More Than 2,000 Neophytes Enter The Catholic Church In Sabah This Easter
PENAMPANG(CS Online).- The Catholic Church in Sabah accepted over 2,000 neophytes (adults and children) during the Easter Vigil March 22 and on Easter Sunday March 23.
Among the three dioceses, Kota Kinabalu Diocese received the biggest number of converts when 1,147 went through the Rites of Initiation on those two dates.
Sacred Heart Cathedral has the highest (216), followed by Ranau (165), Tuaran (158) and Penampang (116).
Keningau Diocese came next with 603 neophytes. However, not all data were in at the time of this report.
The available data came from Keningau Cathedral (467), Membakut (73), Beaufort (30), Kuala Penyu (22) and Sipitang (11) while the others were unable to furnish Catholic Sabah with their figure of baptisms
The youngest diocese, Sandakan, reported 256 new members from its four parishes.
Lahad Datu has the highest number (108), followed by Sandakan (55), Tawau (49) and Telupid (44).
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process through which interested adults are gradually introduced to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life.
Children who were not baptised as infants are also initiated through an adapted process of this rite (RCIC).
The RCIA is a communal process and involves a number of stages punctuated by liturgical rites to aid and assist the potential convert toward the final rite at the Easter Vigil at which time they will become full members of the Church.
The entire process takes several months, usually a year, but participants are encouraged to proceed at a pace which suits them individually.
The Church prefers to call this a process and not a programme.
It takes place in four stages: (1) Pre-Catechumenate/Inquiry phase; (2) Catechumenate phase: a process of spiritual formation and introduction to parish life; (3) Election phase, meaning that the candidate is fit for the sacraments of initiation at Easter.
This rite starts on the first Sunday of Lent and includes scrutinies, presentations and anointing; (4) Final Initiation phase takes place at the Easter Vigil, when the catechumens are baptised, confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion.
During the Second Vatican Council there was a call for the reinstatement of the Catechumenate.
The vote was 2,165 Yes's, nine No's and one null.
In 1966 the provisional ritual was distributed, followed by the second draft in 1969, and in 1972 Pope Paul VI promulgated the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
In Sabah the RCIA was initiated by Father Tobias Chi on 7 Sept 1982 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. It soon spread to the other parishes in the diocese.
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St Simon Likas Elevated To Full Parish
PENAMPANG(CS Online).- In a circular dated March 27 addressed to Msgr Primus Jouil, Vicar General and Rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral and its subparishes of St Simon Likas and Church of Mary Immaculate Bukit Padang, Bishop John Lee informed him that St Simon Subparish would be elevated to a full parish with effect from May 1. Below is the full text.
Dear Msgr Primus,
Re: St Simon's Church Likas
I wish to refer to the recent meeting of the Consultors on the above matter.
It is always a joy for us to see that our people in certain locality have grown both in number and in faith, so much so that they are able to form their own community.
It is with such joy that, with effect from 1 May 2008, St Simon's Church, Likas, will be independent from Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish. It will be a community on its own, with a priest in charge.
Please see to it that the pastoral transition is done smoothly. Thank you.
Yours in Christ,
Bishop John Lee
cc Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council, Sacred Heart KK Chairman, Sub-Parish Pastoral Committee, St Simon Likas
St Simon's Chapel was erected as a subparish of Sacred Heart Cathedral on 14 Nov 1984 by the late Bishop Simon Fung. On 19 Nov 2000 it was raised to a church by Bishop John Lee.
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SHC Indonesian Community Stages Passion Play
KOTA KINABALU(CS Online).- The Indonesian community of Sacred Heart Cathedral staged a Passion Play March 21 (Good Friday) at the Way of the Cross Monuments. It took the place of the trilingual Way of the Cross Devotion. Directed by Yohanes Sogen, it showcased the acting skills of the Indonesian community, taking the faithful through the last hours of Jesus from his agony and betrayal in Gethsemany to his death and burial. Many of the parishioners said they were touched by it.
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Maktab Nasional Scores 100% Passes In 2007 SPM
LIKAS(CS).- Mabtab Nasional scored 100 per cent in the 2007 SPM examination compared to 97 per cent in 2006.
