FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Sandakan : The 15th of August is an important day for Catholics around the world; it is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today this holy day of obligation is also being celebrated in St. Mary's Cathedral Sandakan with the recitation of the Rosary and the Crowning of Our Lady in the Parish Hall followed with the tri-lingual Eucharistic Celebration at 7.30pm. St. Mary’s parishioners traditionally celebrated this special occasion by a procession carrying the statue of Blessed Mary starting from the Parish Hall way up to the Cathedral’s compound whereby the statue is lifted up to the Grotto, symbolically marking the assumption of the Blessed Virgin to heaven. For the past years the Feast of the Assumption mass is held outdoor at the open space in front of the Grotto. This year around, some 1500 faithful attended the event.

The recitation of the Holy Rosary in the Parish Hall

Our crowning queen (Veranelisa Julian) and page boy (David Tann) for the Assumption Day Mass on 15 August 2011 (Picture by Cecilia Chai)

The procession 

His Lordship Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom presided this beautiful mass concelebrated by the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil and the assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Phillip Muji. In his homily, His Lordship Bishop explained the Catholic belief is in accordance to Pope Pius XII, exercising papal infallibility, that it is a dogma of the Church "that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into Heavenly Glory".

The prelate called on all faithful to emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary in her total acceptance in faith and trust of doing God's will. We ought to be thankful to the Lord for the gift of our Mother, a perfect example of motherhood for all of us. She is also our model of Faith, Love and Mercy who intercedes with her Son Jesus, her children on earth.


He called upon the faithful, as a family of God to continuously pray to Our Mother to intercede for us to remain faithful disciples finding the right path for our Parish to flourish.

The pledge by the new PPC members

The celebration also witnessed the commissioning of the new PPC (2011-2013) in the presence of His Lordship Bishop Julius, the Rector of the parish, his assistant and the faithful soon after the homily. Patrick Seah, the chairman led his councilors to pledge their promise to discharge their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Our clergy, sister with crowning queen, page boy and flower girls

The Knight of Altars with Bishop Julius, Fr Thomas and Fr Phillip

Parish Pastoral Council Members with Bishop and Priests

The Assumption of Mary gives us hope that one day, we, too, shall enjoy the glory of God in heaven.  May Mary continue to guide us in this journey of faith and life.  May she show us the true path that will lead us to God our loving Father. Amen

Soccom SMCat Sandakan

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL PARISH DAY CELEBRATION

Sandakan : In conjunction with the feast day of St Mary, Mother of Jesus, St. Mary’s Cathedral Sandakan celebrated their Parish Day on Sunday 14^th. Aug. 2011, 7.00pm at the Parish Hall. The organizing committee has adopted the theme “Mary Our Mother” to commemorate this special occasion.  About 300 parishioners attended the celebration with His Lordship Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom as guest of honour.

The chairman of Parish Pastoral Council, Patrich Seah in his welcoming address congratulated all the parishioners for their active support and participation for this day. He then took the opportunity to introduce the new PPC line-up (2011-2013) to the parishioners.

In his message the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil said that the celebration is an opportune occasion for the parishioners to come together in unity to rejoice and enjoy, and to thank the Lord for the opportunity granted to serve Him.  He quoted 1 Cor 12:12 and elaborated “the Church is a body with many parts, each having different functions…all of us are parts of the Body of Christ with duties and responsibilities to share in the mission of Christ.” He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the parishioners for their generous support in making the just concluded parish bazaar a success, having achieved its target of RM100,000. Touching on the feast day of Mother Mary, he called upon the parishioners to journey together with one another to build the Kingdom of God by sacred devotion to Mary.

A cake cutting ceremony by Bishop Julius, parish priests, religious sisters, PPC and PFC members marked this special occasion, followed by pot luck dinner featuring local and exotic dishes from the parishioners very own family kitchens.

While enjoying the food, the parishioners were entertained with stage performances by the various youth groups and communities of the parish. The celebration concluded with an acknowledgement of thanks to Jacob Chin, the event organizer and his committee for a successful Parish Day Celebration. 

His Lordship, Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom graced the Closing Ceremony with the recitation  of  Hail Mary. The feast ended at exactly 8.45pm.

Presentations by the various Church groups and communities

Dallius Lobinjang, 

SOCCOM Sandakan

LARIAN JOGATHON UNTUK MEMBANTU PEMBANGUNAN PUSAT DIOSIS

SANDAKAN. 09. 07. 2011.  Kadazan Coordinating Committee (KCC) dan Bahasa Malaysia Pastoral Committee (BMPC) Katedral St. Mary Sandakan telah berjaya menganjurkan jogathon tahun 2011. Aktiviti itu bertujuan mengumpulkan dana untuk membantu pembinaan bangunan Diocesan Pastoral Cum Worship Centre yang bernilai RM3.5 juta. Bangunan ini terletak di Jalan Puncak Bukit Maria menempatkan pejabat Bapa Uskup, Komisi - Komisi, Pusat Sumber, Pastoral , Kewangan dan sebuah auditorium serta Bilik Mesyuarat. 

