WE JOURNEY TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF CHARITY

Tawau : Some 120 members of the Parish Youth Apostolate (PYA) of Holy Trinity Parish Tawau, gathered for charitable work during the Lenten season. Filled with zeal and enthusiasm, the young people took the  initiative to clean the Catholic Cemetery at Mile 11 Mambulua Tawau, Sunday,11th March 2012. 

 

The 'gotong-royong' is a respond to the Lenten's message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, "Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good work",  Hebrew 10: 24. It is also to inculcate the  sense of responsibility among the Youth towards the need of the Church. 

Led by the main core members, they marched on to the cemetery at 1.40 in the afternoon. This is the first outing of its kind undertaken by the PYA. 

A spiritual input regarding the sacredness of Catholic cemetery and rules to adhere were given before their departure to the site ensuring that all participants understood the purpose and also the ‘Do's and Don’t's’ while at the cemetery. 

PYA's coordinator, Felsa May was touched and grateful by the overwhelming respond given by the youth.. She shared on the message of Pope Benedict XVI regarding hope of the Church to the young people of God. 'In time to come we must know our purpose and our obligation to the Church and to the society, we hope and are confident that with the support from the elders around us, we, the future pillar of the Church will be open to the world and willing to see new things.'

She continued to say,  "with the spirit of humility and charity we can be a part of the Christian life and journey together as brothers and sisters to be true witnesses of God by doing good work". 
 

 

 

It was indeed very encouraging to see and to experience together the many youth offering their service for the good of the Church. Participants were divided into groups and were very committed in doing their assigned task.

 

Towards the end of the 'gotong-royong', each group lighted candles to the tombstones they had cleaned. The activity ended at 3.40 pm with prayers offered to the departed souls.

JCK – SOCCOM Tawau.

YOUTH MONTHLY GATHERING

HOLY TRINITY, TAWAU - Youth Monthly Gathering (YMG) ke-9 telah diadakan pada 11 Mac 2012 akan tetapi perkumpulan ini diadakan di Tanah Perkuburan Kristian Batu 11 Jalan Apas, Tawau. Aktiviti ini dianjurkan oleh Team Kerasulan Belia Paroki Tawau (KBP) yang bertemakan “Beramal, Berdoa dan Bertobat" sempena musim pra-paska.

Seramai 120 belia telah melibatkan diri dalam aktiviti amal membersihkan kawasan perkuburan. Sebelum aktiviti bermula para belia diberikan taklimat mengenai peraturan semasa berada di tanah perkuburan yang disampaikan oleh saudari Noami. Seterusnya input diberikan oleh saudari Dollores Diego berkenaan kehidupan dan kematian yang diambil daripada petikan alkitab.

"Untuk segala sesuatu ada masanya, untuk apa pun di bawah langit ada waktunya. Ada waktu untuk lahir, ada waktu untuk meninggal, ada waktu untuk menanam, ada waktu untuk mencabut yang ditanam..." 

(Pengkhotbah 3:1-2)

Selepas itu, para belia dibahagikan kepada kumpulan dan kawasan masing-masing untuk dibersihkan. Dalam aktiviti ini para belia juga mengambil kesempatan untuk menziarahi tapak perkuburan keluarga dan saudara mara mereka yang telah meninggal dunia.

Selain itu para belia berkumpul untuk berdoa bagi roh-roh arwah yang telah dipanggil Tuhan. Lagu Amazing Grace dinyanyikan sebagai lagu penutup dan seterusnya para belia menyalahkan lilin di setiap kuburan. Aktiviti amal ini diakhiri dengan jamuan ringan.

Disediakan oleh Jacksikh Ansim
SOCCOM KBP Holy Trinity, Tawau

Current and Upcoming Events - SMC, Sandakan

Soccom, aag

LENTEN VISIT TO SRI STELLA SPECIAL CHILDREN CENTRE.

Tawau : 10 members of the Children Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) ministry of Holy Trinity Parish Tawau, together with friends and their children made a visit to the Sri Stella Special Children Center on 7th March 2012. Three SOCCOM members also joined the visit.

Cristine Liew who led the group said CLOW responded to the Lenten message of His Holiness Benedict XVI which call forth all faithful to take heed of the biblical passage drawn from the Letter to the Hebrews; 'Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.'

The season of Lent is a season for all faithful to redirect and refocus on renewing our baptismal commitment, a need for deeper conversion of our lives. This is a favorable time to be concern for each other especially tendering our care and compassion for those less fortunate. Members of the CLOW ministry spend the day with the 23 children of which 16 are of day care and 7 residents involving cases of cerebral palsy, down syndrome , mental retarded and autism.

