Sandakan Christmas Celebration 2010

Sandakan : The office of the Member of Parliament P 186 Sandakan, the Municipal Council and the Sandakan Inter Church jointly organized the three-day Sandakan Christmas Celebration at the Sandakan MPS Square on Thursday December 16 2010.

The celebration, three years in running attracted a massive crowd of some 1,500 people. All chairs were taken up way before the start of the event. Many had to stand throughout the program. The venue brightly and colorfully lit with a stage against a well-designed backdrop and a huge Christmas tree adorned with flashing neon light befits the occasion. The venue lined with hundreds of hand-made lantern stars submitted by parishioners of member churches for competition projected the theme on "Jesus, the Star of Great Joy.'

Rt Rev Julius Dusin, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sandakan in his opening address reminded the people of God to remember that Christmas is God's language of love for us. It is indeed a celebration of love and therefore we are called to speak, act and promote this language of love. He urged the people to extend God's love to the less fortunate and thus allow the light and love of Christ to touch their hearts.

Datuk Ir James Wong, President of the Municipal Council who graced the occasion said that Malaysia is richly blessed because of the prevailing peace across the nation making it possible for the multi-racial and multi-religious communities to co-exist in harmony and unity. He called on the people to continue to nurtue and enhance such warm relationship among the people for the well being of the nation. 

Pastor Sia Chairman of SIC presenting a memento to Bishop Julius

St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, hosted the night's program supported by the Calvary Charismatic Church and the event started off with a creative ten-member acoustic guitar presentation to the tune of 'Mary's Boy Child' and ''Oh, Holy Night.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The night was filled with medley of songs, dances both liturgical and modern as well as drama presented by parishioners of both the Roman Catholic and the Calvary Church.

Patrick Seah, the RC representative to the Sandakan Inter Church when contacted has this to say, 'Such event is a good platform for members from the different churches to interact and promote solidarity among member churches.'

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