Bundu, a small village some four miles from Kuala Penyu.
It is so easy to write about that now, sitting in an office behind a typewriter, but how difficult it must have been for that first priest, and how strange it must have been for the people to see this man from another country, telling them about God, a God who is a loving Father, One who cares, and showed that especially in sending Jesus Christ.
What were their first reactions? There was a small group of young people who eagerly listened to Father and asked for instruction, and later for baptism. The first to be baptised was a certain Marcus Umber.
It was a good beginning, but the group remained small, and not much progress was made. Moreover, the people lived in a very isolated area, and was not very large.
There was a greater need elsewhere, in more populated areas. It must have been a sad day for Pundleiter when he had to tell his group that he had to leave them, and that no priest would stay with them any longer. He urged them to remain faithful to Christ and His Teaching, and to keep contact, especially when they would go to Labuan, the nearest place for them in these days.
"One day priests will return and stay with you," were his last words. He divided the few possessions he had among them, and then left.
What would happen to this small band of young Christians left alone?
Is it not wonderful to see now how these few people remained faithful to Christ?
There was no priest visiting them any longer to teach them or to bless their marriages. There was no body to celebrate Mass with them and to bring them Christ in the sacraments.
Occasionally, only some of them went to Labuan and then visit the church or meet the priest there. The last two to be baptised in 1900 in Labuan were Mr Peter Tananak, the great-grandfather of Msgr Cornelius Piong, and his younger brother, Mr Bernard Onggong.
But the Christians of Bundu, so left alone, never stopped asking for priests to return. They never stopped either to keep the Good News of Christ alive in their families and among their friends.
Finally, in 1930, Msgr Wachter went to visit this small community in Bundu. It was quite a journey to get there in those days. One had to go by train to Membakut and from there leave by rowingboat, going down the Membakut River and then over sea to Kuala Penyu. It took more than a day. The night-stop was on the beach, at Kuala Binsuluk.
How pleasantly surprised Wachter must have been on this first visit to Bundu. He found still several of these early Christians. And with them were their wives or husbands, children and relatives, asking for instruction and for baptism.
The faith have been kept alive all these long years. Mr Peter Tananak had been their leader and he was to be their first catechist.
After that first visit of Wachter, Bundu became an outstation and priests regularly visited the place.
Some young and promising lads went along with the priests to receive their education in Penampang or Limbahau. The late Mr Matthew Hunggim and Mr Bernard Sanggang were the most well-known of that group.
In 1956, Bundu got its first resident priest again. Father Gerard Preyde came to live among them, and the following year Fr Jan van der Salm joined him. Their work has been made so much easier because of the faith of these early Christians, and because of the good and great work of such people as Mr Matthew Hunggim, for so many years a zealous catechist and teacher, and Mr Bernard Sanggang, a dedicated teacher for over 25 years.
The priests had returned, but that Bundu is such a flourishing Catholic community is sure due, next to the grace of God, to the spirit of which in spite of great difficulties, was kept alive by the people of Bundu themselves, especially through their own leaders.
For these I praise and thank God. This small community has given Fr Cornelius Piong and Srs Rita and Imelda to the Church of Sabah. We hope and pray that more will be called and be generous to accept their call.
There is not much to say about such a common thing as a plate. But in Bundu a plate is an exception.
On one of my first trips to a village near Menumbuk, I stayed overnight in the house of Mr Ambrose Kumandu, son of the first Christian of Bundu, Mr Marcus.
When makan time came, I was served rice on a plate. After having worked my way through the generous portion of rice, I saw that the plate was very different from the others.
I turned it round and saw "Made in Holland" on the back, with the name of the factory.
"How did you get this plate?" I asked Kumandu.
He told me the story.
"This plate is the last thing left behind from the household belongings of Fr Pundleiter. My father gave it to me to keep. 'You are not allowed to use it,' he told me. 'But one day, priests will return to Bundu, and when one happens to visit you and eat in your house, use this plate for him.'"
