SANDAKAN MINI DELEGATES' ASSEMBLY

Sandakan :  St Mary's Cathedral Parish responded to the call by Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom through his pastoral letter issued  early last year to work out the process in formulating the vision and mission statement for the diocese. The prelate said that the task be given due attention for 'without a vision, the people die' (Proverbs 29 : 18).

The Task Force for the Delegates' Assembly had worked out a schedule to cover all sub-parishes, involving as many people as possible. There will be 12 assemblies spread over a period of two months, beginning 5th November 2011 till 8th January 2012.

The Church ~ our concern

The first mini Parish Delegates' Assembly (PDA) on Saturday 5th November 2011 was held simultaneously at St Mary's Cathedral with some 50 participants and at the sub-parish of St Mark with 30 participants, involving all CCR groups and  BECs. The Chinese community also conducted their mini assembly the following day, 6th November 2011 with some 60 participants attending.

Presenting 'the realities of the Church'

The purpose is to get feed back from the participants regarding their views on their understanding of being Church, the realities of the local Church, their desired image of the Church and the way forward to achieving their intended goal. The opinions, views and feedback collected from them will be evaluated and documented to be presented at the main Parish Delegate Assembly, expected to be conducted in March 2011.

Facilitators : (Top-down) : Pilis, Terrence and Michael

The mini assemblies at St Mary and St Mark were facilitated by Michael Lai, Pilis Malim (PPC) and Terrence Ngui of the Diocesan Soccom whereas the mini assembly for the Chinese community was facilitated by Monica Loh and Paul Chin. 

Our dream Church

The PPC Chairman, Patrick Seah was present at the assemblies lending support to the groups.

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Celebrating the 38th Anniversary of OLOF, Beluran

Beluran : The Church of Our Lady Of Fatima (OLOF), located some 84 km from Sandakan,  celebrated its 38^th anniversary on Sunday 30^th October 2011. Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom presided over the Eucharistic celebration attended by some 450 faithful from Beluran and nearby outstations.

The prelate also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 31 confirmands and first Holy Communion to 24 communicants. The auspicious celebration also witnessed the launching of OLOF’s logo. 


The colorful event commenced with a solemn procession from the open space outside the Church into the entrance led by the communicants, confirmands followed by parishioners. Also in attendance for this special event, were some of the PPC members of St’Mary’s Cathedral Sandakan led by the Chairman, Patrick Seah. 

In his homily, the prelate reminded the faithful especially the confirmands and the communicants to be strong in their journey of faith. Since Mother Mary is the patron saint of OLOF Church, named after her apparition in Fatima, Portugal in 1917, he encouraged the faithful to pray always to our Mother Mary for her intercession.

L-R : Bishop Julius, Albert Enti and Patrick Seah

After the Eucharistic celebration, the Chairman of OLOF Pastoral Committee,  Albert Thomas Enti in his opening address touched on the history of the Church. 

It had a very humble beginning with just 5 families gathered to pray the Holy Rosary  from house to house in the early 70's. By 1972, the small Catholic community managed to set up their first committee with  OKK Anthony Nichol as its first chairman and  Stephen Ubing and Lawrence Dusalam as pioneering members to oversee to the needs of the Catholic community in Beluran. 


Their effort bore fruit with the construction of OLOF’s chapel in 1973 which was officiated by  the then Bishop Peter Chung of Sarawak, now Archbishop Emeritus. In 1989, a new Church with a seating capacity  of 400 people was built to cater to the ever increasing Catholic community. The  new  Church was solemnly blessed and officially graced by the then Msgr Cornelius Piong (now Bishop of Keningau Diocese). 


There is also a rectory adjacent to the Church, built to provide accommodation to priests  who will preside mass on a monthly basis. It also acts as an administrative centre catering not only the sub-parish of OLOF but to all nearby outstations. It is the hope of the community in Beluran that OLOF will have its own resident priest and be accorded the status as a full parish.

Receiving the certificate of recognition for her late father OKK Anthony Nicol

After the opening address, the parishioners witnessed the presentation  of certificates of recognition by Bishop  Julius to seven  founding members of OLOF of whom five had passed away. 

