SHC Leaders To Focus On Reachout, Family And Faith Formation In Next Two Years
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- Members of the Parish Pastoral Councils (PPC) and groups/committees of Sacred Heart Cathedral (SHC) and its subparishes of Church of Immaculate Conception (CMI) and St Simon (SSC) unanimously agreed to focus on three main areas in the next two years during their discernment weekend.
The areas concerned were a) reaching out to the 80 percent of parishioners who are not actively involved in parish activities, b) family life issues and c) faith formation.
The weekend held Aug 30-Sept 2, organised by the PPC, saw around 170 participants coming from the 16 main groups/communities/committees of the parish, including the rector and his assistants.
Aside from the organisers (PPC SHC, CMI and SSC), the other groups/committees were Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community (LJCCC), Neocatechumenal Community, Prayer Groups (three languages), Legion of Mary (LOM), Catholic Women's League (CWL), Catechetical Committee, Liturgical Committee, Alpha, Christian Family Life, Biblical Apostolate, Youth (LifeLine, LifeTeen, Kasih Belia Hati Kudus) Chinese Group, BM (K3IKA) Group and the Filipino Community.
In his homily during the Opening Mass Aug 31, Bishop John Lee exhorted the participants to be open to the leading of the Spirit and to learn from each other.
In his keynote address, Vicar General cum Rector Msgr Primus Jouil said that he was glad that "our parish family is made up of many different groups, coming from different background, language and culture but belonging to one body in Christ."
He said that this was an "asset" to the parish for "we are enriched by the varieties of gifts and talents possessed by the individual parishioners."
However, he said, "to date we have not fully succeeded to enhance these many gifts for the benefit of our parish" and that the discernment weekend is "especially geared" to unite them so that "we may fully use" these God-given potentials.
Toward the end of the address, Jouil lamented the dearth of priestly and religious vocations from the parish.
"Why is our parish not producing enough priests and religious to respond to these needs of our parish in particular and of our diocese as a whole? There are many good families with well-educated children in our parish. Why are we not getting priests and religious from these families? Why do we depend on other parishes to supply us priests and religious?" he asked.
The first day was taken up with sharings by members of the LJCCC, Neocatechumenal and Prayer Group on family life, followed immediately by group sharing and reporting.
The second day zeroed into the parish family with powerpoint presentations by the PPC members and how each group/community/committee can play its part to make the parish move as one, following the Diocesan Vision.
The day ended with a reconciliation session (with individual confession) for all the participants.
On the last day the participants charted the direction for the parish and came up unanimously with the three areas of concern for the next two years.
The weekend was spiritually enhanced by the prayer sessions prepared by the different groups before each session.
But the Lord also sent a very strong message to the participants through the liturgical readings that weekend that "one must be ready for His coming at any time" and concretised this when one of the participants collapsed suddenly and had to be admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) Friday night.
Thankfully he got through - it was a sobering experience for all.
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Ecumenical Group Reviews Its Partnership
Members of the Sabah-Heilbronn Ecumenical Partnership reviewed its partnership terms Aug 19 at the Rumah Retret Keuskupan Keningau (RRKK), Tatal here.
The participants, 13 from Heilbronn, Germany, and 34 from Sabah, met to discuss the future of the partnership. The Germans arrived Aug 10 and left Aug 27.
"We want to further explore, develop and share the concept of partnership between the Germans and Sabahans. We hope this visit will accelerate the progress of our partnership through venturing into other forms of exchange," Local Ecumenical Committee Chairman Dominic Lim told Daily Express Aug 10.
This was picked up by Pastor Jorg Kohler-Schunk, 52, leader of the Protestant Church delegation when he presented his paper Perspectives and Limits of Partnership to the group.
"We wanted to find new objectives for our partnership committee. And we thought in three directions:
1) how we could involve more people in our congregations in the partnership and confront them with the partnership theme;
2) whether the partnership can be more than visiting each other - how we can fulfill the objective to participate in each other's life;
3) and we want to deepen the relationship and togetherness of Cahtolics and Protestants - to fill the confessional gap."
The partnership started in 1982 when an ecumenical study group from Heilbronn visited Sabah led by Dr Karl Rennstich, a Protestant missionary formerly serving the Rungus community in Kudat and Werner Reiter, the Executive Secretary of the Catholic Centre for Educational Work.