And every time a priest visits Kumandu, the plate is taken from the box and used, and then carefully put back again in the box, waiting for the visit of another priest. It is the only small thing left from the early days.
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Fr Preyde Dies At 87
Father Gerard Preyde mhm died peacefully at the Nicholas Nursing Home, Lutjebroek, Holland, June 27 at age 87.
Preyde, second of ten children of Gerard Preyde and Anna Komen, was born on 21 June 1919 at Anna Paulowna in the diocese of Haarlem.
After primary school Preyde went to Hoorn for his secondary education. In 1937 he moved to Haelen for the final two years of secondary education and because of the war, he stayed on in Haelen for his philosophy.
In 1939 he did his theology in Roosendaal. He took his Perpetual Missionary Oath on 18 May 1944 and was ordained priest in Roosendaal on 9 Dec 1945.
After ordination he served as assistant parish priest in Langeraar Parish, Zuid-Holland Province.
He received his mission appointment to British North Borneo (now Sabah) in 1947 where he served until 2001.
In Sabah he served as:
Principal, St Michael Penampang (1947)
Principal, Limbahau Mission School (1950)
Principal, St Michael Penampang (1953)
Principal, Kuala Penyu Mission School (1956)
Bishop's Secretary (1963)
Rector, Minor Seminary, Jesselton (1966)
Principal, St Michael Penampang (1972)
Rector, St John Tuaran (1976)
Rector, St Dominic Lahad Datu (1981-2001)
MHM Society Representative (many years)
MHM Chapter Delegate (1982)
Retirement in Holland
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CFC Celebrates Silver Jubilee
MANILA(CS).- The Couples for Christ (CFC) celebrated its silver jubilee of foundation June 20-26 in Manila, Philippines.
The CFC, a lay association for Christian couples wishing to deepen their faith by helping one another to revive their relationship with the Lord and to allow themselves to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, was established in Manila in 1981 by Frank Padilla.
Within a few years, the association was recognised by the Philippine Bishops' Conference, and its new approach to evangelisation spread in the parishes as a programme for the renewal of family life.
On 11 March 2000, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of CFC as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right.
The association has some 980,600 members and is present in 135 countries, including Malaysia and Brunei.
Thousands of delegates went for the jubilee celebrations in Manila including 20 delegates from Sabah and Brunei.
Anita Gimfil, one of the Sabahan delegates, said: "What touched our hearts most is to see what CFC is really doing especially through Gawad Kalinga ("to give love out of care"). Here we are not just talking about renewing the surface of the earth through evangelisation but through real acts of love...Our hosting families did plan well our trip and purpose there for they brought us right to the GK sites/projects, where over the years they have turned slums into beautiful, peaceful and productive communities and where even Muslims and Christians can live side by side, rebuilding the ruins of war that broke out several years ago in certain places in Mindanao."
Gimfil said that GK started in Bagong Silang in 1996 through the Ancop International Foundation, a work that has now spread to 300 sites in the Philippines and in five areas abroad.
"On 4 Oct 2003, GK launched GK777 - the vision to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years. The work that began as a Christian response to the needs of the poor has now become a massive multi-sectoral effort to rebuild a nation," Gimfil added.
Among the activities carried during the jubilee celebration were an international gathering of clergy (June 20), social ministries congress (June 21), international mission congress, a gathering of all international, provincial, Metro Manila and CFC ministries elders (June 22), a ball during which the CFC Silverbook was launched (June 23), Family Ministries' Heads' Meeting (June 24), and a musicale (June 24).
The culmination was the Grand Anniversary Celebration held in the pouring rain at the Luneta Grandstand June 25, according to Delegate Sr Keyna Ginibun fsic.
A second 2006 general meeting of all provincial area heads and area council members was held the next day June 26.
