Diocese of Sandakan Catechetical Seminar

The 2nd Catechetical Seminar of the Diocese started yesterday,08-08-2013, with the opening Mass at 6.00pm at the St. Mary's Cathedral Sandakan. Concelebrating the Mass with the Most Reverend Bishop of Sandakan Bishop Julius D Gitom was His Grace Archbishop John Wong of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Rev. Fr Philip Muji and Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil, the Assistant Rector and Rector of the St. Mary's Cathedral.

In his homily, the Most Reverend Julius said that teaching Catechism is more than just getting the young people ready for the Sacraments of the Church. " Unless one have a personal experience with Jesus Christ, we cannot teach Catechism with conviction. In the local context, gone are the days where scriptures can be taught in schools and hence that is why there is a greater need for the Catechists now." Catechists should also strive to find out what is the lacking in our transmission of faith to others." As the Most Reverend Julius pointed out though that there are many receiving the Sacraments of the Church yearly, there are also a great number who eventually left the Church or becoming lax Catholics or even leaving the Church entirely. Perhaps, he added that imparting knowledge to the students, we should strive to bring them to the Person of Christ our Saviour.

Registration for the seminar began at 4.00pm and approximately 167 participants from Telupid, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Sandakan registered for the Seminar. The Seminar is scheduled for three (3) days beginning 08-08-2013 to the 10-08-2013 with the theme "United in Christ, Give witness to Him.". The Seminar is conducted in three main language of Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and English with speakers from Sabah. Archbishop John Wong is one of the main speakers for the Mandarin speaking group.

Day 3
Morning Prayer