A New Hall For St Martin's Church, Telupid

By DS

Telupid : Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom, the Bishop of Sandakan sealed the contract for the construction and completion of the proposed St Martin's Pastoral Centre on Saturday, 12th July 2014. Mr. Sunny Ng, signed on behalf of Syarikat Lintas Permai Enterprise of Sandakan, the successful bidder for the contract.

L-R : Fr Jasery, Bishop Julius, Sunny Ng, Henry Wong and Albert Matusin

The signing ceremony were witnessed by Fr Jasery Emmanuel Gabuk, the rector of St Martin's Parish, Henry Wong, Chairman of the Diocesan Finance Council, Roger Enty, Deputy Chairman of the Building Committee and his Committee members.

The Centre, measuring 70 feet by 100 feet has a seating capacity of some 700 people. It has provisions for future extension of a mini auditorium on the left and other utility rooms on the right of the building, measuring 20 feet by 70 feet each.

Signing as witnesses

The contract sum of the said job (main building) is RM800,000 (RM Eight Hundred Thousand Only) and is expected to be completed six months from the date of possession of site. The total amount, including extensions and external work would come to some RM1.1 million.

The local community has been busy soliciting for funds through the various BECs and generous individual members. Members of the community are committed to raise RM500,000.

The old hall was taken down in 2011. After a lapse of some three years, the new hall is eventually to be constructed. 

Fr Jasery said, "The amount to be raised is definitely enormous. It 's tough but not impossible. We need to pray. He will prepare a way for us but as a community we need to find the way together. Never surrender before we begin."

L-R : Henry Wong, Bishop Julius, Sunny Ng and Fr Jasery

Bishop Julius urged all parties to work hard in realizing the targeted amount so that the hall could be built as scheduled. The prelate went on to say, "The hall belongs to all. Therefore the fund raising should not be looked upon as a burden but a responsibility."