KK Diocese Hosts BICA II: The Migrant Family In Asia
KINARUT(CS Online).- For three full days, around 64 participants took part in the consultation on migrants and refugees organised by the Office for Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC-OHD) for the Bishops' Institute for Christian Advocacy (BICA II) at Borneo Paradise here Dec 5-7.
The participants (one cardinal, two archbishops, five bishops, 15 priests, two religious brothers, nine religious sisters and 31 lay people) came from Brunei, Cambodia, Geneva, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vatican and Vietnam.
The theme of the conference was The Migrant Family in Asia: Reaching Out and Touching Them.
After the Opening Eucharist presided over by Archbishop Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar, FABC-OHD Chairman, the participants listened to the welcome addresses by host Bishop John Lee of Kota Kinabalu and Archbishop Bo.
In his address Archbishop Bo highlighted the thrust of the conference:
"...by reaching out and touching the migrants and refugees, to be able to discern their stories and lives for the next three days, to discover the mystery of the God of Love and to find a place in the heart of humanity."
He expressed the hope that through this common journey the participants would be led to a "greater commitment to engendering a civilisation of love in the 21st century in the heart of Asia."
OHD Executive Secretary Brother Anthony Rogers then gave an overview of BICA II.
Christian Advocacy, Rogers said, is about active non-violence.
"It is not just about denunciation but about the task of creating new alternatives based on the values of the Gospel...Our focus on migrants and refugees and their families is for obvious reason that will lead us to address one of the most challenging social issues of today all over the world," he explained.
The reality of migrants and refugees in South East Asia was brought home to the participants by Alice Nah, Refugee Affairs Coordinator of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM), Kuala Lumpur.
Christine Yubong, Welfare Officer-Migrants and Refugees of the KL- AOHD, presented a paper on Sabahan and Asian migrants to West Malaysia.
Simon Sipaun, vice chairman of SUHAKAM, presented a paper on the Migrant Families in Sabah: Their Joys and Sorrows.
Dominic Lim, member of the KK Diocesan Human Development Committee, presented the contributing factors and impacts of Sabahans migrating to West Malaysia.
To order to deepen the understanding of the realities of migrants and refugees in Asia, the participants were divided into three working groups: South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal); East Asia (Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea) and the rest under South East Asia (41 participants!)
Representatives from organizations working directly with migrants and refugees such as Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Geneva and PAX Christi shared about the work.
The participants then worked on three workable lines of action for the next two years in their respective countries. The participants (from either sending or/and receiving churches) also had the chance to speak with their counterparts to discuss and come out with strategies for the future.
Five major points came out by way of conclusion: 1) contact persons on national level; 2) more information specific to migrants and refugees on website; 3) have a national Migration Sunday to create greater awareness on the issue; 4) get more lay people to be involved in the ministry and 5) greater collaboration among episcopal commssions to meet the challenges.
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Christ's Birth Brings Hope To The World Of Sin And Despair
PENAMPANG(CS Online).- Bishop Lee's Christmas Message - In his Christmas Message release Nov 20, Bishop John Lee highlighted the fact that Christ's birth brings hope to the world of sin and despair but lamented that Christmas is fast becoming secularised.
The following is the full text of his message:
"In one of the introductions to the Eucharistic celebration on Christmas Eve, it says, "Tonight we celebrate the birth of a Child who was to bring the joy of God's saving love to the whole world."
"Indeed, Christmas is a celebration of "the birth of a child," not any ordinary child but the One who "though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness" (Phil 2:6-7).
"That Child is Jesus, the Word of God, Emmanuel (meaning God-is-with-us), the Saviour of the world.
"That Child has no equals because "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:10-11).
"His birth brings hope to the world of sin and despair. His message is the saving love of God. He comes for every single person who walks on this earth, from creation to the end of the world.
"Sadly, in a world that is infested by consumerism and hedonism, Christmas is fast becoming secularised.
"Everything except Jesus is being promoted during Christmas season.
"As followers of Jesus, we need to stand up and counter such trend.
"For a start, we can stop patronising activities, products and services which form part of the commercialisation and secularisation of Christmas.
"In our process to rebuild and strengthen the Christian home, let us bring back Jesus into our Christmas celebration.
"Spouses need to invite Jesus into their relationship and responsibility as parents.
"Young people need to be helped to find Jesus in the glittering world of lights, sound and gadgets.
"Children should be told about the difference between the Christmas story and other fairy tales.
