Seri Murni Crisis Center Sandakan

Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd

Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd (PKGS), the official welfare arm of the Congregation of the Religious Good Shepherd Sisters  (RGS) is a not-for-profit NGO. It has, on the 24th May 2010 officially established the Seri Murni Crisi Centre (SMCC) in the Diocese of Sandakan.

The focus of PKGS is to make visible the mercy and forgiving love of God,especially to those who are marginalized and broken, especially women, girls and their families, restoring in them their worth and dignity. They reach out and welcome each person with respect and dignity, accompanying each one with care and compassion.

Seri Murni Crisis Center, offers a safe haven and temporary shelter for women and girls in crisis situations such as;

• Women, mothers and their children who are experiencing abuse in their relationships or through domestic/family violence
• Teenage girls/women in pregnancy who are unwed or in crisis
• Women experiencing conflict in their marriage
• Women in personal or family difficulties
• Survivors/victims of rape or assault

The Crisis Center offers the following programs where persons can experience healing and recovery of their worth and dignity and gradually be empowered to manage and take responsibility for their own lives, and to integrate with their families and the wider community;

• Protection and a temporary safe home
• Counseling and support
• Group living where residents learn to relate to one another and manage differences in positive and healthy ways
• Life skill program teaches residents independent living skills such as coking, housework, sewing, grooming and other skills as necessary
• Self development programs such as basic computer skills, handicraft, and language literacy program.

Currently, the Crisis Center can accommodate up to 10 distressed women or girls at any one time. Those in need of help may call the following staff at 013-5544775 or email to sabah@pkgs.org.my.

Sr Maria Dipal RGS - Shelter Home Manager

Jessica

Jell

Allison

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Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Paroki St Martin, Telupid

TELUPID (22 Mei): Perayaan Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Paroki yang diadakan di Chapel St. Mary, Kg. Wonod telah dihadiri lebih kurang 300 umat terdiri dari masyarakat pelbagai kaum.

Misa Kudus Kaamatan dirayakan oleh Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom dan Fr. Marcellinus Pongking selaku Paderi Paroki bermula 10.00 pagi.

Melalui tema pada tahun ini iaitu ‘Budaya Berkomuniti Berpusatkan Kristus’, Bapa Uskup sekali lagi menjemput umat untuk memfokuskan nilai hidup Yesus Kristus yang membawa erti ‘Sumber Hidup’ dalam komuniti.

“Kenyataan ini sangat jelas, namun bukan mudah untuk mencapai jika kita tidak beri perhatian maksud tema ini supaya menjadi amalan budaya harian”, jelasnya.

Bapa Uskup amat gembira melihat Pesta Kaamatan kini perlahan-lahan telah menjadi wadah Sabda Tuhan untuk sampai ke pendengaran umat dan umat kristian mempunyai sebab untuk bersyukur dan berpesta kerana berjaya menemukan “mesej Tuhan”.

 Selepas misa, umat beredar ke sebuah khemah yang dibuat khas berhampiran chapel hasil gotong royong dimana acara pentas diadakan. Dengan kehadiran pemimpin masyarakat tempatan dapat juga merasakan suasana makan bersama yang menjadi lambang kesatuan dalam Kristus lebih-lebih lagi kehadiran Bapa Uskup.

Turut hadir ialah Pengerusi MPPT, Albert Matusin, Pengerusi Pelaksana Kaamatan Peringkat Paroki, Jikol Gambud, Pemaju Mukim Liwogu Jonybone Kurum serta Ketua Kampung Wonod, Taikong Gawah. 

 Lawrence Matusin

SOCCOM Paroki SMT

Official opening of Seri Murni Crisis Centre in the Diocese of Sandakan

Sandakan :Two sets of painting, depicting 'Shepherd God reaching out to the poor and marginalized' the handwork of Sr Patricia Barasik RGS and Sr Maria Dipal RGS were offered during the presentation at the Eucharistic celebration, presided by Bishop Julius Dusin, yesterday 24th May 2010 at the Seri Murni Crisis Centre, marking the official establishment of the RGS mission in Sandakan,

The two paintings, very much connected have a story to tell. One of the paintings depict the Good Shepherd holding a staff and with one arm outstretched, reaching out. The other represents women and children with their hands outstretched asking for help.

One part of the painting was presented to the prelate as a gift of their gratitude and a representation of the shared mission and partnership of both parties in serving those in need. It was symbolic that the painting for the prelate was the one of the Good Shepherd.

The painting of the women and children, signed by the prelate, would be retained in the said center as a symbol of his endorsement of Good Shepherd mission in the Diocese. 

When the two pictures are placed side by side, they represent the Good Shepherd reaching out to persons in need. In the context of the center, they represent Seri Murni Crisis Center working in collaboration with the Diocese of Sandakan with a common mission of reaching out to persons in need.

Sr Joan Lopez RGS, the provincial leader of Malaysia-Singapore region, presented one of the paintings to the prelate.

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RGS establishes mission in the Diocese of Sandakan

Bishop Julius signing the visitor's book

Sr Joan Lopez welcoming Bishop Julius

Bishop Julius celebrating Holy Mass at the Crisis Centre

Sandakan : The Congregation of  the Religious Good Shepherd Sisters (RGS) officially established its mission in the Diocese of Sandakan with a Eucharistic celebration, presided by Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom, con celebrated by Fr Simon Kontou and assisted by Deacon David Garaman, this morning, Monday 24th May 2010 at the newly established Sri Murni Crisis Centre.

