1st Sabah Catholic Women's Convention

Archbishop Datuk John Lee launching the Convention

Bundu Tuhan : The first Sabah Catholic Women’s Convention with its theme on ‘Women in Today’s World’ held at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre, was officially launched by Most Reverend Datuk John Lee, D.D. the Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu on 6th September 2010.

Bishop Julius with the Sandakan delegates

A total of 238 participants coming from across the three arch/dioceses in Sabah attended the convention. The Diocese of Sandakan was represented by 62 members of the Catholic Apostolate of the various parishes led by Annie Rokneh, Chairperson of the Sandakan Diocesan Catholic Women’s Apostolate.

The Sandakan delegates posing with Sr Appollonia FSIC and Sr Liza FSIC

The idea of such convention was mooted in 1993 with the erection of the Diocese of Keningau, unfortunately the plan did not take off. It was only in late 2007, after the erection of the Diocese of Sandakan that members of the Catholic Women’s Apostolate/League began to feel a call to come together. Preparation work for the convention began early this year with the objective to strengthen the faith of the Catholic women in Sabah.

The convention logo with the map of Sabah as its background symbolizes the combination of the three arch/dioceses. Our Lady is the symbol of the Sabah Catholic women and the Cross leads the people to be Christ centered.

The logo of the convention reflects the spirit of communion among the Catholic women in the three arch/dioceses of Sabah. The spirit of communion is founded on the spirituality of our Lady, which brings us to real worship to Jesus Christ.

7th September, 2010

Rev. Fr. John Wong of KK Archdiocese presented three papers on “Why Am I Here”, “God’s Love of Us” and “New Person Responding to the Grace of God”. In winding up the day, Fr Wong showed the delegates a movie on Mother Teresa’s life, ‘In the Name of God’s Poor’ which consolidated his three talks.

8th September, 2010

Sr Grace Deosing, Mother General of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception presented a paper on “Catholic Women and the Church”.

Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom D.D., the Bishop of the Diocese of Sandakan who had just returned from Seoul, Korea after attending the Congress for Asian Catholic Laity, presented the 2nd paper of the day, “Catholic Women and the World”.

The final session of the day was a talk on “Women of Faith” presented by Fr Dr Charles Chiew of the Diocese of Keningau.

9th September, 2010

Bishop Julius joining in the singing

A panel discussion was held and the following were among the resolutions arrived at:

• The Sabah Catholic Women’s Convention will be held once in three years on a rotation basis among the three dioceses in Sabah i.e. the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, the Diocese of Keningau and the Diocese of Sandakan.

• The 2nd Sabah Catholic Women’s Convention will be held in the Diocese of Keningau in 2013 and the 3rd Convention will be held in the Diocese of Sandakan in 2016

• The theme of the 2nd Sabah Catholic Women’s Convention will be “Catholic Women and the Family”.

Presentations by the Sandakan delegates

10th September 2010

The concluding Eucharistic celebration was presided by Rt Rev Datuk Cornelius Piong, D.D. the Bishop of the Diocese of Keningau, con celebrated by Fr Dr Charles Chiew and Fr John Wong.

Cecelia Polo @ Cecelia D’Souza