Let's Celebrate

article by ds and
photos by bell

 L-R : Patrick, Fr Anthony, Bishop Julius, Fr Charles, Sr Maria rgs, Sr Veronica fsic, Sr Lilian fsic

Sandakan : The Bahasa Malaysia Pastoral Committee (BMPC) of St Mary's Cathedral organized the 'Easter Gathering' Sunday, 8th April 2012 at the Parish Hall, attended by some 300 parishioners. The gathering was to celebrate the feast of Easter with joy and thanksgiving as in Psalm 118 : 24, 'This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.' 

Christopher Aban, MC for the function

The get-together was aimed at enhancing unity among the various communities and providing opportunities for members to interact, building up the much needed relationship for the growth of the Church.

Also in attendance were Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom, the guest of honor, Fr Charles Chiew, the visiting priest from the Diocese of Keningau, Fr Anthony Mikat, the assistant parish priest, religious sisters and Parish Pastoral Council members.

Patrick Seah

Patrick Seah, the PPC Chairman welcomed each and all to the function. He said, 'With the risen Christ, we no longer stumble in darkness, we can have His light with us always. We shall now walk the path in His light.'

Fr Anthony Mikat

Fr Anthony Mikat, in his welcoming speech said that God send His only and beloved Son to the world to save mankind. Welcoming and addressing the new members, he said, 'You and I have been saved because we chose to believe and were baptized. We need to ensure at all time to take our faith seriously and to abide by His command, 'A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'

'Let us pray'

The presence of the large number of Indonesian migrants to the Easter gathering is a sign of biblical hospitality, about loving your neighbor and seeking to build up good relationship, 'I was a stranger and you welcome me.'

A presentation by the pupils of the 'Children Learning Program'

A dance performed by teenagers of the BEC of St Mary's Cathedral

An action song by the Parish Youth Apostolate 'I am singing in the rain'

'Dolo-dolo' by the Indonesian Catholic Community

In the course of the dinner, parishioners were entertained with five presentations; BEC of St Mary's Cathedral, Good Shepherd Sister's Children Learning Program, Parish Youth Apostolate, Indonesian Catholic Community and BEC of Chi Hwa.