Getting ready to cut the 38th anniversary cake

The congregation adjourned to the Church Hall for a luncheon fellowship with a host of musical entertainment by the local community.  

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Prayer Service at Sibuga Catholic Cemetery

Sandakan : All Souls Day 2nd November follows All Saints Day, and commemorates the faithful departed,  those who die with God's grace and friendship. A prayer service was held in the morning, on the day itself at the Sibuga Catholic Cemetery, some 10 km from town.

Family members gathered at the cemetery with the purpose to pray for the faithful departed, called home by the Lord ahead of us. We pray that the Lord may have mercy on their souls and receive them in the Heavenly Home as the Lord Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.....for those who are faithful, I will raise them up on the last day.....for I am the resurrection.'

James Chow, an Extraordinary Minister of Communion led the service, shared that it is human nature to be sad at the lost of someone dear to us. However our faith ensures us hope of meeting them again when we gather  in the home of the Father on the last day.

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MISA KUDUS HARI RAYA SEMUA ORANG KUDUS

Paroki Katedral St. Mary Sandakan. Gereja Katolik merayakan Hari Raya Para Orang Kudus pada 1 November samada para santa-santo dan beata-beato yang dikanonisasikan   mahupun seluruh saksi Kristus yang tidak direkod tak terbilang jumlahnya, namun telah menjalani kehidupan yang setia dan kudus di dunia serta sesuai dengan ganjaran syurgawi. Gereja telah mulai menghormati para santo dan martir sejak abad kedua. 

Bacaan Sabda Tuhan yang pertama: 

Bacaan Sabda Tuhan yang kedua

Bishop mewartakan INJIL

"Para Kudus adalah teladan bagi kita semua" Kata Bapa Uskup Julius selaku selebran. "Mereka juga berdoa kepada kita. Para kudus telah menunjukkan cara hidup menurut Injil. Kekudusan adalah hak untuk semua dan dapat dicapai oleh sesiapa sahaja". Katanya.

Umat beriman yang menghadiri Perayaan Misa kudus sempena Pesta Orang Kudus.

“Ucapan Bahagia” Yesus memaparkan syarat-syarat dan janji-janji kekudusan untuk setiap orang dan  "Mereka ini orang-orang yang keluar dari kesusahan yang besar; dan mereka telah mencuci jubah mereka dan membuatnya putih di dalam darah Anak Domba. Kerana itu, mereka berdiri di hadapan takhta Allah dan melayani Dia siang malam di Bait Suci-Nya. Ia yang duduk di atas takhta itu akan membentangkan kemah-Nya di atas mereka” (Why 7:14-15).


Seterusnya Uskup menghakhiri homilinya "Mereka yang tulus hati mengikuti Yesus sehari-hari adalah proses untuk menjadi orang kudus." 

Soccom St. Mary Sandakan

Eucharistic Celebration ~ 4th Anniversary of the Diocese of Sandakan

Telupid : 15th October is a historical date for the Diocese of Sandakan. Four years ago, on this day 2007 saw the erection of the Diocese, carved out from the then Diocese of Kota Kinabalu and the Episcopal Ordination of Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom as the first Bishop of the Diocese.

Today's event, the 4th Anniversary of our Diocese and also the 4th Episcopal Ordination of Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom  bears a significant milestone as it marks a complete cycle of the anniversary celebrations. St Martin's Parish is the last parish but definitely not the least to host this event. The two-day event commenced with a banquet dinner at the Institut Perhutanan Sabah on the evening, 14th October 2011 with some 400 people attending the function.

The Eucharistic Celebration held at 9.00 am, 15th October at St Martin's Church was presided by Bishop Julius con celebrated by Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong of Keningau, Msgr Gilbertus Engan Vicar General of Keningau, Msgr Nicholas Ong Vicar General of Sandakan and Fr Thomas Makajil, rector of St Mary's Cathedral Sandakan. Some 1500 faithful from within the Diocese and the Arch / diocese of Kota Kinabalu and Keningau attended the celebration. Also in attendance were 17 priests from the three arch / dioceses, 13 religious sisters from the congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception led by its Mother General Sr Grace Deosing, a representative from the Daughters of St Paul, 11 seminarians from the Initial Year of St Peter's College and all Chairmen of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Diocese.

