Pilgrimage Tour to the Diocese of Sandakan

By Pilis Malim (Sandakan) and Julita Kantod (Tawau)

Tawau : Holy Trinity Church Tawau warmly welcomed some 43 members from Inobong and Sugud of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu on Friday, 30th November 2012. The delegation led by Ms. Levita Michael reached Holy Trinity at 5.00 pm and there after attended the daily Mass together with the local parishioners. Responding to the year of faith, distance will not pose an obstacle to do such spiritual pilgrimages travelled as an individual or in company for it offers the opportunity to explore, deepen, re-kindle their own faith. 

After mass, the group were invited to the Parish Canteen for a fellowship dinner . In his welcoming words, Mario Domingo, the PPC chairman welcomed each one of them and  gave a briefing to the background, the current status and the future of Holy Trinity Parish. "It is indeed a very positive step in response to the call by our Holy Father as we journey together in this Year of Faith. May the good Lord bless your journey to other stations and complete your spiritual intention successfully and joyfully" he added. 

Ms. Levita Micheal the leader of the group expressed her sincere thanks to the Parish for their very friendly and cordial welcome extended to them. "Beside enhancing our own relationship through the extended journey, we hope to experience God's love through others who we may encounter and most of all to strengthen our faith, which is our main purpose in organizing this spiritual pilgrimage," she added. 

This group will continue their journey to cover the whole Diocese of Sandakan. They would leave for St. Jude Semporna, St. Peter Kunak, St. Dominic Lahad Datu, St. Mary's Cathedral, Our Lady Of Fatimah Beluran and the last destination at St. Martin Telupid. 

After dinner, the group proceeded to the Church for a photo taking session with Msgr. Nicholas Ong followed by night prayer.

  Members with Fr. Thomas Makajil, Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Seated on the right of Fr. Thomas is Levita Michael. (Photo by Franky Edwin)

Sandakan : The 43-member delegation on a 4-day pilgrimage tour to the Diocese of Sandakan from 30th November until 3rd December 2012 arrived St. Mary’s Cathedral on 2nd December 2012 after having visited Holy Trinity Church, Tawau, St. Peter’s Church, Kunak and St. Dominic’s Church, Lahad Datu. 

Mrs. Levita Michael the pilgrimage leader, when interviewed by St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Soccom shared that the objectives of the tour are ;

1. To promote a closer relationship and brotherhood among/between the participants and parishioners from neighbouring arch / dioceses, to develop friendship, love and solidarity in Christ. 

2. To provide an opportunity for likeminded members to visit churches of other Dioceses which can lighten up our spiritual life. 

3. To take a little break from the tightly schedule to experience holiness with a better understanding of our faith by being in and around Churches.
4. To continue with the awaited program of pilgrimage tour after our first visit to the Diocese of Keningau in 2011.           

The group attended the Sunday BM Mass at 9.00 am at the Cathedral, after which they adjourned to the Parish Canteen to mingle around with the local parishioners. By noon, they departed for Beluran and Telupid to visit Our Lady of Fatimah’s Church and St. Martin’s Church, respectively.

Similar pilgrimage tour is being organized by Sr. Appollonia Gumpu FSIC for St Mary’s Cathedral, Sandakan. The tour is organized in conjunction with the Year of Faith and it is scheduled on 13th to 16th December, 2012. The destination of the pilgrimage tour will be Keningau Diocese where one of the churches to be visited is St. Anthony’s Church, Tenom.