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.

DS