Majlis ini disempurnakan oleh Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil selaku rektor Paroki Katedral St. Mary Sandakan. Dalam ucapannya,  beliau merasa gembira dengan komitmen para umat setempat yang telah berjaya mengumpul RM40 ribu.

"Bangunan ini dijangka siap pada penghujung bulan Oktober tahun ini.  Adalah menjadi  tanggungjawab umat  bersama untuk membiayai  projek ini sehingga siap." Katanya.

Majlis ini bermula seawal jam 6.30 pagi dengan pendaftaran peserta.  Ucapan ringkas oleh pengerusi penganjur dan doa pembukaan oleh Fr. Thomas Makajil, seterusnya melepaskan larian mengikut kategori:

1. Lelaki terbuka (23-44 tahun)
2. Wanita terbuka (13-39 tahun)
3. Lelaki veteran (45 tahun ke atas)
4. Wanita veteran (40 tahun ke atas) dan 
5. kanak-kanak terbuka (12 tahun ke bawah).

Sr. Veronica Kandaung  FSIC menerima  hadiah sagu hati

Acara ini  sangat meriah dan menggembirakan kerana kesemua peserta telah berjaya sampai ke garisan penamat tanpa sebarang insiden yang tidak di ingini.

Gerai  makanan dan minuman

Kesemua peserta juga merupakan pemenang kerana kesemuanya mendapat Hadiah Misteri dan Sijil Penyertaan dari pihak penganjur termasuklah pemenang tempat pertama, kedua, dan ketiga yang mendapat piala, sementara tempat keempat hingga kesepuluh telah mendapat saguhati berupa wang tunai bagi setiap kategori. 

PEMENANG KATEGORI WANITA TERBUKA
1.  ROSIEVIRNA ANTIS
2.  MOHINI ILUN
3. ROSMAWATI JUSPAK

PEMENANG KATEGORI KANAK-KANAK TERBUKA 
1. OWEN CHUA LINGGAM
2. JOVIAN JACOB
3. RAYNEL FRANKIE

PEMENANG KATEGORI LELAKI TERBUKA (23-44 THN)
1. NICK OLIVER
2. ALEXANDER LEE
3. JUNIOR SINTAR

PEMENANG KATEGORI WANITA VETERAN
1. KOILAN BTE AH SAI CUNERA
2. MADELINE JOACHIM
3. SYRA GEORGE MOKUNJIL

PEMENANG KATEGORI LELAKI VETERAN 
1. MATHEUS SODOMON
2. ARBAH LOUBAU
3. DOMINIC JUNTAR LAUS

Album kenangan Fr. Thomas Makajil dan pengerusi KCC En. Pilis Malim dengan para pemenang Jogathon.

Paderi, AJK Penganjur KCC dan BMCC

Majlis ini berakhir pada jam 10.00 pagi dengan doa penutup oleh Fr. Thomas Makajil. Seluruh peserta dan umat yang hadir merasa gembira kerana kerjasama yang diberikan.


Franco Amigo
Gambar : Timmy Gorohom
SOCCOM Katedral St. Mary Sandakan

Discernment Process for the Selection of Incoming PPC Members

Fr Thomas in his welcoming speech

Sandakan : The former Parish Pastoral Council of St Mary's Cathedral Parish having served its two-year term  (2009-2011) was officially dissolved on 31st May 2011. A week before its dissolution, a meeting was convened to analyze and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.

Fr Philip and Fr Thomas (seated 3rd and 4th left respectively) with potential candidates of the incoming PPC

Of the forty members, selected through a discernment process from nominations presented by various groups, ministries, BECs and the parish at large, eighteen responded and attended the briefing session yesterday 16th June 2011 in the Catechetical Room. The process provides an opportune occasion for the parish to identify potential leaders to offer their service, each in their own gifted way and each in their particular condition.

Fr Thomas Makajil, the  rector spoke of shared responsibility in ways by which lay faithful participate in the Church's mission. Council members, as 'smart partners' representing the laity in the parish have a major role in decision making together with the pastor to chart the course of the pastoral direction of the parish. For that to happen, council members need to look at the Church from a wider perspective. They need to discern on God's will, investigate the issue evolve in response to the parish reality, ponder on it prayerfully and draw conclusions from it before presenting it to the pastor. He also touched on the hierarchy of the Church.

Fr Philip Muji, the assistant rector talked on 'The way we serve in the Church' by portraying the image of a Good Shepherd as in John 10 : 11, 'I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep'. From John 13 verses 3 -5, Jesus washes the disciple’s feet as a servant he elaborated the characteristics of being a servant leader in the context of the Church, serving with a compassionate heart,  much humility, honesty, commitment, and truthfulness. All these will only be possible if we continue to grow in holiness through prayer cultivating an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Michael Lee, Chairman of the then Parish Council of St Mary's Church for six years in the 90's shared on the importance of teamwork in its effort in renewing the parish. Christian life is something that requires team work as in 1COR12 : 4-6, 'There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.'

