WE JOURNEY TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF CHARITY

Tawau : Some 120 members of the Parish Youth Apostolate (PYA) of Holy Trinity Parish Tawau, gathered for charitable work during the Lenten season. Filled with zeal and enthusiasm, the young people took the  initiative to clean the Catholic Cemetery at Mile 11 Mambulua Tawau, Sunday,11th March 2012. 

 

The 'gotong-royong' is a respond to the Lenten's message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, "Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good work",  Hebrew 10: 24. It is also to inculcate the  sense of responsibility among the Youth towards the need of the Church. 

Led by the main core members, they marched on to the cemetery at 1.40 in the afternoon. This is the first outing of its kind undertaken by the PYA. 

A spiritual input regarding the sacredness of Catholic cemetery and rules to adhere were given before their departure to the site ensuring that all participants understood the purpose and also the ‘Do's and Don’t's’ while at the cemetery. 

PYA's coordinator, Felsa May was touched and grateful by the overwhelming respond given by the youth.. She shared on the message of Pope Benedict XVI regarding hope of the Church to the young people of God. 'In time to come we must know our purpose and our obligation to the Church and to the society, we hope and are confident that with the support from the elders around us, we, the future pillar of the Church will be open to the world and willing to see new things.'

She continued to say,  "with the spirit of humility and charity we can be a part of the Christian life and journey together as brothers and sisters to be true witnesses of God by doing good work". 
 

 

 

It was indeed very encouraging to see and to experience together the many youth offering their service for the good of the Church. Participants were divided into groups and were very committed in doing their assigned task.

 

Towards the end of the 'gotong-royong', each group lighted candles to the tombstones they had cleaned. The activity ended at 3.40 pm with prayers offered to the departed souls.

JCK – SOCCOM Tawau.