Some 60 people, including collaborators from KL and KK, religious sisters of RGS and FSIC,  Brother Datuk Charles of the De La Salle Brothers and local Church leaders, attended the celebration.

 Sr Joan RGS in her welcoming speech

Prior to the celebration, Sr Joan Lopez RGS, the provincial leader of the Malaysia-Singapore region took the opportunity to thank the prelate for his kind invitation extended to them to set base in the Diocese. She shared that the focus of  Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd (PKGS), the welfare arm of RGS is to reach out to the poor and marginalized,  especially women, girls and their families.She commended her predecessor, Sr Susan Chia RGS and the lay partners for initiating the set up of the said crisis centre.  She called upon the local parishioners to volunteer as partners and journey with the less fortunate, restoring in them their worth and dignity.

The prelate, in his homily shared how a rich young man who had the best of the world ran to Jesus seeking for an answer for long lasting peace and happiness, which money could not buy. The man was in crisis.  He knew where and who to turn to.

He added for women and girls in crisis and trouble, the Sri Murni Crisis Centre, managed by PKGS will be able to provide a safe haven for them. With that, he officially welcomed the RGS to the Diocese to carry out the great mission of the Church, in compliance with the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church.

The blessing ritual saw Sr Joan Lopez RGS and Theresa Symons, the Executive Director of PKGS lighting the candle and passing it on to Chin Poh Choo, Director of PKGS and Sr Angelina RGS. They in turn, passed the lighted candle to Sr Maria Dipal RGS and the staff of Sri Murni Crisis Center, Sandakan. The candle was then blessed by the prelate followed by the sprinkling of holy water.

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A tribute to the Catholic Teachers of HTC Tawau

Tawau : Sunday, 16th May 2010, Msgr Nicholas Ong, rector of Holy Trinity Church celebrated the 7th Sunday of Easter  Eucharistic celebration, which coincided with the nation's 39th teachers day with the theme 'Guru Pembina Negara Bangsa ' .

Some 20 Catholic teachers and more than 200 members of the Catholic Students' Association (CSA) of Holy Trinity Parish in full uniform, attended the Eucharistic celebration. The big turn out of the students  on that day, was a clear sign of their sincere appreciation to their teachers for their dedicated service in ensuring that students are groomed and formed to be faithful and loyal citizens of the country.

After the Holy Mass, the teachers and students adjourned to the Parish Hall for a luncheon fellowship.The program of the day included games and songs, played and sang by teachers and students respectively.

Such activities create excellent opportunity for building up and strengthening the bond between teachers and students. It is also a fertile ground  to inculcate good moral value in the students, to give respect and honor to their teachers.

In all human history, Jesus is the greatest teacher whose teachings are the greatest pieces of wisdom and literature. His teachings are timeless, applicable to human life at any generation. He offers wisdom and compassion that only He can give. He feeds His lambs and tends to His sheep.

To all teachers,wherever you may be, 'Happy Teachers' Day'/'Selamat Hari Guru' and may the Lord bless you abundantly. 

Felsa May

Lanjutan Seminar Penggunaan Buku SKM

Gereja Our Lady of Fatima, Beluran

Bergambar bersama ahli Komiti Katekatikal Gereja OLOF, Beluran

Beluran: Pada Sabtu, 15hb hingga Ahad, 16hb Mei 2010, Sr Veronica Kandaung, fsic bersama Sr Liliana Gubod, fsic meneruskan seminar tersebut untuk Gereja Our Lady of Fatima (OLOF), Beluran yang merupakan stesen luar di bawah Paroki Katedral St Mary, Sandakan. Seramai lebih kurang 20 peserta hadir ke seminar ini.

Seminar Penggunaan Buku Siri Katekatikal Malaysia

Katedral St Mary, Sandakan

Sandakan: Seramai lebih kurang 35 peserta dari  Katedral St Mary, Sandakan telah menyertai Seminar Penggunaan Buku Siri Katekatikal Malaysia (SKM). Seminar ini merupakan anjuran Komiti Katekatikal Katedral St Mary yang dipengerusikan oleh Sr Liliana Gubod, fsic. Penceramah jemputan ialah Sr Veronica Kandaung, fsic merangkap Pengarah Pejabat Katekatikal dan Peyelaras Komisi Katekatikal Keuskupan Sandakan.

Care for the environment - a common responsibility

Telupid : "We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening around us, for the deterioration of any one part of the planet affects us all," the pope said in his message for World Peace Day, at the start of 2010. The pope pleaded  to "all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful creator and the father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation."

Bishop Julius, who was on his way back to Sandakan after giving a talk to participants of the Campus Ministry National Camp at Pace Bene, Papar on 10th May 2010, stopped over at St Martin's Church. Together with Fr Marcel Pongking, the rector of the Church, the prelate planted five Malabar Chestnut, given to him by Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong of the Diocese of Keningau, at the church's compound the following morning, 11th May.

Malabar Chestnut, makes a suitable indoor potted plants, commonly called money or fortune tree, the stems of which can be braided or could be planted as an outdoor specimen. The pod fruit, contains white seeds which can eaten raw or roasted.  

The principle of the dignity of creation, in accordance with  the Catholic Social Teachings poses a challenge to the people of God to care for the environment. It is a common responsibility of all, who are stewards of mother earth to look after it, as we are instructed to 'cultivate and care for God's Creation' (Gen 2:15).

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