Golden Couple, Married Children Renew Their Vows
KOTA KINABALU(CS Online).- In a meaningful golden wedding anniversary Mass, the couple was joined in their renewal of marriage vows by their married children.
Father Michael Modoit, who presided over the anniversary Mass June 13, said it was the first time he has ever witnessed such an event.
Harry Majalap, 78, and Maria Lajami, 65, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing.
Seven of their 10 children (six daughters and four sons) renewed their own married vows after the golden couple had renewed theirs.
Three of them could not renew their vows because their spouses could not be present.
The unprecedented event brought together their children and grandchildren, relatives and friends.
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Archbishop Lee Among 40 New Archbishops Receive pallium
VATICAN CITY(CWNews.com).- Pope Benedict XVI conferred the pallium on 40 new metropolitan archbishops - among whom was Archbishop John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw - during Mass June 29, solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul.
The pallium is a thin white woollen strip embroidered with five crosses (a symbol of the five wounds of Christ), worn around the shoulders, which symbolises the authority of a metropolitan archbishop and his communion with the Holy See.
Traditionally, the vestment is conferred each year, on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, to all of the prelates who reached the status of metropolitan archbishops during the preceding year.
In his homily, the pope said: "When we take the pallium upon our shoulders, this gesture reminds us of the Shepherd who takes upon his shoulders the lost sheep, which on its own was not able to find the way home, and brings it back to the fold."
But, the pope continued, "Jesus Christ also wants men who will 'carry' together with him lost humanity."
"The pallium," he added, "becomes a symbol of our love for the Shepherd, Christ, and of our loving together with Him - it becomes a symbol of the call to love men as He does, together with Him: those who are searching, those who are questioning, those who are sure of themselves and those who are humble, the simple and the great; it becomes a symbol of the call to love all with the power of Christ and in view of Christ, so that they may find Him, and in Him, themselves."
On June 30, the pope greeted each one of the archbishops, speaking personally to each one and then addressing the group.
Reminding the prelates that he had inaugurated a Pauline Year, to begin with the day's feast, the pope invoked the intercession of the Apostle to "help each one of you to make the communities entrusted to your care grow in unity and mission, in harmonious and coordinated pastoral activity, animated by constant apostolic zeal."
The pope told the metropolitans that the essential foundation for all pastoral work is "love for Christ, which must come before everything."
He reminded the group of Christ's question to St Peter:
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
That question, the pope said, should "ever resound in our hearts and stimulate our ever fresh and passionate response: 'Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.'"
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Kuching Hosts Regional Media Body Meet
KUCHING(CS).- Representatives from the different arch/dioceses (except for Penang, Sandakan and Singapore) held their annual meeting on June 30-July 2 at St Joseph's Cathedral Parish Centre, Kuching.
The meeting started with a movie review entitled Partition - a story set against the partition of Pakistan from India where a couple of different religious traditions find love which goes beyond religion in the midst of violence and are thus enabled to make sacrifices for each other.
The members were invited to join the college students and staff for their feastday celebration June 30.
Bishop Julius Gitom presided over the Eucharistic celebration which was followed by a fellowship meal.
Archbishop John Ha welcomed the guests and congratulated Archbishop Murphy Pakiam for being conferred the Tan Sri title by the Agong.
The meeting proper was on July 1.
The meeting was chaired by John Lainsin.
After the opening address by Archbishop Pakiam, the floor was open for discussion of common areas of concern arising among the members in the course of their work.
One of the major areas of concern is on media education at all levels.
Jesuit Father Lawrence Andrew of Herald was present for the first time.
He updated the members on the court case and also brought up the matter of the financial status of the paper.
Members advised him to be open about it and bring it to the attention of the readers so that they may also know the real situation.
Then each member reported on the work done in his/her arch/diocese, especially on World Communications Day, and briefed the members on the meetings attended at international level such as Signis Asia Assembly in Japan and FABC-OSC in Thailand last year.
What is disheartening is that many parishes are not really aware of the importance of World Communications Day even though it is mandated in InterMirifica (# 18), the Vatican document on social communications media.
One of the bright spots mentioned is that many of the arch/dioceses have already set up their own websites.
Also Melaka-Johor has come out with a magazine for children in Chinese.
Signis World President Augustine Loorthusamy was also present to update the members on the role/functions of and activities carried out by the world organization for Catholic communications.
Out of its meetings with university heads and radio professionals in Rome, Signis' focus will be on education seen from five aspects: a) school environment b) faculty c) reward structure d) public image of the school e) school curriculum.
He then invited the members to participate in the world congress which will be held in Thailand in 2009.
John Lainsin reported that the focus of Signis Asia is to come out with a common Asian media education curriculum kit within two years.
Since it was election year, both outgoing chairman John Lainsin and secretary Sr Anna Yap were elected unanimously for another term.