Membership of CFC entails acceptance of the Christian Life Programme, a programme of instruction designed to impart to all members the essentials of the faith, helping them to rediscover the sense of their vocation to marriage and to renew their faithfulness to God daily, to their marriage vows and to their commitment to support one another.
CFC pursues its objectives through family pastoral programmes aimed at making the family a "domestic church" and through pastoral programmes attentive to the needs of the poor.
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MCSC Makes History With National Camp
KLUANG(HERALD).- After about a seven-year gap, the Malaysian Catholic Students' Council (MCSC) has managed to revive the National Camp and make history.
Forty student-leaders and campus ministers from the eight arch/dioceses in Malaysia participated in the National Camp 2006 (NC '06) - a first.
The camp, hosted by the Campus Ministry Office of the Melaka-Johor Diocese (CMOMJ), was held in Oasis, Kluang, June 8-21.
The aims of the camp were to enable the participants to (1) experience God's love for them and for humanity, (2) understand Malaysian realities through experiencing the lives of the poor and marginalised, and (3) discuss and to support each other in the challenges faced by Catholic students in the various campuses.
It was also an avenue for them to share their leadership skills, talents and ideas with their counterparts.
The first three days focused on "rediscovering God's Love," "realising One's Brokenness" and experiencing "God's Healing Love."
They were then divided into groups for a three-day exposure at various sites: Orang Asli in Labu, NS; urban poor in Rumah Panjang Jinjang; women plantation estate workers in Kapar, Selangor and Teluk Intan, Perak; Welcome Community Home in Rawang (AIDS patients and drug addicts rehabilitation centre) and the refugee camps in Klang Valley.
The exposure was to help the participants to feel and understand God's love for all and to realise how each can participate in God's mission as Catholic students.
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Clergy Assignments
Fr Paul Mikin, from St Francis Xavier's Cathedral Keningau to St Anthony Tenom & Mission Kemabong.
Fr Bonaventure Unting, from Holy Cross Toboh Tambunan to St Francis Xavier's Keningau & Mission Sook.
Fr Francis Dakun, from St Anthony Tenom & Mission Kemabong to St Francis Xavier's Cathedral Keningau & Mission Sook.
Fr Anthony Mikat, from Rome (studies) to Holy Cross Toboh Tambunan.
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Lok Yuk Wins Interschool Bible Quiz
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Out of nine secondary schools which took part in the 5th Interschool Christian Fellowship Bible Quiz June 17, Lok Yuk emerged as the winner for a second time.
The first time it won was in 2002.
The quiz was organised by twice- champion St Francis Convent (2001, 2005) at the All Saints Cathedral Glory Hall here.
Other participating schools were All Saints, Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Maktab Nasional, Maktab Sabah, St Michael, Tshung Tsin and Shan Tao.
Shan Tao Likas organised the first quiz in 2001 which was won by St Francis Convent (SFC).
The winning team then organised the following year's event.
The objectives of the bible quiz are: 1) to improve the students' knowledge of God through His Word; 2) to enable the students to live meaningful and faith-filled lives with God's Word as spiritual food; and 3) to strengthen the bond of love and friendship among Christian students as they journey together in faith, hope and love.
Lok Yuk won the 2002 quiz and organised the quiz in 2003. Apparently there was no winner in 2003 as there was no quiz organised in 2004.
SFC took up the baton to organise the quiz in 2005 which it won and so it became the organiser for this year's quiz.
Each school fielded in a team of four participants, some on the same year level, others from different years.
The event began with an opening prayer by Sr Carmen Cordova fsic.
There were four eliminating rounds: a) team effort (40 questions - general knowledge on the bible); b) individual answers; c) station challenge (team effort) and d) finals which decided which team would be the champion.
This year's quiz saw Lok Yuk taking the champion shield, SFC first runner-up and Maktab Sabah second runner-up.
Between the rounds were intermissions (skit, drama, song) by the participating schools.
The champion shield is sponsored by SFC Board of Management and each organising school's name is engrafted on the shield.
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