First Sugud Boy Ordained Priest
PENAMPANG(CS Online).- About 2,000 faithful gathered at the newly constructed Assumption Church of Our Lady Sugud to witness the presbyteral ordination of the first Sugud deacon Sept 16.
Sugud is one of the twelve zones under Penampang Parish.
In his address, ordaining prelate Archbishop John Lee of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese acknowledged gratefully that the priestly ordination of Deacon Rayner Bisius is "indeed a gift to our archdiocese in this Year for Priests."
He welcomed Bisius to the presbyterium and urged him to take St John Vianney as his model in the ministry.
Bishop Julius Gitom of Sandakan and more than 30 priests from the three dioceses, including Korean priest Fr Damian Choi, concelebrated the Mass with Archbishop Lee.
Representing St Peter's College Kuching where Bisius had his priestly formation were Rector Fr Richard Ng and In-house Spiritual Father Fr Erik Jerome
The rite of ordination started after the gospel proclamation with Msgr Primus Jouil calling and presenting the candidate to the archbishop.
Following the presentation of the candidate were the election by the bishop and consent of the people, homily on the duties of the priest, examination of the candidate, promise of obedience, Litany of the Saints, laying on of hands by the presider and all concelebrants, prayer of consecration, investiture with stole and chasuble, anointing of hands, presentation of paten and chalice and kiss of peace.
While the usual Eucharist was in Bahasa Malaysia the rite of ordination was in English.
The ordinand's family members presented the gifts during the Presentation of Gifts.
After the two-hour ceremony, all adjourned to the village community hall for lunch and a cultural programme.
Born on 13 April 1975 in Kg Sugud, Penampang, the neo-ordained is the sixth child in a brood of six boys and two girls born to the late Bisius Joimpai and Helena Chen On Nis.
He had his primary education in SK Sugud and secondary education in SM St Michael and ITM Menggatal.
After working for a couple of years, Bisius entered aspirancy at the Catholic Diocesan Centre Penampang in 2000. He was accepted into Initiation Year of St Peter's College the following year.
His batch was the first batch to have their initiation year at Jalan Sang Kancil Satu Karamunsing.
He continued his philosophy and theology studies in Kuching.
He was assigned to Sacred Heart Cathedral after his studies and was ordained deacon there last Dec 6.
Busius' village, Kg Sugud, is an outstation of St Aloysius Limbanak.
The first church named after St Matthew was built on the hill of Matthew Binjua's land.
This was where Bisius underwent his early formation and initiation before being baptised in St Michael's Church on 10 Dec 1996.
There were few Catholics in the village in the 1980s but the faithful grew by leaps and bounds in the 1990s and especially in 2000. A new church had to built to accommodate the growing faithful.
Construction of the new church named after the Assumption of Our Lady began in 2001 but it was only in April 2005 that the faithful was able to use it for their Sunday services.
TOP
General Instruction Of The Roman Missal (GIRM): Some Notable Changes To Current Practices (5)
KOTA KINABALU(CS Online).- To be fully implemented by November 29, First Sunday of Advent.
Common Postures, Gestures, Movements
Priest/deacon no longer raises and shows Book of Gospels after the reading.
The people sit at Presentation of the Gifts (this is not new - to stand was introduced by some dioceses in the region).
Genuflection: Priest must genuflect after raising the Body and Blood of Christ at the Consecration (not just bow), and also before the "Behold the Lamb of God"; People must bow profoundly when the priest genuflects at Consecration if for physicial reason they cannot kneel.
Lord's Prayer: nothing is said about the gesture of the people (raising or extending of hands or holding of hands are certainly not obligatory). To be continued
TOP
KK Archdiocese Celebrates First Women's Day At Archdiocesan Level
KOTA KINABALU(CS Online).- Over 900 women of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese took part in the Women's Day celebration Aug 22 at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre Kota Kinabalu.
The event, organised jointly by Commissions on Women, Family Life and Catechetical, was held for the first time at the archdiocesan level.
Women's Day has been celebrated for the last 47 years in Malaysia, for the last 34 years in Sabah and since 1988, in the various regions and parishes of the local Church. International Women's Day falls on March 8 but Malaysia has always celebrated Women's Day on Aug 25.