The members agreed to hold the meeting in Sibu next year.
The meeting ended with Mass presided by Archbishop Pakiam.
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Private School Tops Law Mock Trial Contest
LIKAS(CS).- The archdiocesan private school Maktab Nasional did itself and the archdiocese proud by coming out tops in the law mock trial contest June 14.
The team, represented by Kimberley Lo, Karen Lui (first and second barrister respectively), Jeremy Tan (solicitor), Kohinoor Kaur, Leland Chong (first and second witness respectively), and Natasha Sim (court officer), defeated SM Yu Yuan of Sandakan in their mock legal dispute, which was presided over by Sessions Court Judge Ravinthran Paramaguru, at the Kota Kinabalu High Court 1.
Yu Yuan was represented by Jordan Tsen Tein Kyat, Sheldon Tsen Tein Tshun (first and second barrister), Chung Kai Lun (solicitor), Lim Jia Hann, Chia Horng Sheng (first and second wtiness), and Shawn Kwan Kuay Toh (court officer).
The Maktab Nasional prosecution team acted for a plaintiff, who wished to recover from the defendant, a travel company, the cost of a holiday taken in the country of Ruritania during the height of a civil war and medivac cost totalling RM64,000 in the finals of the second Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Law Mock Trial Competition.
The plaintiff claimed that she took the holiday relying on three things, a sign displayed in a travel agent's window, a brochure found at the travel agent's office and oral assurance from the travel agent.
The Yu Yuan defence team claimed it was not negligent, that no representations were made and that in any event, the plaintiff did not act in reliance on any advice given by the defendant, directly or indirectly.
But the court decided that the plaintiff had very credible witnesses and that there was negligence on the part of the defendant.
Maktab Nasional received a cash prize of RM3,000 and a championship trophy, while Yu Yuan received RM2,000 and third placed SM Lok Yuk received RM1,000.
All team members received a plaque and certificate.
Karen Lui of Maktab Nasional emerged best speaker in the competition.
The competition was jointly organised by the Sabah QUT Alumni, Sabah Law Association (SLA) and International Education Consultancy (IEC) and was sponsored by the Faculty of Law at QUT.
Eight secondary schools in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan took part in the competition which commenced in April this year.
The schools were SM All Saints, SM La Salle, SM Lok Yuk, Maktab Nasional, Tshung Tsin, KK High School, SM Yu Yuan and SM Sung Siew.
The competition was a public relations exercise to provide awareness and an insight into the legal system, according to Competition coordinator Kenneth Liew, chairman of Sabah QUT Alumni Association in his welcoming address.
IEC Executive Director Datuk Adeline Leong and QUT Law faculty representative from Brisbane, Australia, Iyla Davies were also present.
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CFC- HOLD Attends International Conference
ZAMBALES, PHILIPPINES(CS).- Five Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) from the Couples of Christ (CFC) Kota Kinabalu, led by Unit Head Anita Gimfil James, joined 3,700 other Handmaids in the 15th HOLD International Conference (ICON) April 18-20 at the Subic Bay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Zambales, Philippines.
The ICON is a traditional send-off gathering for all CFC-HOLD workers and leaders, espeically those on foreign mission.
Delegates came from Europe, the Caribbean, the United States, Australia, Papua New Guinea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
The delegates were warmly welcomed and stayed with host families. On the first night, they visited the Gawad Kalinga (GK) housing project site where the CFC build communities among the poor.
The conference started with Mass at the Convention Centre where the presider encouraged the participants to be "faithful, trustworthy, steadfast and dependable, doing everything heartily for the Lord."
A concert entitled Crazy about Love was held to mark the opening of the conference.
The CFC Music Ministry led the delegates into a joyful and exuberant praisefest.
The conference took as its theme A Woman after God's Own Heart in line with the CFC's 2008 theme Love One Another as I Have Loved You.
The talks centred on love: Love makes Us One, What is Love?, Love Hurts, Love Conquers and A Woman after God's Own Heart.
On Day four, after a quick lunch, the delegates had a forum.
Around 200 leaders from the Philippines and other other countries were exhorted to become evangelisers in their own countries.
The Sabah delegates planned to bring more women to "a renewed life in the Lord" and to give wholehearted service in bringing God's love to the poor.
A souvenir exchange session was held before a buffet dinner.
During the dinner, the Sabah delegates entertained the participants with a 60's dance.
The Handmaids of the Lord is part of the Couples for Christ's ministry which ministers to women.
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SMC Bible Class Students Visit Children's Ward At QEH
TANJUNG ARU(CS).- The Bible Class of Stella Maris Parish Tanjung Aru visited the Children's Ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital May 25.
The objectives of the visit was to inculcate in the students the values of making time, to show love and bring cheer to the sick as well as to make them appreciate their own good health and to give thanks and praise to God for it.