Lin Kaisheng was the private Catholic school's top student with 11 straight As.
The other achievers were Marilyn Manson with nine As three Bs; Nasharudin Shaharuddin, eight As two Bs; Sherynne Tan, eight As two Bs; Kenneth Lim HS, seven As three Bs; Daniel Saw, seven As two Bs one D; Brendan Fabia, seven As two Bs one C and Khoo Boon Hee, seven As three Bs.
Subjects which scored 100 per cent passes were English, Bahasa Melayu, Science, Add Maths, Ars, Principle Account, English Literature, Pendidikan Islam, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and EST.
This school has always stressed the importance of self-discipline, conscientious and determination to excel in studies while giving emphasis to character formation and making sure that students are motivated by right values and positive attitude towards life.
Principal Michael Baikan thanked all the teachers who had shown their commitment, dedication in giving personal attention, love and care to each student.
He also congratulated the parents who have given their cooperation, dedication and support to the school in monitoring their children's studies.
"Parents are our co-partners in achieving academic excellence; without their support and encouragement our students would not be able to shine," said Baikan.
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KK PPCs To Be Dissolved In June
PENAMPANG(CS).- In his circular dated March 13, Bishop John Lee states that all Parish Pastoral Councils (PPCs) in the Kota Kinabalu Diocese are to be "dissolved on June 1 to pave way for the process of election."
The circular also says that the new PPCs are to be "installed on August 3 for a two-year term until August 2010."
The bishop stressed the importance of catechesis in this exercise.
"Our people should be given sufficient time and opportunity to understand the role and function of the PPC in the context of the Diocesan Vision," he writes.
He continues, "I would suggest it to be done through a series of sessions over a two-month period after the PPC dissolution in June."
The Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC), the bishop says, has suggested that "we use the same format as in 2006, namely, the list of PPC nominees will be screened through by the Rector with the advice of the Ad Hoc Committee to form the new PPC."
Enclosed with the circular sent to the parishes were brief guidelines on the process of setting up the PPC.
Step 1:Setting up an Ad Hoc Committee
An Ad Hoc Committee comprising the rector and his assistant, a religious (if any) and three lay persons are to be set up to oversee the process.
Role and Functions: (a) to announce the dissolution of the current PPC, (b) to prepare the content and schedule of the catechesis, (c) to present the catechesis, (d) to prepare and print the nomination forms, (e) to encourage the parishioners to nominate, (f) to collect and compile the nomination forms, (g) to screen through the list of nominees based on the given criteria, (h) to select the right candidates, and (i) to announce the new lineup of the PPC.
The lay persons in the committee are not eligible for nomination. However, if the need arises, the rector can appoint them as councillors later.
Step 2: Dissolution of PPC
All PPCs are to be dissolved on June 1.
Step 3: General Catechesis
General catechesis is to be given in all Masses after the dissolution of PPC.
The catechesis can be spaced out over a few weekends, each topic takes about five to ten minutes in the Mass. Any member of the Ad Hoc Committee can be asked to give. The content has to be clear. Local examples can be cited to rationalise the need for greater participation. It should not be assumed that all the parishioners understand what PPC is.
No catechesis, no new PPC.
Step 4: Nomination
Nomination can begin after the first general catechesis. There are two types of nomination: (a) Group - every parish group, community, movement, committee, subparish, outstation zone, KKD and so forth can nominate not more than two names from among their members; (b) Individual Parishioner - any individual above 18 years old can be nominated.
All completed forms must have one Proposer and one Seconder. The forms are to be returned to the committee via the parish office on the date to be decided.
Step 5: Screening and Selection
The Ad Hoc Committee will meet to screen through all the nomination forms based on criteria given.
At least 10 and not more than 20 nominees are to be selected to form the new PPC. If the number of nominees (or selected nominees) is less than 10, the committee can extend the nomination period and explain the situation to the parish to call for more nomination.
Step 6: Consultation with Selected Candidates
After the selection is done, the rector will call each of those selected to ensure that s/he is willing to take up the responsibility.
Step 7: Catechesis for Selected Candidates
All candidates who have accepted to be PPC members will be given a proper catechesis to further understand their role and function.