The theme of the celebration was Women of God with the objective of empowering Catholic women to face the challenges of today's world.
The event opened with the enthronement of the Bible by Deacon Rayner Bisius followed by a reflection by Archbishop John Lee.
The archbishop noted the auspicious day of the gathering - that of the queenship of Mary - and urged the participants (including a handful of men) to look up to Mary as their model of womanhood.
In his welcoming address, the prelate welcomed and affirmed the women in giving "time to come here to listen, reflect and share your desire to be 'women of God'."
He touched briefly on Martha-Mary episode in the Gospel and urged the women to "recognise the presence of Jesus in the persons of those around you: your husbands, children or even housemaids."
He also touched on the three modes of Jesus' presence today: in the Word, in the Eucharist and in people.
"Indeed, our encounter with Jesus in the Word and the Eucharist should open our eyes to see Him in the market place, along the highways and byways, in all the creation of God," he said.
He added, "...we just cannot pass by without performing an act of love to those in our family and neighbourhood; and especially to the wounded and afflicted...a powerful witness to our faith."
The archbishop acknowledged the brokenness and hurts some of the participants might be dealing with and he encouraged them to trust in Jesus to heal them:
"I know you are courageous women who will not allow crisis to destroy your faith" and "I wish to affirm what you do and thank God for your sacrifices," he said.
The seminar covered three main topics: (1) Challenges of Women in Today's World; (2) Women of God; and (3) The Healing Power of God which were given concurrently in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.
The open forum in the afternoon started off slowly but picked up momentum later on with many points raised for the archdiocese to take on and act upon accordingly.
The concluding concelebrated Mass was held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral presided over by Msgr Primus Jouil.
After Mass, the participants and guests adjourned to a local restaurant in town for dinner and a short programme of song, dance and a video presentation on women's activities in the archdiocese.
In her welcoming speech, Organising Committee Chairperson Anita Tunggolou gave a brief account of the history of the celebration and thanked all the persons involved in the celebration.
After his appreciation speech, Msgr Jouil presented tokens of appreciation to four senior parishioners - Bernadette Au Nyuk Kiaw, 79; Tobita Paulinus, 78; Andrew Wan, 76; and Margaret Ho Mong Ping, 76 - for their attendance at the seminar as well as for their faithful service rendered to their respective parishes.
Tokens were also presented to the nine speakers: Rosyln Tunggolou, Monica Kong, Anthony Lim (English); Catherine Yong, Bernadette Sun, Agnes Tai (Mandarin); Susan Jill, Monica Chua and Gassrin Sintom (BM).
TOP
General Instruction Of The Roman Missal (GIRM): Some Notable Changes To Current Practices (4)
KOTA KINABALU(CS Online).- To be fully implemented by November 29, First Sunday of Advent.
Common Postures, Gestures, Movements (cont.)
Brief Catechesis:
Fr Peter Abas, St Anne's Church, Diocese of Rochester, USA
Liturgy of the Word
This is the first major part of the Mass. The action of the gathered assembly at this point in the liturgy is to listen with reverence and attentiveness. [Hence, no reading of the missal by the faithful at this time]. The Liturgy of the Word begins with the First Reading and concludes with the Prayer of the Faithful.
When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, all must listen with reverence to the readings from God's word, for they make up an element of greatest importance in the Liturgy (GIRM # 29).
Lector makes a profound bow after the reading.
In order to allow us to listen to the Word of God with both our minds and hearts, the Church calls for a reverent pace and periods of silence during the Liturgy of the Word so that we might have some time to reflect on what we have heard. [It is not necessary for the commentator to introduce the readings.]
The Liturgy of the Word is to be celebrated in such a way as to promote meditation, and so any sort of haste that hinders recollection must be clearly avoided. During the Liturgy of the Word, it is also appropriate to include brief periods of silence, accommodated to the gathered assembly, in which, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God may be grasped by the heart and a response through prayer may be prepared (GIRM#56).
