Bishop Julius Blesses the Building Site for the Extension of St. Mark's Multi-Purpose Hall

BY ROGENA ROGER SINING

Sandakan : Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom blessed the building site and graced the ground breaking ceremony for the proposed new hall for St. Mark's Church, some 20 kilometers from town, yesterday 14th September 2014. The ceremony marked the start of the construction.

The new building, a 30 feet by 100 feet two-storey concrete structure is an extension of the existing hall, behind the church. The proposed building runs parallel to the existing hall, which is 18 feet apart. The gap will be covered, to add space to the hall and when completed, may accommodate some 600 people for church functions and community activities. The first floor of 4 classrooms will be used for catechism classes.

Present to witness the occasion were, Michael Lai, St Mary's Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council Vice-Chairman, David Chung, the Parish Finance Committee Chairman, Peter Thien, the Parish Property Management Committee, John Pang, Dimeh Koyopo, St Mark's Pastoral Committee Chairman and his committee members.

St Mark's Church, built in 1993 sits on a two-acre site with a multi-purpose hall constructed behind the church, to cater to the then small Catholic community. With the ever increasing number of parishioners over the years, both local and foreign, the need to extend the hall is felt. The new extension is expected to be completed before 14th April 2015.