Step 8: Announcement
The names of the new PPC members will be published in the bulletins and announced in all churches and chapels.
(The reason for this is in case there is any objection from parishioners on the selected candidates. The Ad Hoc Committee should verify if there is an objection to the choice of any of the candidate, and replace him/her if the objection is valid.)
Step 9: Commissioning
The new PPC will be commissioned in the Mass on August 3. The Ad Hoc Committee is automatically dissolved after this.
Nature of a PPC
(canon 536, CCC 911)
It shall be a consultative body to the rector. The rector or in his absence, the assistant rector, shall act in the council as the pastor appointed by the bishop of the diocese.
Role and Functions of a PPC
1. To assist the rector and his assistant(s) in the pastoral mission of the Church in the parish, particularly in the renewal of the Christian life, in accordance to the decree of Vatican Council II.
2. To carry out pastoral activities towards the attainment of the Diocesan Vision and Mission in the parish.
3. To promote any form of lay apostolate it deems effective in providing concrete opportunities to parishioners to live more fully their Christian vocation within the Church and in the society where they live.
4. To support the mission of the Church in offering the teachings of Christ, according to the Catholic tradition, to Catholics and non-Catholics.
5. To work as closely as possible, without jeopardising the Catholic identity, with other Christian Churches in the promotion of ecumenism.
6. To work together with all people of good will in the common task of upholding the rights and dignity of the human person and of improving the living condition of the society.
7. To assist in whatever ways possible in the general administration of the parish under the purview of the rector.
Criteria of Selection of PPC Members
Primary Requirements
1. Outstanding in faith
2. Good moral standing
3. Prudence
4. Willingness to serve
5. Love the Church
6. Available for service
Secondary Requirements
1. Knowledgeable of parish pastoral situation
2. Has leadership quality
3. Team player
NB: Ideally, a balanced and well represented PPC would have representatives from both genders, language groups, young and old, established communities, religious, catechists, professionals and migrants.
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SHC Liturgical Committee Organises Recollection For Altar Servers
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Around 64 altar servers from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Church of Mary Immaculate and St Simon turned up for the half-day recollection March 21 organised by the Liturgical Committee at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre.
Besides helping the participants to have a better understanding of the Easter Triduum, it also served as a spiritual and physical preparation for Easter.
The input was given by Seminarian Mattheus Luta (Eng/BM) and Stella Yong (Mandarin).
It ended with a simple fellowship and rehearsal.
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Chinese Sunday School Organises Preparatory Seminar For Confirmands
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- The Sacred Heart Chinese Sunday School organised a preparatory seminar for its 45 Confirmation students March 16 at the conference room above the chapel.
Facilitators Catherine Wan, Beatrice Foo and Anna Chin took turns to give input to the participants.
The seminar is part of the syllabus for Confirmation students who are mostly 14 years in age.
The Mandarin-speaking students will join their English- and BM-speaking counterparts to be confirmed on May 10 at the cathedral.
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Labuan Youth Team Organises Lenten Programme
LABUAN(CS).- The Labuan youth team organised a Lent Cross Programme which involved the Lent Cross moving from house to house on each Sunday of Lent, It started on Feb 24 and ended on March 16. The family would then have their own programme to spend time with the cross. The programme has the objectives of (i) letting the youth experience th journey of Christ to Calvary and (ii) to unite the youth and the family.
Feedback from the youth: "Through the cross, I reconciled with my parents."
"I'm happy to join this Lent Cross, as it helped me to feel how painful it was for Jesus during the Crucifixion."
Feedback from the family: "When the cross entered my house, it was as if the Light was entering into my house."
"I never expected my house to be one of the stations of the cross, and it was amazing."
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SHC Biblical Apostolate Organises Lenten Retreat
PURAK, PAPAR(CS).- The Sacred Heart Biblical Apostolate organised the annual Lenten Retreat at Pace Bene Retreat Centre in Purak Feb 29-Mar 1.
Around 40 people took part in the one-night-one day spiritual exercise facilitated by Bishop John Lee on the theme: Be Holy for I Am Holy (1 Pt 1:16).
Apart from the introductory talk after the Bible Enthronement and two sessions on the theme, the participants had time for personal and communal prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.