TOP
KK Archdiocese Rejoices With Franciscan And Pauline Jubilarians
PENAMPANG(CS).- The Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese has every reason to rejoice with the Franciscan and Pauline Institutes as some of their members celebrated their jubilees of religious profession in August.
Franciscan Sister Jacinta Majalang celebrated her golden jubilee together with fellow Sisters Judith Bernard and Anne Marie Lojingau who celebrated their ruby jubilees Aug 15 at St Paul Dontozidon.
Two days later on Aug 17, Pauline Sisters Agnes Wong and Magdalene "Maggie" Chong celebrated their silver jubilees at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Archbishop John Lee presided over the concelebrated Mass of both events which were well attended by fellow religious, family members, relatives, friends and well-wishers.
In his write-up for the Franciscan souvenir magazine, Archbishop Lee wrote:
Each time we celebrate the jubilee of a religious sister, it always reminds us of the blessings we receive as a local Church.
A religious sister is called to witness the Gospel through her life and service, first of all, among the people of God. Her vocation finds deeper meaning in the life of the faith community.
He cited Vita Consecrata: "The charisms of the consecrated life can greatly contribute to the building up of charity in the particular Churches" (no 48).
In both instances, the archbishop challenged the jubilarians to look back into their lives to see whether or not they have been able to live out their vocation in gratitude and joy.
Needless to say, both events were followed by a reception and a short programme at the respective parish hall.
Born on 20 Feb 1936 in Kg Puluduk Penampang, Jovita Majalang was the eldest in brood of ten.
She entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in 1956 despite the initial objection of her parents.
She took the name of Sr Mary Jacinta of Our Lady of Fatima when she made her first profession on 11 Feb 1959. She took her final vows in 1964.
After her profession she taught in kindergarten for almost 20 years, took care of the girls' hostel in Tawau and currently the hostel in Telipok.
As for the ruby jubilarians, Judith Francis was born on 27 Sept 1948 in Kg Mahau Papar.
She entered the Franciscan convent in 1966 and took the name of Sr Mary Bernard of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she made her first profession on 3 Aug 1969.
She took her final wows on 6 Dec 1974.
After profession she trained as a teacher for three years at Gaya College and taught school for 33 years.
She is currently posted at Pace Bene FSIC Centre in Papar.
The other ruby jubilarian, Mary Lojingau, was born on 2 Nov 1951 in Kg Limbanak Penampang.
Mary joined the Franciscan Sisters in 1966, took the name of Sr Anne Marie of the Blessed Sacrament when she made her first profession on 3 Aug 1969. She took her final vows in 1974.
Born on 15 Nov 1956 in Tawau into a non-Christian family, Magdalene "Maggie" Chong was catechised, baptised and confirmed by then Fr John Lee (now archbishop) in 1975.
She entered the Daughters of St Paul convent in Petaling Jaya in 1979 before going to Pasay City Philippines to continue her formation as a media sister in 1980.
She made her first profession in Pasay City on 29 June 1984 and her final profession at Sacred Heart Cathedral on 23 June 1990.
Her co-jubilarian, Agnes Wong, was born on 27 Feb 1956 in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu).
Before entering the Daughters of St Paul in Pasay City in 1980, Agnes was one of the eight who attended the first ever Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) in Bundu Tuhan in August 1974.
She pioneered the Sunday School (now Kids of the Kingdom) in Sacred Heart Pro-cathedral after her baptism in the Holy Spirit.
She took her first and final vows together with Maggie in 1984 and 1990 respectively.
TOP
New Member For Daughters Of St Paul
MANILA(CS).- Novice Roseling Siaw Chen made her first profession among the Daughters of St Paul June 30 in Lipa City, Philippines.
Born on 30 April 1972 in Kuching, Roseling entered the Daughters of St Paul in Petaling Jaya on 1 June 2003. After a year she went on to the central house in Pasay City Philippines to continue her formation.
She entered the novitiate in Lipa City in 2007 and after two years, she applied and was accepted by the Provincial Government to make her first profession together with her co-novice Cherell Bacus at the Lipa Novitiate Chapel.
After her profession she is posted in Pasay City as a diffuser.