The final session on the mission of the Church, roles, purposes and functions of the Parish Pastoral Council was presented by Francis Tan of the Diocesan Pastoral Office.

Participants were asked to reflect on ' Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God' Matt 6 : 33 to remember always the source, without which we are nothing and can do nothing. They spend some quiet moments, listening to their inner voices before they commit to serve in His vineyard.

ds

'Kerana itu pergilah, jadikan semua bangsa murid-Ku'

Sandakan – Singkatan I.K.D. bermaksud 'Inisiasi Kristian Dewasa,' satu pendekatan evangelisasi cara Katolik khusus bagi mereka yang ingin tahu tentang iman Katolik. 

Proses I.K.D. telah diperkenalkan oleh mendiang Fr Tobias Chi di Gereja St Mary pada ketika itu pada tahun 1985. Kumpulan baptisan baru tahun ini merupakan kumpulan yang ke-25 dan menurut rekod rasmi, hampir 2,000 umat telah dibaptis melalui proses tersebut.


Ahad, 12hb Jun 2011 merupakan hari bersejarah bagi Paroki Katedral St. Mary Sandakan dengan perayaan Jubili Perak I.K.D. di dewan Paroki. 

Perayaan bertemakan ‘Berjalan Bersama Dalam Iman’ telah dihadiri oleh Yang Mulia Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom, Fr. Thomas Makajil selaku Paderi Paroki, para religius dan hampir 500 umat awam.

Sambutan meriah penuh makna buat umat baru

Pengacara serasi iaitu Anna Teresa dan Steven Yong dalam memulakan acara menjemput para ‘Neophytes’ berarak masuk ke dalam dewan diiringi oleh ahli-ahli Kerasulan Belia Paroki sambil memegang lilin sebagai simbol cahaya Kristus menjadi penerang hidup manusia serta bersama para hadirin menyanyikan lagu 'Walk in the light.'

Rev. Fr. Thomas Makajil - Rektor Paroki Katedral St. Mary Sandakan

Dalam ucapan pembukaan, Paderi Paroki iaitu Fr. Thomas Makajil merasa bersyukur di atas Perayaan Jubili Perak I.K.D. dan menyeru para hadirin agar berdoa lebih ramai umat melibatkan diri dalam proses I.K.D. samada sebagai pembimbing atau menjadi penanggung.

Fr Thomas juga memberitahu para hadirin bahawa Gereja memerlukan penyertaan aktif umat awam, bakat serta karunia yang mereka miliki bagi membantu dalam Misi Penginjilan Gereja.

Bapa Uskup Julius

Seterusnya Yang Mulia Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom dalam ucapan beliau, proses I.K.D.  merupakan salah satu cara penginjilan yang berkesan yang diadakan oleh Gereja.

Proses Inisiasi Kristian Dewasa merupakan program yang ditubuhkan oleh Gereja Universal bagi individu yang ingin menjadi seorang Katolik dan menerima Sakramen Pembaptisan, Penguatan dan Ekaristi.

 

Proses inisiasi ini melibatkan komuniti paroki dalam mengalami pembaharuan iman kerana ia melibatkan persiapan yang rapi, seterusnya mengalu-alukan kedatangan umat baru dalam Gereja.

 

Upacara-upacara I.K.D. merupakan proses perkembangan rohani yang memusatkan hubungan rapat bersama Yesus dan Gereja yang dimulakanNya.

 

Beliau juga mengingatkan agar para pembimbing I.K.D. membuat evaluasi sejauh mana keberkesanan proses I.K.D.

Acara pemotongan kek  oleh Uskup Julius , Fr Thomas , Raymond Wong dan para religius

Perkongsian dan persembahan

Perayaan ini diserikan dengan beberapa acara seperti perkongsian daripada mereka yang telah dibaptis, persembahan nyanyian daripada kumpulan pembimbing dan anak-anak kecil dari Pertemuan Minggu Gembira serta Cabutan Tiket Meja Bertuah.

Sejak pertama I.K.D. ditubuhkan di Paroki St Mary Sandakan, mereka yang terlibat sebagai pembimbing lebih dari sepuluh tahun turut menerima cenderahati penghargaan, tanda terima kasih di atas sumbangan mereka terhadap perkembangan I.K.D.

 

Pengerusi Penganjur, Raymond Wong menyampaikan ucapan terima kasih beliau kepada mereka yang terlibat dalam menjayakan perayaan pada kali ini sama ada secara langsung atau tidak langsung.

 

Acara diakhiri dengan menyanyikan beberapa lagu seperti ‘Community Song’ dan ‘Give Thanks’ disusuli dengan doa penutup dan berkat oleh Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom.

Penyampaian hadiah cabutan meja bertuah dan aksi persembahan belia St Mary

AG/SOCCOM St. Mary's Sandakan