The participants were asked to reflect on the two questions posed by God to Adam after he had eaten the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3: a) Where are you? (3:9); b) Who told you that you were naked? (3:11a); and the one question posed to Eve c) What is this that you have done? (3:13).
There was also time for bible sharing on the Sunday gospel (Cure of the man born blind) in small groups.
The retreat ended with a concluding Mass.
The Lenten Retreat is one of the two annual activities organised by the Biblical Apostolate to help participants to enter into the lenten spirit of preparation for Easter.
The other activity is Life in the Word which is to help participants to deepen their understanding and love of the Bible and thus to be able to live it out daily.
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SHC Presents Its Survey Feedback
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Sacred Heart Cathedral presented its parish pastoral survey feedback to the parishioners March 8-9 in preparation for the Parish Discernment Weekend (PDW) to be held April 23-26 at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre.
The survey was conducted during the weekend Masses of 21-22 April 2007 at the cathedral, Church of Mary Immaculate Bukit Padang and St Simon's Church Likas.
The exercise was initiated by the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) to address urgent and important issues of pastoral concern, namely, the top three Parish Pastoral Priorities (PPP) identified at the PDW held on 30 Aug - 2 Sept 2006.
These three PPP are: 1. Family; 2. Reaching Out to Parishioners and 3. Catholic Faith Formation.
The purpose of the survey was to seek the opinions and feedback on the three PPP from regular Sunday Massgoers and from the 150 delegates who had attended the PDW.
This was needed to assist the PPC to address the three PPP with more relevant, effective and efficient strategies.
The full survey results have been provided to church leaders who attended th PDW preparation meeting Feb 22 to assist them in their discernment and planning process to address the three PPP.
The survey results were also reproduced in four parts to keep the parishioners well informed of the process and progress of the preparation for the PDW in April.
Survey Target
Being a purposive survey, the sample size was limited to 750 made up of the following:-
1. 400 SHC Sunday Massgoers (100 from Sunset Mass, 100 from 7:00 am Chinese Mass, 100 from 9:00 am English Mass and 100 from 10:30 am BM Mass);
2. 100 from CMI (50 from Chinese Mass and 50 from English Mass);
3. 100 from St Simon; and
4. 150 PDW delegates.
To get feedback from a cross section of the parishioners, for every 100 Massgoers, it was decided that the sample would cover 30 youth (15 teenagers, 15 young single adults), 30 married couples (26-45 yrs old) with young children, 30 couples with older children (46 upwards) and 10 senior parishioners.
The survey comprised four main parts. The first part contained particulars of the respondents (no names required) and the other three covered family issues, evangelisation (reaching out) of parishioners and Catholic faith formation.
Each of the three parts contained an objective section where respondents chose from answers already provided and a subjective section where respondents gave their opinions and feedback on the PPP issues.
Survey Results
The survey results were tabulated according to each of the weekend Masses. This issue carries the highlights of the survey.
Respondents
Overall, the survey managed an excellent response rate of 80 per cent and also managed to reach the target age groups with males and females in almost equal ratios (47% : 51%) although this was not intended.
Of the respondents, 57 per cent were from parishioners who do not belong to any group while the rest belong to one of the many church groups in the parish and subparishes.
Family Issues
Of the 14 issues raised, the consensus (across respondents from the three language groups) was that the top three most serious issues faced by families are:
1. internet pornography facing young people
2. internet pornography facing married men
3. "dadah" (drug) addiction.
Reaching Out to Parishioners
Fifty-six per cent (56%) say they are touched by church teachings while only 30 per cent feel the teachings are effective.
Sixty per cent (60%) think church teachings have a strong influence on their value system. However, less than 50 per cent are aware that it is the duty of every parishioner to reach out to others.
Catholic Faith Formation
A very high percentage (35 percent) did not respond on their level of knowledge of the Catholic faith, while only 18 per cent feel they know the Catholic teachings very well.
There is much that can and should be done in this area.
Subjective Section
Of concerns voiced by the parishioners, the lack of communciation between parents and children and the lack of time parents spend with their children/family stand out.