Their visit brought much cheer, joy and delight to the children of the centre. They played games, danced and presented each child a present, an indication that 'we care.' It is also an expression of gratitude for all that God has granted us. 

Such act of charity, not just confined during lent but at all seasons is part and parcel of our faith. It is our way of life, an integral element of the Church's teaching and very much in line with the Social Teaching of the Church. Let us put the 'hands and feet' to the message and reach out to those in need by doing His will and walking His path.

JCK- SOCCOM Tawau.

Lawatan KBK dengan pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS bersama Belia-belia St. Mark

ST MARK, BATU 12 – Tidak ada kata-kata yang terungkap untuk menggambarkan kegembiraan apabila Tim Kerasulan Belia Keuskupan (KBK) Sandakan mengadakan lawatan dengan pelajar-pelajar Catholic Student Group Campus of Sandakan (CSG-CS) bersama dengan belia-belia St Mark pada 04 Mac 2012 yang lalu.

Lawatan yang bertemakan “Let’s Hang Out” itu bertujuan untuk menjalinkan hubungan persahabatan dengan pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS dengan lebih dalam lagi. CSG-CS merupakan perkumpulan kecil pelajar-pelajar Katolik di UMS cawangan Sandakan yang ditubuhkan pada September tahun lalu. Dengan berbekalkan semangat ingin melayani, pelajar-pelajar katolik institusi tersebut yang sebelum ini bergiat aktif dalam Catholic Student Group Untuk Melayani Sesama (CSG-UMS) telah menubuhkan perkumpulan ini selepas berpindah ke Sandakan di bawah pimpinan Saudari Philominah Karen Philip.

“Apabila kamu berada di Diosis Sandakan, kamu akan berada di bawah jagaan kami,” kata Saudari Anna Teresa Peter Amandus (wakil KBK) mengulangi kata-kata Sr Lilian Unsoh dalam perjumpaan yang lepas bersama dengan pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS.

Kata-kata itu sememangnya amat mengharukan pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS kerana mereka tahu mereka tidak dapat berjalan sendirian tanpa komuniti di Diosis Sandakan. Dengan usia CSG-CS yang belum mencapai usia setahun, memang banyak cabaran yang dihadapi dan mereka sangat memerlukan sokongan.

 Lawatan ini menumpukan kepada konsep mengenali sesama. Ia dimulakan dengan “welcoming songs” yang lebih kepada lagu-lagu pujian dan seterusnya membawa kehadiran Tuhan dalam perkumpulan melalui lagu penyembahan. Ia diteruskan dengan makan bersama dan “ice-breaking” melalui aktiviti-aktiviti yang dijalankan. Selepas itu, beberapa “games” dibuat untuk merapatkan hubungan sesama. Aktiviti akhir yang dilakukan ialah perkongsian dalam perkumpulan kecil dan perkumpulan besar serta lagu penutup.

Secara keseluruhan, semua yang hadir dalam lawatan tersebut sangat gembira dan dipenuhi dengan sukacita. Selain itu, hubungan antara pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS dengan belia-belia St. Mark dieratkan lagi melalui lawatan ini sehingga belia-belia St. Mark bercadang untuk membawa pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS dalam pelayanan dan aktiviti-aktiviti mereka.

 “Sudah lebih kurang 5 bulan kami tidak dapat mengikuti aktiviti seperti ini kerana kami tidak dapat mencari tempat untuk menjalankan aktiviti. Saya sangat gembira kerana kerinduan saya terubat, ” kata salah seorang daripada pelajar CSG-CS.

Salah seorang daripada belia St. Mark tersentuh dengan kata-kata itu kerana ada yang dapat merasakan kepentingan lawatan ini yang sememangnya memberi banyak input.

Diharapkan lawatan seperti ini diteruskan lagi pada masa-masa akan datang kerana ia sangat bersesuaian dengan pegangan pelajar-pelajar CSG-CS sendiri iaitu mencari Yesus di mana-mana sahaja.

Clauvia Jvia, CSG-CS
Photo oleh Bro. Bell dan Schoffal Charles Moiji

Ceramah Ajaran Sosial Gereja di St Martin Telupid

Imelda Alfred

TELUPID  -  ‘ Ceramah Pembangunan Insan ’ yang dikendalikan oleh  Sr.Maria Dipal RGS dari Religius Gembala Baik yang juga Pengerusi Komisi Pembangunan Insan Diosis Sandakan dan Saudara Francis Tan dari Pejabat Pastoral Diosis telah diadakan di Gereja Katolik St.Martin pada Sabtu 3 Mac yang lalu.