The parishioners donated colouring books, colour pencils, story books (for the ward library) and soft toys.
The Beverly Hotel donated food and drinks for the occasion.
The students and the patients bonded well and the spirit of joy and love could be felt.
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Labuan Youth Team Organises Seminar On Sexuality
LABUAN(CS).- The youth team organised a seminar with the theme Call to embrace the gift of youthfulness and honouring the sacredness and holiness of your body June 12-15.
The seminar was facilitated by Good Shepherd Sister Maria Dipal. About 180 people attended: 163 teenagers and 17 adults/parents.
The seminar focused on sexuality which included sessions on human development, boy-girl relationship, the gift and challenges of sexuality, culture of death and human trafficking, touching the Holy and reconciliation and choosing life as the way forward.
The seminar was interactive and all the participants - parents and teenagers - were actively involved in the sessions.
The climax was the session on "Touching the Holy and Reconciliation" where many of the participants invited Jesus to be the Master of their lives.
Many shared that it was an enlightening and eye-opening seminar on the harsh realities of life.
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SHC Organises Parish Kaamatan Celebration
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Sacred Heart Cathedral organised its annual parish Kaamatan celebration June 1 with Mass followed by a programme at the parish centre.
Vicar General and Rector of the cathedral Msgr Primus Jouil presided over the event.
The Mass was enlivened by the Kadazandusun cultural dances and the offering of the produce of the earth: rice grains, fruits and vegetables along with the bread and wine by representatives of the different parish communities.
After the Mass, the 300 or so faithful trooped to the parish centre for the programme prepared by the organising committee headed by Rayner Ajumal.
In his address to the parishioners, the outgoing Parish Pastoral Council Chairman Damian Lee gave a short history of how the state-level Kaamatan celebration came about.
He said that the first statewide celebration was held at St Michael's Church Penampang from 30 June to 1 July 1960.
The Latin sung Mass was followed by an Eucharistic procession around the vicinity, he said.
Lee said this was an example of inculturation before the Second Vatican Council.
He also reminded the parishioners of the parish's three top priorities and the urgent need for people to come forward to train and be trained as faith formators.
To mark the opening ceremony, Msgr Jouil beat the gong, cut some stalks of padi and cut the pulut rice cake with the assistance of some parish group leaders.
The choir sang a couple of songs before lunch was served.
After lunch, nine contestants took part in the karaoke competition (Sugandoi) which was interspersed with lucky draws and song presentations by the BM youth group, the Filipino and Indonesian communities.
The panel of judges for the competition were James Ansibin, Helina Mansagam and Jimmy Jawatah.
Before the judges announced the winners of the competition, prizes were given out for those who took part in the traditional games held a week earlier on May 24.
Below is the breakdown of the winners of the karaoke competition and of the traditional games.
Karaoke Competition
Wozley Laurence, Roy Boin Suikim, Charles Freedy, Frederica Malating, Jassica John Consolation Prizes: Francisco Fiel, Polonia Gabing, Yoel Peter, Alice JosephTraditional Games
Blowpipe (male): Rayner Anjumal, John Tinggal, Charles Jack
Blowpipe (female): Margaret Majakul, Irene Alex, Sr Doris Abiu fsic
Catapult (male): Peter Suking, Rayner Ajumal, Charles Jack
Catapult (female): Sr Doris Abiu fsic, Christina Undeh, Jovinia Sangau
3-Legged Race (male): Peter & Yoel Suking, Alfred Binijin & Ignatius, Aristole & Aquinas
3-Legged Race (female): Sr Doris A & Lucy Lim, Frescilla & Jovinia, Irene Alex & Flayrena
Guny Sack Race (male): Jayrell Alpern, Peter Suking, Mitchelly Kiun
Guny Sack Race (female): Frescilla, Irene Alex, Margaret Majakul
Village Bowling (male): Ryan, Anthony Suking, Cornileus Jasper
Village Bowling (female): Jovinia Sangau, Lucy Lim, rene Alex
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LOM Closes Marian Month With Crowning Of Our Lady's Statue
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Members of the Legion of Mary (three languages) closed the month of May with the crowning of Our Lady statue at the start of the Eucharistic Celebration May 28 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing.
After the crowning of Our Lady statue by Athena Thien, 10, who was assisted by Anastasia Lee, 10, the Legionaries came to pay homage to Our Lady with a stalk of rose each. The roses were then placed in the vases provided at the base of the statue.
Msgr Primus Jouil presided over the Mass.
The Legionaries also took part in bringing gifts to the altar along with the bread and wine.
Prior to the Mass, the rosary was recited in English, BM and Chinese.
The organisation of the closing Mass for the Marian months of May and October is a yearly affair of the Legionaries.