For the Chinese speaking parishioners, aging parishioners and breakdown in traditional respect for the elders are some key concerns expressed.
Generally, the parishioners feel that more should be done by the Church (and parishioners) to address the needs of the poor and that homilies need to be well prepared, relevant and practical.
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Sandakan PPC Chairman Succumbs To Cancer
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- The chairman of St Mary's Cathedral Sandakan succumbed to cancer Feb 19 at the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).
Born on 10 Aug 1949 in Tenom, Michael Pang, with his wife Mary Pinso and children, Glenn, Gerry, Gavin and Glenda, moved to Sandakan in 1989.
The family joined The Star of Yahweh Covenant Community (SYCC) that year.
Msgr Primus Jouil presided over the funeral Mass Feb 22 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral which was concelebrated with Bishop Julius Gitom and Father Paul Lo of Sandakan.
Members of the SYCC turned up in full force to pay their last respect. He was laid to rest at the RC Cemetery, Mile 4.5 Penampang Road.
Below are some excerpts from the eulogy given by Michael Lee of the SYCC.
"The word 'no' was never in his vocabulary whenever members requested his assistance.
"He and Mary were totally committed to their calling in the community as well as in the parish. We remembered how he drove alone on Saturdays directly from Tawau to St Mary's just to attend our practices before Sunset Mass.
"He was a very dedicated husband to Mary and a role model for his children and grandchildren. We've seen how he and Mary brought the children up, educating them to university level as well as bringing them up as good Catholics."
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Chrism Mass Celebrated In Sandakan For The First Time
SANDAKAN(CS).- It was only on last Oct 15 that St Mary's Parish witnessed the erection of the diocese and the episcopal ordination of its first bishop.
Adjusting to its new status as a cathedral, St Mary held its first Chrism Mass March 7.
As all the priests were expected to participate, it took some time for the date to be picked.
The Mass was also organised to coincide with the lenten penitential service with sacramental confession.
Apart from the two resident priests in Sandakan, Fathers Simon Kontou and Paul Lo, the other two priests who came were Fathers Nicholas Ong of Lahad Datu and Marcellinus Pongking of Telupid.
Sandakan-born Father John Wong (Catholic Diocesan Centre Rector) also participated in the Mass as he went back for the nation's general elections March 8.
As in Kota Kinabalu, the Mass was trilingual (English, BM and Chinese).
In his homily, Bishop Julius Gitom outlined briefly the historical roots of the Chrism Mass.
He said that the Chrism Mass is held on a different day, not on Holy Thursday, because the geographical distances among the four parishes make it difficult for the priests to travel to and fro Sandakan.
He explained that the Chrism Mass manifests the communion of the clergy with the bishop.
It also signifies the sharing of the sacred office of the bishop in building up, sanctifying and ruling of the faithful in the diocese, according to the bishop.
The bishop said that the Mass expresses the unity of the priesthood and the sacrifice of Christ present in the Church.
The renewal of the priestly commitment, the bishop continued, is also "a configuration with Christ and commitment in fulfilling the office."
"It is asking the Lord to empower them with divine power," the bishop said.
Bishop Gitom stressed that the support of the laity is "critical" to the success of the diocese.
This is because the bishop and the priests cannot do everything by themselves without the collaboration and cooperation of the lay people, the bishop pointed out.
He hoped that the laity would not hesitate to take up the challenge in this respect.
The bishop then emphasised the importance of praying for the bishop and priests as well as for more vocations.
After all, he said, priests come from the diocese.
During the Presentation of the Gifts, the oils to be blessed were carried by the priests: Father Wong carried the oil of the sick, Father Kontou the oil of the catechumens and Father Pongking the oil of chrism.
At the end of the Mass, the bishop announced the promotion and transfer of priests effective March 31:
- Father Ong is appointed as Vicar General with the title of Monsignor and will transfer to Holy Trinity Tawau as its rector.
The two priests there, Fathers Cosmas Lee and Thomas Madanan, will return to KK Diocese.
- Father Kontou will be transferred to St Dominic Lahad Datu as its rector.
- Father Lo is appointed as Acting Rector of St Mary's Cathedral.
- Father Pongking is appointed rector of St Martin Telupid.
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