TOP
SMC-CWL Raises RM140,000 For Putatan Church
TANJUNG ARU(CS).- The Catholic Women's League of Stella Maris Church (SMC-CWL) Tanjung Aru raised a total of RM140,000 in aid of the new church in Putatan recently.
CWL Chairperson Datin Theresa William presented the cheque to Stephen Sondoh, chairman of the Steering Committee, in a simple ceremony held Aug 5 at a local seafood restaurant in Kota Kinabalu.
Parish Pastor Fr Fundes Motiung and his assistant Fr Tony Mojiwat witnessed the ceremony.
In her speech, the chairperson said the fund was raised through raffle ticket sales organised by the CWL.
She then thanked all her members for their commitment and dedication.
She also thanked the respective church ministries, parishioners, friends, donors and individuals who have contributed in one way or another to the success of the fund-raising programme.
Sondoh, in his turn, thanked William and the CWL, and all who have contributed so far to the building project.
He said the donation drive is ongoing and hoped that more faithful will come forward to help realise the project.
The chairman added that the cost of the whole project is estimated to be RM4 million.
The development plans, Sondoh continued, include a rectory, a hall, a Sunday School building, a convent, a recreational park and a welfare home for orphans and hard-core poor rural children.
The project will be implemented in stages beginning with the church and the rectory.
He informed the diners that the church technical building committee headed by Ar Dr Tan Jun Kwang had done the preliminary works and they are now finalising the design of the respective services which include building, mechanical and electrical works, external works and services, and external M & E works.
Sondoh added that among the fund-raising programmes planned for this year are a golf tournament in September, a carnival bazaar in November.
Others, he continued, are donation boxes, monthly third collection and other small income generating projects such as selling of bookmarks.
In order to hasten the completion of the project, Sondoh is urging all church members to assist in any way they can.
He said usable second-hand building materials can also be donated which would be utilised to construct sheds,storerooms, etc.
The chairman also told his audience that monetary donations can be made via crossed cheques payable to RTDKK St. Catherine of Siena Church, Putatan Sabah through project account Maybank No 510189007514.
TOP
La Salle Br Lawrence Dies At 91
KUALA LUMPUR(various sources).- La Salle Brother Lawrence Spitzig, the former director of St John's Institution Kuala Lumpur (SJI), who dedicated his entire life to education and youth died Aug 18 at 4:45 pm at the Assunta Hospital, Petaling Jaya. He was 91.
Brother Lawrence (pic) who was in coma for five days, lost his battle with prostrate and lung cancer.
His contributions to education have been immense.
Among his most notable contributions to SJI was the fact that he wrote the lyrics for the SJI school song Cheer cheer & courage display, which till today is sung by its students.
Born on 4 Feb 1918 in Toronto, the Canadian left his hometown in 1937.
"I had always wanted to be a missionary and teach in a foreign country. I grabbed the opportunity when there was a call for volunteers to work in Southeast Asia. I was a student brother then," he told The Star Online in an interview Feb 14.
His first assignment was at St Joseph's Institute Singapore in 1938 before he was transferred to SJI in 1941 (1954-1960; 1978-1983); St Xavier's Institution Penang (1960-1967) and La Salle Petaling Jaya (1967-1974).
His foray into education dates as far back as 1935 and besides the datukship award conferred on him by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in conjunction with Federal Territories Day this year, he was conferred the Order of Canada, a coveted award, by the Governor-General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson in 2004 for his six decades of education service to the people of Southeast Asia.
He was also granted the Jasamu Dikenang award during this year's Teachers' Day celebration.
During his teaching days, Spitzig was armed with an indomitable spirit and a willingness to serve as he stepped into the different phases of life.
He was interned by the Japanese military in Pudu Prison and later in Changi Prison in Singapore from 1941-1943.
"During this time, my endeavour to survive and serve grew even stronger. I started a prison school to teach the young juveniles with disciplinary problems," he said.
After his retirement in 1983, Spitzig became interested in schools in rural areas in Sabah.
"With the help of the Franciscan Sisters, we started a one-room school [in Sonsogon] as nobody wanted to come into the interior to teach the children. I don't remember much but someone told me that the fate of the children has changed for the better since my first visit there in 1996," he said.
