Eucharistic Celebration For the 7th Sandakan Diocesan Day

BY DS AND PHOTOS
COURTESY OF BELL AND FARNANDES

Lahad Datu : Rt. Rev. Julius Dusin Gitom, the Bishop of Sandakan presided over the Eucharistic celebration for the 7th Sandakan Diocesan Anniversary, con celebrated by all Diocesan Priests and Fr Bede from Keningau on Monday 6th October 2014 at St Dominic's Church. Close to one thousand faithful from across the Diocese attended the thanksgiving mass.

The prelate in his homily said that as members of the one big family of God, it is only right that we give thanks and praise to Him for guiding us for the last seven years. Our praise and thanksgiving will only be meaningful if we live our life as authentic Christians in accordance to His will and continue to contribute in building His Kingdom.

He called on the people to live in unity as one in His body and embrace all in the community taking heed of St Paul's letter to the Galatians 3 : 27-28, 'For as many as you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all are one in Christ.'

He cited Evangelii Gaudium, 'The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, inner emptiness and loneliness.' We are called to build His church. We are to share the Good News. We need to be sincere, genuine, serious and be inflamed with zeal and the right spirit to spread His Kingdom. Never remain lukewarm in our approaches.

He urged the people to share the faith in the workplace, the community and family. Like the Good Samaritan, we are to reach out to our neighbors in need especially within our community. We are to relate to one another in our BECs to ensure that we remain a close-knit community of faith.

He concluded by telling the people to adopt a change of attitude towards neighbors in order to build up the community through BECs in line with the diocesan pastoral thrust. Do your best to produce fruits for His Kingdom and as we celebrate the 8th Diocesan Day next year, we could confidently say that we have in fact done our best for His Kingdom.

Front (L-R)  : Fr Bede, Fr Thomas, Bishop Julius, Msgr Nicholas Ong, Fr Johnny

Back (L-R) : Fr Jasery, Fr Marcellinus, Fr Simon Kontou and Fr Philip Muji

Fr Simon Kontou with members of the Parish Choir