COURTESY AUDIENCE BY PRISON FELLOWSHIP MALAYSIA (PFM) TO RT REV DATUK JULIUS DUSIN GITOM FOR THE WALK FOR JESUS 2017

Text and photo by Cecelia Kimin

Sandakan - On May 25, representatives of Prison Fellowship Malaysia (PFM) Sandakan Chapter paid a courtesy call to Rt Rev Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom. Rev Amos Eng, Cecilia Kimin and Joseph Lee dropped by St Mary's Cathedral, Sandakan, to officially invite Rt Rev Datuk Julius to be a guest of honour at PFM's 'Walk For Jesus (WFJ) 2017' event on Aug 27.

Besides presenting the invitation letter and WFJ t-shirt, the trio also sat down to talk about ongoing issues related to the city, state and country that concerned the Christian community as a whole. Rt Rev Datuk Julius shared his thoughts concerning those issues and agreed that the Christian community should now, more than ever, come together to pray in unity.

Even though Rt Rev Datuk Julius is unable to attend WFJ due to other prior pastoral commitments, he is fully supportive of the event and PFM's fundraising efforts through the sale of WFJ t-shirts as well as the circulation of donation cards among the members of the Catholic Church.

WFJ is a prayer walk organised every two years by PFM. It is held simultaneously in 25 towns and cities across Sabah. Its purpose is to gather believers to pray for the needs of their town and country, as well as raise awareness and funds for PFM. PFM is a Christian ministry that aims to bring hope to prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families and those affected by crime.

AKTIVITI BERKELAH BERSAMA BAPTISAN BARU

Artikel Oleh  Dominggus.

Gambar Oleh Dominggus & Simon.

Lahad Datu – Seramai 30 Baptisan Baru kelas Inisiasi Kristian Dewasa (IKD) daripada 36 yang dibaptis tahun ini, telah mengikuti aktiviti berkelah di taman rekreasi Taliwas bersama keluarga, kawan-kawan dan pembimbing bagi meluangkan masa bersama, untuk perpisahan dalam pembelajaran mereka di kelas IKD. Aktiviti ini telah dianjurkan pada 10 Jun 2017 oleh pihak Pembimbing atas persetujuan para Baptisan Baru.

Seawal jam 7:30 pagi, semua yang mengikuti aktiviti ini telah berkumpul di kawasan lapangan gereja St. Dominic dan bertolak pada jam 8:30 pagi ke taman rekreasi Taliwas. Sebaik sahaja tiba, aktiviti bermula dengan doa pembukaan oleh saudara Bob Remon selaku Penyelaras Pembimbing IKD.

Doa pembukaan oleh Bob Remon

Aktiviti ini dimulakan dengan permainan yang dibahagikan kepada 3 kumpulan, dan setiap kumpulan masing-masing mengenakan pakaian “Merah, Biru dan Hitam”. Setiap satu kumpulan mempunyai 10 orang ahli. Antara permainan yang dipertandingkan ialah ‘Dance Battle, Elephant Trunk, Walking In The Air, Catterpillar Dance, Running Man dan Flying UFO’ dimana sebahagian keluarga, kawan-kawan serta para pembimbing turut serta dalam permainan bagi memeriahkan lagi aktiviti ini. Aktiviti ini di selenggarakan oleh saudari Elaine Alejandro selaku pembimbing IKD.

Selepas aktiviti ini berakhir, semua yang berpatisipasi berehat untuk makan tengah hari dan doa makan dipimpin oleh saudara Bob Remon. Aktiviti mandi sungai menyusul sehingga jam 1:30 petang diikuti sesi perkongsian dari para baptisan baru serta ucapan oleh para pembimbing.

Dalam perkongsian para baptisan baru, mereka berterima kasih kepada Kristus yang telah menyelamatkan mereka di dalam kolam pembaptisan dimana dosa mereka telah dihapuskan dan bangkit dengan jayanya bersama Kristus serta berterima kasih kepada para pembimbing yang telah berkorban masa dan tenaga. “Walaupun selama berada dalam kelas, ada waktunya faham dan tidak faham tetapi kerana usaha para pembimbing yang mahu kami berjalan bersama Kristus, akhirnya kami lulus dan dibaptis. Semoga para pembimbing terus berjuang dan bersemangat dalam pelayanan ini”.