Due to his failing health he retired permanently at the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Cheras early this year.
At 91, wheelchair-bound and undeterred by age, although hard of hearing and slow in his speech, in the interview with Charles Fernandez of The Star Online, Spitzig spoke endlessly on his one passion that had not changed until his death - a commitment to education.
He was an educator right to the end, committed to the Lasallian vision of education of the youth.
TOP
ICMC And Tenaganita Officials Visit Sandakan
SANDAKAN(CS).- A group of International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) and Tenaganita officials visited Sandakan recently.
Abhijit Dasgupta, acting country director, Nessy Rosdiana, regional coordinator of ICMC based in Jakarta Indonesia and Lilian Suiking, programme assistant of Tenaganita Tawau paid a courtesy call on Bishop Julius Gitom at his office Aug 19.
They shared their ideas and thoughts on the current situation pertaining to migrant workers and human trafficking in Sabah.
They met also with some members of St Mary's Parish Pastoral Council comprising Assistant Pastor Fr Paul Lo, Sr Liliana fsic, Winnie Khoo, Patrick Seah, Philip Mosinoh, Raymond Wong and Francis Tan at the Diocesan Meeting Room.
In the roundtable discussion, they explored ways and means on how the Church could reach out and touch the hearts of the vulnerable, especially the victims of human trafficking.
The local Church could be part of the networking system acting as a link to ICMC and Tenaganita.
The ICMC is an international operating organisation of the Catholic Church serving and protecting uprooted people - refugees, displaced persons and migrants regardless of faith, race, ethnicity or nationality - with operations in 30 countries of the world, including Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Turkey.
Tenaganita (Women's Force) is a non-profit organization based in West Malaysia with a mission to promote and protect the rights of women workers and migrant workers in a globalized world.
Currently, ICMC is implementing, in partnership with Tenaganita and Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan Human Development Committee (AHDC), awareness seminars/workshops on migrants and human trafficking issues in the different parishes in Sabah.
TOP
CIMW Staff Calls On Sandakan Diocesan Head
SANDAKAN(CS).- Boni Sagi, a staff of the Centre of Indonesian Migrant Workers (CIMW) based in Jakarta Indonesia, paid a courtesy call on Bishop Julius Gitom at the Diocesan Office Sandakan Aug 11.
They discussed briefly on matters concerning the working and living conditions of the Timorese community.
They also touched on issues pertaining to pastoral care extended to the community by the local Church.
The CIMW staff said he will be giving talks, gathering feedback and conducting field trips to the Timorese community in the diocese.
Sagi, a Timorese from Flores, arrived from Jakarta Aug 8.
He visited the Timorese community in St Mary Sandakan Aug 9-11; in St Dominic Lahad Datu Aug 12-16 and in Holy Trinity Tawau Aug 17-20.
TOP
National Day Message
As Catholics we appreciate the invitation of the government requesting all religious houses to hold special prayers for the country and king as we recognise that ultimately peace and the well-being are God's blessings. It is God who enlightens our minds and moves our will to seek and strive for the common good.
We have much to rejoice about in that amidst the severity of the global economic turmoil, the effect on our country has been comparatively mild and we pray that the worst be over.
Of greater concern to us is the pandemic AH1N1 influenza, increasing number of dengue fever cases, rising crime rates and still rampant corruption, about which we urge our government to take concrete steps of elimination.
While we are heartened that our honourable Prime Minister has launched 1 Malaysia to declare that Malaysia is equally for all Malaysians, and to stop conversions of children without the consent of both parents, we urge the honourable Prime Minister to take more concrete steps to achieve those objectives.
We strongly believe in UNITY IN DIVERSITY, based on the intrinsic value of each human person created in the image of God - we respect and appreciate each person in his/her individuality and solidarity with others. We hope that religious leaders will educate their flock to respect peoples of other faiths more than just claiming their own particular rights.
We urge the government to repeal and/or review all repressive laws including the Internal Security Act which do not uphold justice for all in Malaysia, a fundamental right of being human.
