ST. MARY’S CATEDRAL PARISH SOCCOM CELEBRATES 46th WCD

Dallius LL SOCCOM Sandakan

Sandakan : St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Social Communication Committee (Soccom) celebrated their belated 46^th World Communication Day (WCD) on Sunday 26^th August 2012 with blessing and commissioning by the parish priest Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil.  In his message the Reverend hoped that the Soccom members called into the service will serve the church in evangelization through pastoral programs involving the communication and sharing of the Good News to all people in the parish.

For this year WCD themed “Silence and Word : Path of Evangelisation”, the Parish Soccom Committee headed by its Coordinator Pilis Malim took the opportunity to organise a half-day  program in commemorating the event. 

The program started soon after the Eucharistic celebration, held at the Diocesan’s Conference Room with the introduction of the new Soccom office bearers and committees for the year 2012 by Pilis Malim. Also in attendance, were the Parish Priest, the Parish Pastoral Council Chairman, Executive Secretary to the Bishop and the Chairman of the Parish Liturgical Committee.

The second part of the program was the affirmative talk by the Parish Priest Fr. Thomas on the background of social communication. He gave a good example of how Jesus himself evangelized through his many parables which is a form of social communication through faith. Although the Parish Soccom was set up some three years ago, he hoped that the Parish Soccom will progress in using the available channels of communication in making a change, bringing about renewal and transformation for the purpose of salvation. He commended the new line-up for taking up the challenge to serve in this ministry and he hoped that their role will always assist the Church in the field of evangelization. 

The third part of the program was the official launching of the Parish Soccom Logo. Fr. Thomas presented the prize to Dexter Francis who emerged as winner of the logo design competition. Dexter officially became a member of the Soccom Committee by a symbolic acceptance through wearing the official Parish Soccom uniform. 

The forth part of the program was the presentation of a Video Clip by Bell Lawadin on Soccom activities carried out since its inception. Bell, with his vast experience in Soccom (Tuaran Parish)  has been instrumental in getting the Cathedral's BM bulletin in place. He  has contributed immensely to the set up of the Parish Soccom.

The last slot of the program was an enriching and informative talk given by Terrence Ngui, Chairperson of the Diocesan Soccom Commission on the subject of the rationale for communication, form of communications and the Church’s documents on Social Communication. 

The program concluded with a Closing Prayer  led by Fr. Thomas and thereafter adjourned to a luncheon fellowship outside the conference room.