"Let us be courageous to uphold the essence of Christmas this year.
"Wishing you a blessed and happy Christmas!"
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Tawau Celebrates Catechetical Sunday
TAWAU(CS).- The catechetical celebration kicked off on Sept 15 with a powerpoint presentation during the Sunset Mass, followed by the screening of Tagalog family movie "Tanging Yaman" (Treasure) which left many parishioners in tears.
Most of the Sunday School students took active part in the Sunday BM Mass Sept 16 as commentator, readers, wardens, collectors and choir members.
Rector Father Cosmas Lee stressed in his homily that parents are the first catechists of their children and therefore they should set good example for them.
Before the concluding rite, 80 catechists from the main parish and outstations were comissioned for another year.
After Mass, various activites involving families were organised at the parish hall basement.
Some of the activities were poster drawing, straw making, clown make-up and figure making balloon.
Prizes were awarded to the respective family winners.
The parishioners were also entertained by a group of young talented singers, singing the World Youth Day theme song.
The programme ended with a potluck fellowship.
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Holy Trinity Revives Its Youth Movement
TAWAU(CS).- Holy Trinity Parish experienced a sort of revival of its youth movement August 11.
A group of single and married youth comprising past chairmen of the parish youth council came together to form the sub-committee of Belia Dewasa dan Belia Berkeluarga (BDBB) under the Tim Belia Paroki (TBP) with the aim of "creating an environment conducive for young adults (18 and above) to make the church their second home."
"After much discernment and preparation we decided the best way was to have a fellowship night to rekindle old and new comradeship with the theme First BDBB Fellowship with Jesus," said Mary Marclyne Rendal, head of the sub-committee.
Around 140 youths turned up for the fellowship.
Assistant Rector Father Thomas Madanan joined the fellowship as well.
The participants enjoyed the dinner, songs and spiritual games.
A questionnaire was distributed to the participants to enable the organisers to gauge the spiritual and communal needs of the youths.
The fellowship ended with Rendal giving a powerpoint presentation on the formation and aims of the BDBB.
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Tg Aru Celebrates A Decade Of Eucharistic Adoration Ministry
TANJUNG ARU(CS).- The Eucharistic Adoration Ministry of Stella Maris Church here marks its 10th anniversary December 8.
Bishop John Lee launched the perpetual adoration 10 years ago with the solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the fully air conditioned and carpeted Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
This was during the time when Father Francis Tsen was the rector.
Today, the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm every Monday to Saturday.
Members are from the various parishes of the Kota Kinabalu Diocese.
These parishioners signed up as adorers by committing themselves to spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament each week.
Every first Friday Mass at the Stella Maris Church is offered for their spiritual and temporal welfare.
"What is Eucharistic Adoration?" "What do you do during the adoration?"
Are these the questions you are asking?
As part of the celebration the ministry is organising a talk on the eucharistic adoration in the morning of Dec 8 (Sat). So come along to find out more and have all your questions answered.
The anniversary Mass will be held on the same day at 6:00 pm at the Stella Maris Church.
The ministry cordially invites every Catholic to participate in the celebration events and to commit an hour a week as an adorer.
Let us 'come to do Him homage' because the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is as real today as it was 2,000 years ago as an Infant.
For more information, please contact: Helen Ting @ 088-215130, Cindy Tsen @ 016-8175169 or Elizabeth Chia @ 012-8280409.
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SHC Senior Parishioners Visit St Paul's Chapel Kinarut
KINARUT(CS).- The Sacred Heart Chinese Pastoral Care Ministry under the leadership of Catherine and Charlie Chia organised a visit to St Paul's Chapel in Kinarut (Montfort Youth Training Centre) for the senior parishioners Oct 28.
Around 160 participants, including 30 from the English unit, took part in the outing.
Many of the seniors came with their family members, thus making it a fun-filled family outing.
After MYTC Director Brother Francis Chua welcomed the visitors, Mass was celebrated by Father Mark Tee.
Most of the participants have not lost their playfulness and took part in the games organised for them at the hall after some refreshments.
The visitors went briefly to the Lok Kawi Wild Life Centre before proceeding to town for lunch at a restaurant where Father Wilfred Atin joined them.
The transportation (four buses) was sponsored by YB Melanie Chia.