We wish all Malaysians a Happy Merdeka Day and pray that our country will continue to enjoy peace and prosperity.
God bless Malaysia.
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam
President
Catholic Bishops Conference, Malaysia
TOP
LJCCC Hosts 2nd CFCCCF Asian Conference
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- More than 300 representatives of various Covenant Communities from around the Asian region gathered for the 2nd Asian Conference of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Covenant Communities and Fellowships (CFCCCF) at the Pacific Sutera Harbour Resort Aug 6-9.
The event, hosted by the Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community, had its opening Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Karamunsing.
Among those who joined Archbishop John Lee at the opening Mass were Archbishop John Ha of Kuching, Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau, Bishop Dominic Su of Sibu, Fr Steve Tynan and Fr Bart Pastor of the Philippines, Fr Matthew Carpenter mhm of China, Msgr Primus Jouil, Fr John Wong, Fr Michael Modoit and Fr Johnny Raju.
Assisting Archbishop Lee at the Mass was Deacon Rayner Bisius.
After the Mass, the participants adjourned to the parish centre for a fellowship dinner.
Sessions given at the conference were based on the theme: Passing on the Faith (2 Tim 1:13-14): (1) Living Out the Faith in the Word (Archbishop Ha); (2) Family as Seedbed of Faith (Joe and Julie Chircop of Servants of Jesus Covenant Community Sydney Australia); (3) Faith Explosion in the New Evangelisation (i) By our Witness of Life (Fr Matt Carpenter) and ii) By our Preaching (Fr Bart Pastor); (4) Faith that Moves Mountain (Techie Rodriguez, Representative of Catholic Fraternity); (5) Youth-Hope and Bearer of Faith (Fr Steve Tynan).
The sessions were interspersed with sharings from the different covenant communities such as Servants of Yahweh Kuala Lumpur, Bread of Life Kuching, Elim Communities Manila and others.
A panel of speakers comprising Peter Wong of Kuching, Fr Steve Tynan and Joseph Chee shared on Nurturing our Faith in Community Living.
An open concert was held by the communities after dinner Aug 7.
Rodriguez also read out the message of encouragement from Henry Cappello, executive council member of the Catholic Fraternity and founder of the City of Joy Community in Malta.
In his message, he wrote:
"Over the years I have realised that coming together as brothers and sisters in His Name is one of the ways of expressing our love to Him and to each other...We are pledging to each other and to the good Lord that we stand by each other in hard times and in easy times, in the fun times and in moments of sorrow. We share our joys, our friendship, our gifts, our strengths and our weaknesses and needs."
The first Asian conference was held in Manila last year.
Chee, being the presiding elder of the LJCCC also shared the history of the Catholic Fraternity which was inaugurated on 30 Nov 1990 in Rome.
The Elders Meeting/fellowship took place after the general conference at the Tang Dynasty Park Hotel KK Aug 8-9 on the theme Passing on the Torch [of leadership]. Two sessions were given: (1) Vision and Role of Catholic Fraternity in the Church - Past, Present and Future (Techie Rodriguez) and (2) Passing on the Torch of Leadership (Joe and Julie Chircop).
TOP
FLC Organises One-day Training On Helping Families And Marriages In Crisis
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Taking advantage of her presence here in Kota Kinabalu (unplanned), the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission quickly organised a training on "Helping Families and Marriages in Crisis" by Dr Ligaya Acosta, executive director of Human Life International Asia-Oceania Aug 1.
The training, participated by 118 representatives of parish family life ministry of 12 parishes and members of the different archdiocesan commissions, was held at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre Karamunsing.
The objectives in organising the training were:
a) to instill awareness among parish helpers working with families on the realities, issues and challenges affecting families;
b) to examine the roles and responsibilities of family life workers; and
c) to learn to respond to individuals and families encountering problems.
Acosta presented three sessions: i) Helping Families and Marriages in Crisis; ii) Threats and Challenges to the Asian Family; and iii) The Homosexual Agenda.
The speaker, who has been working with the Philippine Department of Health for 28 years before her conversion from pro-choice to pro-life, knew her topics well and brought home to the participants the horrifying reality of the culture of death and the urgent need for all Christians to counter it.