Rennstich was then attached to the Office of Mission and Ecumenical Relations of the Protestant Church in Heilbronn.
Two years later, Christians from Sabah reciprocated the Germans' gesture by visiting Heilbronn to participate in a Mission Festival.
So for the next four years there were reciprocal visits by both sides every two years until 1990 when the partnership was signed.
Lim said the partnership was sealed on 18 Aug 1990 when a provisional agreement was signed between Bishop Thu En Yu of Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) and the Evangische Kirchenbezirk Heilbronn, represented by Mr Gerhard Berroth, president of the District Synod.
"On the following day (Aug 19), Bishop John Lee of the Catholic Diocese of Kota Kinabalu and Dean Mohler of the Catholic Deanery of Heilbronn also signed a Charter of Partnership," Lim continued.
However, Lim said, the Ecumenical Committee on the Partnership (presently led by him) was only set up in Sabah on 28 Feb 2003, comprising four Catholics (two each from KK and Keningau Dioceses), two from BCCM and two from Protestant Church of Sabah (PCS).
"The role and function of this committee is to continue promoting the partnership in the three churches, to handle all activities related to the ecumenical visits and to share information relating to the churches in both countries," Lim explained.
Out of the review, the participants decided to study deeper the possibility of having one charter incorporating both agreements, to have a students exchange programme and to set up a common website for information exchange.
Bishop Cornelius Piong also presented a reflection on the theme during the review.
While here, the Germans stayed with host families in KK (Aug 10-13), Tuaran, Keningau and Sandakan (Aug 14-18) and in Kudat (Aug 23-25).
They also went to Bundu Tuhan and Ranau (Aug 21-23).
Stella Maris Parish hosted the farewell fellowship for the visitors (five Catholics, including one Daughter of Charity and a priest, and eight Lutherans) Aug 26 during which Bishop John Lee, Msgr Primus Jouil and Rector Fr Fundes Motiung were present.
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Ethnic And Religious Tensions Are On The Rise
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia
On this auspicious day when we celebrate the 49th anniversary of our nation's Independence, we, the Catholic Bishops of Malaysia invite all Malaysians, regardless of religious or ethnic backgrounds to give thanks to Almighty God for having blessed Malaysia and its people with comparatively good peace, prosperity and political stability.
The favourable circumstances under which Malaysians live today stand out in stark contrast to the conditions under which other countries find themselves experiencing as a result of natural disasters, occupation by foreign forces, ethno-religious conflicts leading to loss of innocent lives, irresponsible leadership by corrupt and power-crazed leaders, all of which have contributed towards continuing widespread poverty. Indeed, we in Malaysia have much reason to give thanks to Almighty God for relative harmonious ethnic relations and a government that is trying its best to eradicate corruption.
Nonetheless, it is opportune on this day to reflect over some negative trends which are occuring and which might quite suddenly undermine our precious peace and prosperity.
First, we are concerned that ethnic and religious tensions are on the rise. This is compounded by an emerging conflict between two competing legal jurisdictions - the syariah and civil courts - surrounding several well-published court cases recently. The situation has been exploited by several unscrupulous people who have taken the opportunity to project exclusivist, rather than inclusivist, agendas. We believe, now, more than ever before, is a time for dialogue of peoples of different faiths and cultures though clearly, this dialogue must be conducted with honesty, sensitivity and respect for one another. Now, more than ever too, the supremacy of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion for all, should be safeguarded.
Second, there are also indications that corruption and more generally 'money politics' is on the rise. We are much encouraged by the initiative taken by the Prime Minister to promote greater transparency and good governance via a National Integrity Plan, and his instructions to the civil service to serve all Malaysians speedily, efficiently and fairly. We support the PM's initiative to establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission and also look forward to his bringing to a close several court cases against important personalities which are already ongoing.
Finally, we are also concerned that while the country is growing prosperous, there remain and have emerged new groups of Malaysians (not to mention foreign workers in our midst) who have benefited little, even found themselves marginalised, from this economic growth. We welcome especially those parts of the Ninth Malaysia Plan which address the plight of the poor and needy in Malaysia. We further call upon all Malaysians, not least Christians, to personally lend a helping hand to these fellow Malaysians regardless of colour or creed. We are, after all, part of the same human family.