The Opening hymn 'Blessed be thy name of the Lord' sang by the 28-member Parish Choir led by Hildy Albert and joined by the resounding voices of the congregation set an atmosphere of sacredness for the celebration.

In his homily, Bishop Julius called on the people to reflect on how we had worked or failed to work together in our journey in search of God. We need to rely on faith, faith in God, centered in Christ to move forward as a community. As a member of His mystic body through the sacrament of baptism we are to live the virtue of the Gospel.

He urged the people to use their gifts / talents given by God and for God for the growth of the community / parish / diocese. We are to emulate the 70 disciples chosen and sent out to preach, leaning on Christ always and thus bore much fruit. We won't be able to go far if we depend on our own strength and wisdom. We need God in our daily life.

Before the recessional hymn, the new PPC Chairman Herman Soibon extended his sincere appreciation to all who had made it to the celebration. 

'We are happy to see so many people gathered here this morning. The Church is packed and the pews at both wings are fully occupied. It is a memorable and a historical day for St Martin.' 

He thanked the organizing committee headed by Albert Matussin for their commitment,  Fr Jasery the rector for his guidance, all BECs, ministries and individuals for the collaboration in ensuring the success of the event. 

Fr Jasery the rector, took the opportunity to welcome all from far and near who had taken time off to attend the function. 

'Today is a day where we gather to give thanks and praise to the Lord for His abundant blessings, continuous love, guidance and protection. We complete another fruitful year of existence.' 


He called on the people to reflect and evaluate their faith journey as individual, ministry, community and as a parish. He said that the heir-achy, the Bishop, the clergy and religious would not be able to function without the support of the lay faithful. The laity need to participate actively in their own ways and particular situations according to individual's charism in line with Bishop's motto, 'Serve one another with God's love.'


In thanking and praising God, Bishop Julius said four years had rolled by and called on the people to recommit and rededicate themselves preparing to face new challenges ahead. He touched on the progress of the Diocese over the years and how pieces are put in place for it to be operational and functional.

He said, 'BECs are coming around in all parishes. Responses from the people are encouraging. I am really proud to say that to date there are more than 120 BECs spread across the Diocese. People are beginning to see that BECs is a way of life in building communities and the basis for the Parish to grow for it encompasses the life of the people. My wish is that the community building through BECs will continue to flourish.'

He also emphasized on the Vision and Mission Statement for the Diocese which should have begun and reached out widely to the grass root. He hoped it will not take too long to come out with the Vision and Mission statement, supposed to be owned by all.

The construction of the Diocesan Pastoral and Worship Centre launched last October is nearing its completion. The funding of some RM3.5 million is close at hand. He also announced that the new hall for St Martin will commence next year.

Patrick Seah (left) receiving the plaque from Herman witnessed by Bishop Julius

It was officially announced that the 5th anniversary for the Diocese will be hosted by St Mary's Cathedral Parish. The PPC Chairman of the Cathedral Parish, Patrick Seah, received the plaque bearing the logo of the Diocese from Herman witnessed by Bishop Julius.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Julius blessed the site for the proposed new parish hall located behind the Church.

Bishop Julius  blessing  the site for the new Parish Hall

Free lunch was served at the 11 stalls operated by the various BECs and thereafter the people were entertained to a host of presentations by members of the various communities and groups.


The faithful of St Martin's Parish had done a great job in hosting the 4th Anniversary of the erection of the Diocese and the 4th Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Julius. 

Bishop Julius, Bishop Datuk Cornelius (4th left front row) with clergy and religious

Bishop Julius and all catechists

PPC members of St Martin's Parish with Bishop Julius

Fr Jasery humbly put it, 'It may not be the best of anniversaries but the effort and co-operation of the people is enough proof that we are moving to become matured Catholics. May we bear much fruit through His blessings as a community centred in Christ's love.'

Soccom members in action 

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