SABAH YOUTH CROSS ARRIVES ST. JUDE'S CHURCH SEMPORNA

Holy Trinity youth  preparing the Cross for the journey to St Jude, Semporna

Tawau : About 30 members of the Parish Youth Apostolate and a few parish leaders of  Holy Trinity Church continued with the Sabah Youth Cross's journey, bringing the Cross to St. Jude's Church Semporna, some 108 km away from Tawau on 29th May 2011. 

Parishioners of St Jude waiting for the arrival of the Cross

The Youth Cross arrives at St Jude

Felsa May of HTC handing over the Youth Cross to the representative  of St Jude's youth

Welcoming the Youth Cross at the main gate

The procession into the Church

Arriving at 5.15 pm as scheduled, it was handed over to St. Jude's Youth Committee. In the service of the Word that followed, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMC) Francis Kamuntah talked about the meaning of the Youth Cross to the congregation. This was followed by adoration and reflection led by Sr. Liza fsic.

EMC Francis Kamuntah in his sharing about the Cross, dearly cherish by all faithful

The Cross of Christ, entrusted to the youth of the world by the late Pope John Paul II at the closing of the Holy Year of the Redemption (1983-1984), the late Holy Father urged them to:

The local youth preparing the Cross for adoration

"Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ's love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption"

"The Cross, the sign of God's ineffable love, a sign that reveals that 'God is love."

"Follow the pilgrim Cross; go in search of God, and you will see that he is also to be found in the heart of a modern city" (Rome, 22nd April 1984).

Noticing the absence of the Cross during that weekend's masses at Holy Trinity Church, the rector Msgr. Nicholas Ong, in his homily, said:" Unfortunately the cross has to travel to Semporna for the weekend. Otherwise it could have been placed near the altar to be seen by everyone as it is both a symbol of our faith as well as a symbol of our communion with the Pope."

Deep in adoration

True enough the Cross returned to Holy Trinity Church for the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord on the 7^th week of Easter, where it was placed near the main altar till it leaves for St. Dominic's Church Lahad Datu some 150 km away on 11th June 2011.

Julita Kantod

Soccom, HTC