Bishop Julius Calls for More Vocations

Happy Anniversary and may the Good Lord Bless You!!

Sandakan : "I made a promise to the Lord, to be a priest forever. Called to serve and nothing but to serve".

Members of the St Mary's Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council and Church leaders and elders gathered at the Parish Hall last night November 8th, 2010 for a fellowship dinner, to rejoice with their priests in celebrating their ordination anniversary. All diocesan priests were present as they were to attend the bi-monthly priests meeting scheduled the following day.

They celebrated the belated 32nd presbyteral ordination anniversary of Msgr Nicholas Ong, the rector of Holy Trinity Church Tawau on 3rd October, the advance 32nd presbyteral ordination anniversary of Fr Thomas Makajil, rector of St Mary's Cathedral Sandakan on 11th November and the advance 21st presbyteral ordination anniversary of Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom, Bishop of the Diocese of Sandakan on 19th November.

Bishop Julius calls for more vocations

Bishop Julius said that when people gather to celebrate priestly ordination anniversaries of priests , we celebrate the evidence of God’s powerful gift that has enabled them to persevere and to progress in their commitment to Christ and their commitment to the people of God. 

He went on to say, "To all the priests who celebrate their anniversary of their priestly ordinations, I offer my prayerful and heartfelt congratulations and thanks for your years of faithful pastoral ministry".

He added that through such occasions more young people, with the support and prayers of their parents may respond to the call for more vocations in the Diocese.

Fr Thomas sharing his priestly journey

Fr Thomas Makajil extended his appreciation to the PPC for the initiative taken to have the celebration organized in recognizing the anniversary of the clergy's  priestly ordination. 

He said, “It’s a great blessing for me to have served in the sacred priesthood for 32 years. I give thanks to God for His great gift bestowed upon me. Above all, your   tremendous support all these years has given me  courage to move on and forward in my pastoral ministry".

Msgr Nicholas saying Grace before meal

As we gather to commemorate the anniversaries of the three priests, including our Bishop in our Diocese, let us join in offering friendship, companionship, and support to our clergy who have committed their lives  serving us in the name of Jesus. 

Let us give thanks to God for the great gift he has given us in our faithful priests. And let us always pray to God that He will call new labourers into his vineyard.

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