Seramai 52 orang peserta yang mewakili pelbagai kumpulan Gereja dan Komuniti Kristian Dasar di sekitar Paroki Telupid hadir mengikuti ceramah tersebut. Sesi ceramah bermula pada jam 9 pagi dengan doa pembukaan dipimpin oleh Sr.Maria.Dipal RGS.

Sdra Francis Tan

Pembangunan insan melibatkan proses perubahan fizikal juga mental dan perubahan ini perlu dinilai dan didasari oleh Ajaran Sosial Gereja yang bermakna untuk komuniti Katolik kita. Umat Katolik samada individu, kumpulan atau komuniti harus respon kepada keperluan orang yang memerlukan seperti dalam  kisah 'Orang Samaria yang murah hati' dalam Lukas 10 : 25-37. Saudara Francis Tan dalam ceramahnya menegaskan bahawa ajaran katolik sangat menitikberatkan mengenai kasih. Sepertimana Allah mengasihi anakNya begitu juga dengan kita sesama manusia harus mengasihi di antara satu sama dengan yang lain kerana setiap insan itu amat berharga di mata Tuhan.

Sr Maria Dipal RGS

Ajaran Sosial Gereja merupakan harta yang penuh dengan sumber kebijaksanaan dalam membina komuniti insani yang adil dan kehidupan yang kudus di tengah masyarakat dunia yang kian mencabar. Sister Maria menerangkan unsur-unsur penting bagi gereja adalah melalui Alkitab ( Sabda Tuhan ), Sakramen dan Misi Sosial. Iman kita harus berakar-umbi kepada hidup berkomuniti.

Selesai ceramah diadakan, sarapan pagi turut disediakan oleh Kerasulan Wanita Katolik. Selepas itu, sesi seterusnya adalah sesi perbincangan dalam kumpulan  iaitu sebanyak 5 kumpulan yang terdiri daripada 10 orang setiap kumpulan. Semua peserta yang hadir  berbincang dan bertukar-tukar pendapat tentang isu semasa berhubungkait dengan 7 tema ajaran sosial gereja yang meliputi;

• Kehidupan dan maruah manusia
• Panggilan kepada keluarga, komuniti dan keterlibatan
• Hak-hak dan tanggungjawab
• Peluang bagi mereka yang miskin dan lemah
• Maruah pekerjaan dan hak-hak asasi para pekerja
• Solidariti
• Menjaga ciptaan Tuhan

Selepas perbincangan setiap kumpulan membentangkan tema penting dalam ajaran sosial gereja. Semua yang hadir bersetuju pentingnya pembangunan insan kerana sangat mempengaruhi pendekatan di dalam pendidikan kristiani, pelayanan pastoral dan psikologi pastoral. Pendekatan ini dapat memperkembangkan dan meningkatkan keupayaan untuk mendapatkan kualiti hidup yang lebih baik menurut kepada ajaran sosial gereja masa kini.

Ceramah Pembangunan insan ini merupakan julung kalinya diadakan di Paroki Telupid. Ia mendapat sambutan yang menggalakkan dan baik sekali seterusnya dapat mematangkan, memperkembangkan dan meneguhkan lagi tahap iman semua yang hadir kerana membantu menjawab segala persoalan umat kristian mengenai iman Gereja Katolik. Di akhir sesi, Francis Tan menyeru agar semua peserta mengambil bahagian dalam pelayanan gereja. YA, SEMESTINYA KAMI ! dapat melayani sesama dengan cintakasih Allah. Kita tidak mampu menjadi Katolik sejati tanpa memberi perhatian dan mengambil peduli kepada golongan yang memerlukan bantuan dari kita, kerana kita semua adalah anggota tubuh Kristus.