We invite all Catholics to pray during this month of Merdeka celebrations that God will touch the minds and hearts of all Malaysians to value integrity and honesty in their work and respect and accept one another as brothers and sisters irrespective of their race, culture or religion.
May God's light guide our leaders to be wise and just, responsible and incorruptible. And may Almighty God continue to bless our land and people.
Most Rev Murphy Pakiam DD President
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Diversity In Unity
Christian Federation of Malaysia
In conjunction with the 49th anniversary of our National Day, 31 August 2006, the Executive Committee of the Christian Federation of Malaysia issues this special message.
Once again, with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts, we join our fellow Malaysians in celebrating our 49th National Day. We offer our prayers of thanksgiving to our Almighty God for blessing our nation with growth, progress and stability over the years, which have brought great benefit and prosperity to many.
The earth has yielded its increase; God has blessed us (Ps 67:6)
The spirit of Merdeka, first uttered 49 years ago, continues to be our inheritance and aspiration as a nation today.
When our nation became independent from colonial power, the various ethnic and religious communities came together to pledge to build a united and resilient nation, where the invaluable contribution of each community in the service of all, would be recognised and appreciated.
Where will we be today, if not for the hardwork, sacrifice and fraternity of our people and leaders, committed to build a Malaysia for all Malaysians?
Therefore, on our National Day, we shall celebrate our "diversity in unity" built on the foundation of our Rukunegara.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interest of others (Phil 2:4).
The concept of independence is also very closely linked to the more powerful concept of "human freedom."
The National Constitution, our document of destiny, was ingeniously crafted by our founding fathers to not only reflect the diversity of our nation but also to protect the essential element interwoven into all human rights which is freedom.
The fundamental liberties guaranteed to every citizen are spelt out in over 20 articles in our constitution.
Merdeka should continue to assure that every citizen in our country shall live in freedom and enjoy a quality of life that shall not be hampered by fear, threat or restrictions.
It is the responsibility of all families to nurture their children to cherish the spirit of Merdeka, so that our nation will continue to be strong.
There are daunting challenges ahead for our nation. It will require the commitment and aspiration of all. We must face the challenges that threaten our freedom; cultivate the common moral ground that can nourish our mutual relations; and reaffirm shared common values that can sustain responsible and meaningful encounters and dialogue even in the most difficult of circumstances.
As churches we pledge our loyalty to the nation and commit ourselves to the work that will preserve and promote the spirit of Merdeka to our sons and daughters.
In our prayers we uphold the king and the sultans, the government and the people, and seek God's blessings to be on all. In raising the Jalur Gemilang, we stand side-by-side our fellow Malaysians and proudly celebrate our multi-ethnic, multi-religious Malaysia; a blessed country where justice and peace shape our destiny.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other (Ps 85:10).
Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing sj
Chairman
and members of the Executive Committee,
30 August 2006
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Know Your PPC Members
INANAM PPC, Nemesius Galis (chairman), Joannes Gubud (vice chairman), Dorin Peter (secretary), Amelia Laukang, Sylvester Laukang, Augustine Gurud, Jackson Poilis, Marcell David, Michael K Guntili, Charles Andrew Gitan, Frankie Chung, Felix James, Jeffrey Ubin, Elon Setambul, Ignatius Kaladius, Alice Dosis, Lorina V Mojingal, Alice Toiloh
TELIPOK PPC Albert Lim (chairman), Richard Tonduba (vice chairman), Helda Olivia Kunau (secretary), Mary Chung (asst secretary), Vitus Angun, Fresca Lijawa, Regina Chiu, Alice Wong, Helena Rinau Antis, Anthonia J Bulot, Lawrence Kimkuan, David Yong, Henry Chiu, Steven Chong, Justin Barumban, Arthur Peter, Clement Yong, Siena Ajing, Robin Lo, Sr Mary Dolores fsic
KUDAT PPC Simon Lai (chairman), Eusebius Piong (vice chairman), Illibin Kumpau (BM secretary), , Pauline Chong (Chinese secretary), William Wong (treasurer), John Voo, Philemon Emmilianus, Jinidi Omok, Michael Lo, Matthew Lo, Dr Angeline Cheong, Lucas Yong
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