Para pembimbing dalam sesi perkongsian berkata, “Diharap para baptisan baru terus aktif ke gereja dan ambillah antara pelayanan di gereja supaya api iman kamu yang masih menyala itu terus dibakar dalam pelayanan agar sentiasa hidup dan berkarya di dalam hidup kamu, dan janganlah sia-sia kan apa yang telah kamu terima dan berjuang selama di kelas IKD pada hari pertama iaitu kamu mahu mencari iman dan seperti dalam Injil Matius 7 : 7-8 ‘Mintalah, maka akan diberikan kepadamu; carilah, maka kamu akan mendapat; ketoklah, maka pintu akan dibukakan bagimu. Karena setiap orang yang meminta, menerima dan setiap orang yang mencari, mendapat dan setiap orang yang mengetok, baginya pintu dibukakan.’ Kamu telah berjuang demi Yesus dan telah mendapat hasilnya dari apa yang kamu minta, iaitu iman kamu kepada Yesus dan telah menjadi Garam dan Terang dunia. Akhir kata dari kami, tahniah kepada semua baptisan baru dan semoga pengalaman kamu bersama kami para pembimbing selama ini dapat membawa kamu terus berjalan sebagai seorang Katolik yang penuh dengan iman dan cinta kasih. Tentunya kami sebagai pembimbing juga berharap agar setiap anak didik kami yang akan datang akan melalui pengalaman cinta kasih Yesus di dalam kelas IKD ini seperti kamu juga”.

Perkongsian Para Baptisan Baru

Elaine Alejandro selaku Pembimbing IKD

Selepas sesi perkongsian, para baptisan baru telah menyediakan cenderahati kepada para pembimbing sebagai kenangan disusuli penyampaian hadiah kepada pemenang aktiviti permainan serta bergambar bersama sebagai aktiviti penutup. Aktiviti selesai kira-kira pukul 4:15pm.

“捐血運動”

(山打根訊) 華協婦女組成功舉辦“捐血運動”，並籌獲46包寶貴的血液。

此項捐血運動乃是配合山打根聖瑪莉主教座堂華協成立30週年慶祝之系列活動之一，于6月18日耶穌基督聖體聖血節舉行，時間是早上8.30至下午1時，地點在堂區活動中心。

婦女組的姐妹們精心準備簡單但營養的早餐以及禮物贈予成功捐血者。教友們也于彌撒后紛紛前往驗血響應，當中也有一些不符合捐血條件而遭到割舍。

捐血的好處：

一、促進身體健康：捐血后，身體會制造新的血球以替補流失的血液，促進身體健虐。

二、有效燃燒卡路里：研究發現，透過一次捐血，便會有高達650的卡路里被燃燒。捐血不但能減重，維持健康體魄，還能避免痴肥，好處不勝枚舉。

三、減低患心臟疾病機率：定期捐血能平衡體內的鐵質指數。一年至少捐血一次的捐血者患上心臟病的風險將比沒有捐血的人減少高達88%。

四、降低患癌風險：許多人不知道，長期捐血能有減低患上多種癌症的機率，如肺癌、肝癌、腸癌、胃癌和喉癌。

定期捐血，把捐血變成一種習慣，不但有健康益處，也能為社會作出貢獻，拯救生命。

文：廖琳琳

图：戴维邦

HOLY TRINITY PARISH TAWAU CELEBRATED FEAST DAY: THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

By : Julita Kantod

Holy Trinity Parish Tawau: Some 1000 or more parishioners participated in the Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Msgr. Nicholas Ong, on 11 June 2017, in conjunction with the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, which the church has taken its name. The 8am Eucharistic Celebration, though it was raining, was still able to gather parishioners from various communities, groups, ministries and the nearby Chapel.

Msgr. Nicholas Ong, the rector, in his homily, urged all parishioners to remain as faithful children of God, especially in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. “We are all blessed, for God has gifted us with the faith of believing in the most controversial statement by most religion, The Holy Trinity. Our faith teaches us very clear that The Holy Trinity is the mystery of love, communion and peace which is visible in the person of Christ, our God and Saviour. By His suffering, death and resurrection, God is with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. By God’s grace and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we are indeed in communion with Him, our God. You do not only see the full meaning of the Trinity but you experience it and in return, you must share it to others. The unity and communion that you build within the people around you is the sign of peace and worth of salvation” he said.

In relation to the Vision and Mission of the Diocese, Msgr. Nicholas Ong continued his short explanation on the importance of unity in diversity; to journey together in achieving the Vision as one big family of God. 

After the Eucharistic celebration all parishioners adjourned to the Parish Hall for some entertainment and fellowship.

The gathering which was attended by more parishioners began with a word from the emcee to welcome everyone followed by a short sharing on the Vision and Mission of the Diocese presented by Mario (On the Vision statement) and Julita (on the Mission statement). It was an opportunity and an approach to make sure all parishioners are aware of its existence and hopefully, be able to understand its purpose and their role in making the Vision and Mission a success.

The participation from Kalabakan, St. Clement Brantian, St. Thomas Bombalai and St.Jude Sempurna  packed the Parish Hall but eventually made the occasion merrier.

Msgr. Nicholas Ong expressed his gratitude and thanks to all parishioners for their effort and cooperation in celebrating the Eucharist. Coming together dressed in different colourful costumes, reflected the unity, understanding and friendship among the faithful.

The ceremony continued with the cutting of the anniversary cake, followed by lunch and few games. The program ended at 1.30 in the afternoon with a closing prayer by Sr. Martha.