Compiled by Rogena R Sining
and photos by George Bell
Fr Jasery Emmanuel, Rector of St Martin’s Church
Telupid
In his welcoming address, Fr
Jasery extended his warm welcome to the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Joseph
Marino, Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau, Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom of Sandakan, Mother Grace, all clergy from Kota Kinabalu, Keningau and Sandakan, religious
and parishioners from the four parishes across the Diocese of Sandakan.
He said, 'It is indeed a great blessing for
us to host the 8th Anniversary of the Diocese of Sandakan and an
honor to have the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Joseph Marino in our midst.
Your presence, dear Archbishop
Joseph is precious for us, not just the people of Telupid but for the entire
faithful of the whole diocese. This being your first official visit to our
diocese makes the event even more meaningful. Thank you for allocating time for this
occasion in spite of your heavy schedule and commitment.’
He expressed his appreciation to
Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau, all clergy from the arch/diocese of Kota
Kinabalu, Keningau and Sandakan, the religious sisters and all parishioners of
the diocese for their presence.
He thanked the working committee,
ministries, communities and individuals concerned in making the anniversary
celebration a reality. He was touched by the commitment and close cooperation
among the people during the process of preparation and implementation. That’s
the beauty of a Christian community, in communion as a family. Let us rejoice in this auspicious day, our Diocesan Anniversary.
Archbishop Joseph Marino, the Apostolic Nuncio
Archbishop Joseph expressed his appreciation to the people
for the warm welcome extended to him. The large turn out during the blessing
and opening of the new Pastoral Centre 13th October has indeed made
him felt very much at home. He did not feel at all as a stranger in a foreign
land.
‘Though we have not met before,
we tend to know each other and stay united because we believe in the same God,
the same Lord Jesus Christ and we belong to the same church. That is the nature
of the Christian family, embracing and accepting one another. And that is the
reason for our celebration, the 8th Anniversary of the Diocese of Sandakan.
The Diocese is that big family
and the father of the family is your wonderful Bishop Julius who takes care of
you.
I thank Fr Jasery and the people
of Telupid for welcoming me to the parish. It is not because I am the archbishop
but for the fact that I represent the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
I saw the Holy Father last year
and he said, ‘Wherever you go in Malaysia, tell the people that I love them.’
Pope Francis loves each and every one of you. In a couple of weeks, I will be
in Rome for my annual meeting, I hope to be able to see the Holy Father and if
you would allow me, I will tell the Pope that you love him.
The work of the apostolic nuncio is
unlike any other embassy. We are here to care and stay close to the faithful
and to collaborate and work with Bishops assuring that the Holy See is always
visible. The faithful in Malaysia is never isolated from the Vatican.'
Wishing you, Happy Anniversary!
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