Human Life International (HLI), she said, was founded by Fr Paul Marx in 1972 as Human Life Centre.
It is the world's largest international pro-life organisation with its headquarters in Front Royal, Virginia USA and 99 satellite offices in 87 countries.
Its mission is to create effective opposition to the culture of death and to build the culture of life.
Its primary activities are to train, organise and equip people to be pro-life in the five continents.
The present HLI president is Father Tom Euteneur who will be one of the presenters at the 16th HLI Asia-Pacific Congress on Faith, Life and Family (Walk in the Light) to be held in Miri Nov 19-21.
Acosta showed the participants that the acronym DEATH stands for D- Divorce, E-Euthanasia, A-Abortion, T-Total Population Control and H - Homosexuality.
She said that some of the challenges facing the family are:
a) attitudes toward marriage and family have shifted in directions totally opposed to Christian principles;
b) rising divorce rates;
c) alienation between children and parents;
d) rejection of marriage and family structures; and
e) antagonism towards having children.
Some of the factors, she explained, are i) mass media; ii) economic pressure; iii) materialism; and iv) anti-life and anti-family campaign.
According to Acosta, on the negative side, the mass media present moral values opposed to church teachings and basic human integrity, print and film pornography and violence.
Under economic pressure, absentee parents, rise in economically active women and change in attitude towards marriage and domestic tasks by women weaken family life.
With changing priorities, material wealth and success now determine social status, according to Acosta.
The speaker also brought home the fact that more than 250 million babies are being aborted every year chemically and 53 million surgically.
These abortions dwarf the yearly toll of about one million each year in the death concentration camps in Nazi Germany.
They also exceed in one year the total number of people killed during the six years of the Second World War.
She stressed very strongly that there is no such thing as safe abortion.
Divorce, she continued, has become a remedy for simple inconvenience.
She reminded the participants that divorce is not only about spouses but more about children who suffer psychological and emotional crisis.
Children, she said, are the most affected. They are conditioned to accept lifestyles of broken homes.
She pointed out that these children are the parents of tomorrow, who will shape the Church of the Future.
She also pointed out the alarming increase in teen pregnancy.
The Homosexual Agenda, she said, is a move to radically redefine marriage and family relations.
Before coming to KK, Acosta has been going around Malaysia giving pro-life talks (seminar/training) to youth and adults in Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Sibu and Miri.
TOP
Stella Maris Organises Family Retreat For JWG Bible Class
TANJUNG ARU(CS).- Forty-nine students from the Joyful Weekend Gathering (JWG) Bible Class joined the one-and-a-half-day retreat organised by the Stella Maris Parish July 17-18 at the St Thomas Catechetical Centre Tg Aru.
The objectives of the retreat were to help the students to deepen their understanding of the faith, enlighten them on family issues and help them become better daughters and sons.
Gabrielite Brothers Eddie Rayappan and Dominic Yeo-Koh and Franciscan Sister Carmen Cordova facilitated the sessions. Topics touched were: (1) Why do we believe in what we believe; (2) the commandments espeically the 4th commandment; and (3) family life.
The parents of the students were invited to participate on the second day - a concurrent session in the morning and a combined session in the afternoon. The students were asked to write a letter to their parents, expressing their feelings at that point in time. These letters were presented to the parents by them on the afternoon of the second day.
The parish initiated this retreat because it took seriously the fact that parents are the first teachers in their children's lives.
The stay-in programme has helped the students to interact and share their problems with each other. It also showcased the skills and talents of each one.
TOP
MYTC Holds Food And Fun Fair Carnival In New Campus
KINARUT(CS).- The Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC) held its Open House Food and Funfair Carnival Aug 9 at its newly completed campus in Kinarut.
Friends and supporters of Montfort set up more than 40 stalls selling local delicacies, drinks and a variety of attractive items for visitors.
Newly appointed MYTC Director Brother Peter Kolandaisamy said: "Our Friends from Sandakan have deeply touched us by their love and concern by coming over and setting up the Sandakan Hot Favourite Food cum Variety Stall."