Pembentangan hasil perbincangan kumpulan

Current and Upcoming Events ~ HTC Tawau

Activities for the month of March 2012

Date	Time	Venue	Particulars
08.03.2012 (Thursday)	7.00pm	Annex Room 2	Human Development Program Sub Committee Meeting
	8.00 pm	Annex Room 1	PYA Meeting
09.03.2012 (Friday)	7.30 pm	Annex Room 2	CSA Meeting
11.03.2012 (Sunday)	12nn-4pm	Mile 11 Cemetery	YMG-9-Youths Lenten Program ‘Gotong Royong’
12.03.2012 (Monday)	7.30 pm	Church Basement Hall	Fund Raising Committee(Pledge Card) Meeting
13.03.2012 (Tuesday)	7.30 pm	Church Basement Hall	Parish Feast Day Committee Meeting
	7.30 pm	Conference Room	Catechetical Committee Meeting
17.03.2012 (Saturday)	8.00 am – 12.00 nn	Church Basement Hall	Talk on Introduction of Human Development in the Light of Social Teaching of the Church
19.03.2012 (Monday)	7.30 pm	Conference Room	PDA Meeting
20.03.2012 (Tuesday)	7.30 pm	Conference Room	PPC Meeting
21-24.03.12 (Wed-Sat)	7.30 pm 8am-12.30pm	Church Basement Hall	Pre-Marriage Talks in BM
25.03.2012 (Sunday)	2pm-5pm	Church Basement Hall	Chinese RCIA Recollection
	7.00 pm	Parish Canteen	BEC Committee & Coords’ Fellowship
27.03.2012 (Tuesday)	7.30 pm	Conference Room	CPC Meeting
30.03-01.04 (Fri-Sun)	7.30 pm	Parish Hall	Lenten Retreat joined organized by ADST,KK and HTC CCR Group

** Bible Sharing (3 languages) every Monday at 7.30 pm

** Prayer Meeting (3 languages) every Friday at 7.30 pm

** Novena for Divine Mercy every Friday at 3.00 pm in the Chapel.

Salva, Parish Office of HTC Tawau

An active and effective Catechist needs the right attitude

JCK- SOCCOM Tawau.

Tawau : Some 105 catechists of Holy Trinity Parish including those from outstations attended a one-day Study Day on the seven attitudes of a Catechist, organized by the Parish Catechetical Team on Saturday, 3rd March 2012 in the Church Basement Room.

The one-day Study Day gave the participants the opportunity to explore ways and means to be an  active and effective catechist, passing on the faith to others. It also provided them a platform to exchange ideas on developing one's skills, knowledge and enhance one's attitude in carrying out the task as catechists. Ongoing formation is necessary to prepare oneself to respond to the great commission as in Matthew 28:19, 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of time.'. 

The Church considers Catechesis one of the most important tasks. By baptism we are all incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. We are called by the Lord in a special way to follow Him, teacher and formator of disciples.

The day's session began with an Opening Mass at the Chapel, presided over by Fr David A. Garaman, the assistant rector of Holy Trinity Parish.

In his homily Fr. David urged the participants to discern on their roles as catechists called to share their faith, give witness and build community. It is through Word and action that catechists hand on the Catholic faith and proclaim the Gospel of Christ. He went on to say that catechists must possess and exhibit qualities necessary to give credible witness to the Gospel. A catechist must be a model of Catholic Christian faith living a lifestyle that could be an example for others to follow.

In his introduction, Fr David Garaman said that the vocation as catechists is a call by the Lord. Responding to the call is the willingness to offer one's time, talent and treasure. It is not merely catechizing to others but it also contributes to one’s own growth and deepening of one's faith.  

Participants were divided into groups to discuss on how to better oneself as a Catechist. They shared on the seven attitudes of becoming an active and effective Catechist. 

1.            Prayerful life – A Catechist is a role model to the Catechumen and therefore needs to lead a prayerful lifestyle centred on Christ following His teaching and  be a faithful witness of God.

2.         Living and loving the faith – understanding the true meaning of the Eucharist, the foundation of the Catholic faith, through this they can passed on their faith and our church tradition / knowledge to their children’s, friends and community.

3.                Good preparation and know the material -Know your subject. Read, study, and learn. A good lesson depends on how well the catechist understands the material. Be punctual on all events. You will be honored if you keep to the time. Engage in a variety of activities to make your lesson interesting.

4.         Good Interaction – Catechist is reminded to have good communication skill, open minded, approachable and also a good listener and ready to assist when necessary.

5.              Good sense of humor – this will avoid a tense and bored situation in the session. A relax situation will prompt catechumen to speak up and ask questions.

6.         Engage in efforts to deepen your knowledge of the faith and grow spiritually. No catechist can know everything and by going to workshops, retreats, classes, studying Catholic literature, etc. can help broaden your understanding and learn new ways of teaching.

7.      Respect – be humble as you serve in His vineyard as Catechists. Treat each Catechumen with respect and love. Be tolerant as you guide them along the journey of faith.

The program ended with participants rededicating themselves to the mission as well as presenting their resolutions before the Lord individually and as a group. The session adjourned at 4.30pm.