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SHC-EPG Organises Mass For PMR/SPM/STPM Students
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Around 1,000 students turned up for the Mass organised for PMR/SPM/STPM candidates Sept 21 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral by the Intercessory and Benevolent Ministries of the English Prayer Group.
The students came from the schools around Kota Kinabalu: Sabah College, SMK Putatan, SMK Bahang I, SM Lok Yuk Likas, SM Swasta Seri Insan Likas, SM Teknik Likas, SMK Sanzac, SM Konven St Francis, SM Stella Maris and SM La Salle.
Father Felix Chung presided over the Mass.
The Mass for those taking PMR/SPM/STPM is one of the activities organised by the Students' Fellowship Programme started in 2000 at St Simon Likas.
On 30 Nov 1999 then Rector Father Cosmas Lee suggested to the pastoral committee of St Simon to organise some church-related activities for the Catholic students studying around the area.
A sub-committee headed by Winnie Kual held its first meeting chaired by the rector on 24 March 2000.
Following the meeting, the first session for the students started on 7 July 2000 at the subparish hall. It was attended by around 60 students from SM Shan Tao and SMK Perempuan Likas.
On the programme were First Friday Mass and a wide range of topics centred on spiritual or moral issues, praise and worship, bible quiz on the fourth Friday.
As examination time came nearer a Mass was organised to encourage the candidates sitting for the three major government exams.
In 2002 Catherine Lee-Moey took over when Kual was transferred to SM Konven St Francis as principal.
The venue for the fellowship moved to Sacred Heart Parish Centre in 2006 due to the increased number of students joining in.
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Vocation Retreat Nets 32 Participants
BUNDU TUHAN(CS).- Around 32 young men from all over Sabah participated in the annual vocation retreat for the diocesan priesthood at the retreat centre here Oct 19-21.
Inputs were given by Father Bonaventure Unting and Deacon Gilbert Lasius. Some IY students and aspirants also shared their vocation stories.
After the personal interview, seven participants were accepted to undergo the English Year 2008 at the Catholic Diocesan Centre Penampang.
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Messages For CS' Golden Jubilee
Message from the Editor (Msgr Primus Jouil)
Since the August issue of our monthly paper, we have been making a review of the past, the present and giving glimpses of what is to come in the immediate future.
There had been more than 10 editors since the first issue of Catholic Sabah was published in Penampang 50 years ago. Our paper has recorded many historic events of the Catholic Church. They include the Vicariate of Kota Kinabalu being raised to the dignity of a diocese in 1976, the installations of Bishop Simon Fung in 1977 and Bishop John Lee in 1987.
This church publication has played its role quietly and dutifully. Not only did it record the happy occasions but also the trying and challenging happenings affecting our Church, like the experience of seeing the Mill Hill priests and nuns being ordered by the government to leave our shores in the 1970s. This was when we started training local priests who are now in full charge. So those expulsion orders turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The Catholic Sabah has never failed to rise to the occasion and come out with special editions and supplements as and when the situation demands it. The erections of the Keningau Diocese in May 1993 and the Sandakan Diocese on October 15 are important milestones that we give full coverage, recording the further growth and development of the local Church.
Despite the shortage of experienced and trained staff and weak financial situation the Catholic Sabah has made its appearance without fail on a regular basis. It is the grace of God that made it possible for us to produce this paper all these years without a break.
We have, therefore, called tonight's event [Oct 23], very appropriately an Appreciation Dinner. Indeed, it is our duty tonight to acknowledge and show our appreciation to the countless people who have devoted part of their life in the service of Catholic Sabah.
It is also my duty as the current editor of Catholic Sabah to express our deep appreciation and thanks to the Head of the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu, Bishop John Lee, for his steadfast support that made it possible for Catholic Sabah to continue with its publication.
Our similar gratitude to Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau Diocese for the strong support given since 1993.
We take this opportunity to express our warm greetings and heartiest congratulations to the newly ordained Bishop Julius Gitom of Sandakan Diocese.
We have constantly paid special attention to ensure that our news coverage is extended to all parts of Sabah.
We look forward to the continuous support, cooperation and assistance of all our three bishops in Sabah, without which the Catholic Sabah does not have a chance to continue with its publication.
Before I end, allow me to make a pledge, on this auspicious occasion of our 50th anniversary of publication, that Catholic Sabah shall continue to abide by the ethical principles and norms that relevant to social communications.
Our paper shall promote justice and solidarity, shall report events accurately and truthfully, analyse situations and problems completely and provide a forum for different opinions.
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