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Farewell/welcome Gathering Organised For Assisting Rectors
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- At a farewell cum welcome gathering organised June 7 by the Sacred Heart Cathedral daily Massgoers, members of an intercessory group promised to pray for the outgoing assistant rector's intentions during his studies in Rome.
Born on 25 Oct 1972, Father Wilfred Atin was ordained a priest on 3 Dec 2005.
After his ordination he was assigned as assistant rector in Holy Trinity Tawau before being posted to Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2006.
Atin will be leaving June 28 to take up a two-year licentiate course on dogmatic theology at the Urbania University in Rome.
At the same time, it was a welcome for Father Johnny Raju who replaced him as assistant rector of the cathedral June 1.
Raju was born on 2 June 1965. He joined the Neo-catechumenal community before entering its seminary in Rome in 1993.
He was ordained a priest in 2002 and was assigned to St Joseph Papar before being posted to Sacred Heart Cathedral.
The breakfast gathering is a normal affair organised by the regular daily Massgoers for the cathedral clergy celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions.
Many of the daily Massgoers come from nearby parishes which do not have regular morning Mass.
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Flash-flood Hits FSP Convent
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- The flash-flood which hit Kota Kinabalu after a three-hour downpour also affected the residences along Jalan Sang Kancil Karamunsing June 9.
Among those living in Jalan Sang Kancil are the Daughters of St Paul (FSP) and the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC).
The whole stretch of road was a like a river with ankle-level water.
The sisters were able to clean up the mud left by the receding flood water at about 7:00 pm.
The rain stopped at around 7:30 pm.
The local dailies reported that flash-floods also occurred in Penampang, Telipok, Menggatal and Inanam, among others.
They also reported that several Malaysian Airlines (MAS) were either diverted, delayed or cancelled due to the bad weather.
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KK Diocese Collects More Than RM100,000 For Myanmar Cyclone Victims
PENAMPANG(CS).- A communique from the Kota Kinabalu Diocesan Finance Office says that more than RM100,000 has been collected from the parishes in the diocese.
The communique, released June 16, states that a total amount of RM108,877.04 has been sent to the office by the 15 parishes by the end of May.
Earlier on May 13, the diocese had issued an appeal to the parishes to have one Sunday collection specifically in aid of the cyclone victims.
Archbishop-elect John Lee would like to thank those who have contributed to the fund.
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RCSC To Hold Annual Meet In Kuching
PENAMPANG(CS).- The Regional Commission for Social Communications (RCSC) will hold its annual meeting at St Peter's College in Kuching June 30-July 2.
The commission composes of the following: Archbishop Murphy Pakiam (president, episcopal commission for social communications, MSB Bishops' Conference), John Lainsin (chairman, Keningau Diocese), Sr Anna Yap fsp (secretary, KK Diocese), Lawrence John (KL Archdiocese), Fr Jean-Claude Lourdes (KL Archdiocese), David Lau (Sibu Diocese), Stella Chin (Kuching Archdiocese), Fr Richard Ng (Kuching Archdiocese), Philip Layok Saging (Miri Diocese), Fr Peter Ng (Melaka-Johor Diocese), Sr Christine Sundin fsp (Daughters of St Paul), Fr Robert Leong (Brunei Vicariate) and Fr Johnson Fernandez (Singapore Archdiocese).
During the annual meeting, the representatives report on the activities carried out since the last meeting, especially during World Communications Day, and plans for the year.
This meeting is also important because it is time to elect new office bearers (chairperson and secretary) for a two-year term.
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Renown Lay Bible Teacher To Facilitate Pauline Year Seminar
PENAMPANG(CS).- The Kota Kinabalu Bible Commission has invited a well-known lay bible teacher to facilitate a bible seminar based on the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians July 11-13.
Jeffrey Goh, LLB, STD (pix) is a lawyer and has obtained a STD/PhD degree in Sacred Theology and a JCL in Canon Law from the Catholic University in Louvain, Belgium where his wife, Angelina Lim, has also obtained a STB degree in Sacred Theology and a MA in Religious Studies.
They both teach theology at St Peter's College Kuching and conduct retreats and seminars through the Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Region.
The bible seminar offers five sessions at St Simon Likas and also at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre.
Participants are introduced to the nature of 10 problems facing the young Church in Corinth some 2,000 years ago; the same problems that are confonting the faith communities throughout the world today. Contexts and details may vary but the fundamental characteristics remain unchange.
The seminar is one of the activities organised by the Bible Commission commemorating the Pauline Year announced by Benedict XVI last year.
The Pauline Year runs from 28 June 2008 to 29 June 2009 to mark the 2,000th birth anniversary of St Paul.
The pope said that the Church needs modern Christians who will imitate the apostle's missionary energy and spirit of sacrifice.
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