He also said the male trainees have made wood and iron work products for display and for sale while the female trainees made tailored items and a variety of food and drinks.
Among the highlights were musical entertainment by De Notes Music Academy featuring De Notes Student Band, De Notes Gospel Band and Three SA Band comprising Universiti Malaysia Sabah undergraduates.
For the children, apart from balloons and ice-creams, they also had the time of their lives taking pictures with two tame snakes and a clown.
Since June this year, MYTC has admitted more trainees to its campuses: 36 girls in the Donggongon Campus under the supervision of the Infant Jesus Sisters and 120 boys in the Kinarut Campus.
The Congregation of the Brothers of St Gabriel was founded by St Louis M de Montfort in the 18th century in France dedicated to the education and welfare of needy youth. They are present in 34 countries.
They established their first institution in Shah Alam in 1959 and came to Sabah on 6 August 1998. MYTC Donggongon was opened in Dec 1999 while the Kinarut Campus was completed in 2008.
TOP
Neocat Members Make Pilgrimage To Loreto
ROME(CS).- One hundred and fifty members of the Neo-Catechumenal Way from Sacred Heart Cathedral, St John Tuaran, St Thomas Kepayan and St Paul Dontozidon who have reached the "Stage of Loreto" made a pilgrimage to Rome and Loreto, Italy, June 11-20.
During the pilgrimage, the participants attended the Angelus at St Peter's Square June 12 as well as the Wednesday General Audience with Pope Benedict XVI June 17.
The pope acknowledged the presence of organisations and associations during the audience and noted the presence of Archbishop John Lee of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese and the Neo-Catechumenal Communities from Sabah.
During dinner that evening, wait staff carried into the restaurant a huge cake from the Vatican, complete with a small Vatican flag stuck right in the middle.
Some of the activities during the pilgrimage included a visit to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Rome, the Neo-Catechumenal Centre in Porto San Giorgio, sanctuaries and historical sites within close proximity to our destinations and Loreto.
The pilgrims also made a "bonus" visit to the Sanctuary of the Holy Face in Manoppello.
"Speaking for myself," said Irene Obon, "the pilgrimage was like attending Mary's school and attempting to learn from her to love Jesus just as she loved him."
Since the Way is a period of gestation and preparing for the birth of Jesus in me, Obon continued, from whom else can I learn best how to contemplate the face of Jesus than from his own Mother?
Obon noted that the sayings about "a son to win and a mother to begin" as well as "behind every great man is a woman" played on her mind coming back home.
"That strictly is my own experience. Every pilgrim has his own," she added.
Visiting the House of Mary at Loreto was an "awesome experience," she said.
"Within those walls, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and she consented to bear the Son of God and Saviour of the world. How remarkable her faith, how worthy of emulation her humility as she replied, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord'..." she continued.
Obon added: "I felt truly humbled and very much challenged. Mother Mary thus sets an example even as she gently urges me to do as her son tells me and to follow in his footsteps."
TOP
Archbishop Lee Celebrates Requiem Mass For Carmelite Fr John M Chin
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Archbishop John Lee presided over the requiem Mass for the late Carmelite Father John Mary Chin at the Carmelite Chapel Kota Kinabalu Aug 1. Carmelite Chaplain Fr Felix Chung concelebrated with him. Among those who attended the Mass were the late priest's eighth younger brother, Stephen, and his family.
On the same day, the late Carmelite priest was cremated after the funeral Mass in Taiwan. His ashes will be brought to Sts Peter and Paul Parish Singapore in November where he was the pastor from 1997-1998. Chin died July 17. He was 93.
Chin was the first Chinese Carmelite priest in the order. Born in Sandakan on 15 May 1916, he entered the Carmelite novitiate in India in July 1935 after asking permission from Msgr August Wachter to leave the preparatory seminary in Jesselton. He made his first profession in 1936, took his solemn vows in 1939 and was ordained priest on 6 Jan 1943.
Providentially, the late priest was the godfather of Archbishop Lee when the latter was baptised by Fr Valentine Weber at the Carmelite Chapel on 8 Nov 1933.
TOP