Fr Thomas Makajil heads the Diocesan Pastoral Council

Bishop Julius presiding the meeting

SANDAKAN : The Diocesan Pastoral Council was officially established today, 27th November 2009 with Fr Thomas Makajil, rector of St Mary's Cathedral appointed as Chairman of the council.

The date of the meeting was chosen to coincide with the Diocesan Formation Seminar for PPC members from 27th - 29th November 2009 for the convenience of all Council members.

Bishop Julius presided the inaugural meeting which was held at the Cathedral Parish meeting room. In his welcoming address, he thanked all members for generously accepting the offer to sit as council members for a term of two years.

Seated: Francis, Fr Thomas, Bp Julius, Msgr Nicholas, Sr Appolo fsic

Standing: Albert, John, Henry, Mario, Thadeus and Willie Binante

The line-up of the newly established Diocesan Pastoral Council consists of the following;

• Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom as President
• Msgr Nicholas Ong (Holy Trinity, Tawau) as ex officio
• Sr Appolonia fsic (St Mary's Convent Sandakan)as ex officio
• Fr Thomas Makajil (St Mary, Sandakan) as Chairman
• Francis Tan (Diocesan Pastoral Office) as Secretary
• Henry Solibun (Diocese of Sandakan) as Committee
• Thadeus Sibir (Holy Trinity, Tawau) as Committee
• Willie Binante (St Dominic, Lahad Datu) as Committee
• Albert Matusin (St Martin, Telupid) as Committee
• Mario Domingo (Holy Trinity, Tawau) as Committee
• John Baptis (St Mary, Sandakan) as Committee
• Terrence Ngui (St Mary, Sandakan) as Committee

The meeting touched on the following issues;

• Demographic survey~progress and status of implementation
• Establishment of BECs~progress and process
• Diocesan delegates assembly

Henry Solibun was appointed to look into the planning and implementation of the proposed Diocesan delegates assembly scheduled to be held sometime next year.