Good Friday Service at St Mary's Cathedral

The Bahasa Malaysia Congregation

The Bahasa Malaysia EMC

Sandakan : On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Veneration of the Cross, in the reading of the Passion, and in receiving the pre-consecrated Host, we unite ourselves to our Savior, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.

The inscription - Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeum  (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews)

A huge crowd of parishioners attended the tri-lingual Station of the Cross held at the compound of the Church beginning 9.00 am. The event started with the first station in front of the Grotto and ended at the fourteenth station at the open space beside the convent. At each station parishioners meditated and prayed as the story was related.

Fr Erik Jerome

Good Friday Services were held in St Mary's Cathedral at 1.30 pm in Bahasa Malaysia and at 5.00 pm in English presided over by Fr Erik Jerome and Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom respectively. The Chinese Good Friday Service was held in St Joseph's Church, some four kilometers away from town, celebrated by Fr Francis Chong SJ. The same service was also held in  St Paul's Church Ulu Dusun  presided by Fr Phillip and Our Lady of Fatima's Church Beluran presided by Fr Thomas Makajil, rector of the Cathedral.

Bishop Julius in his homily said that we join millions of other faithful throughout the world this day to venerate and honor the Christ crucified ~ the King who reigns from the Cross. It is in the Cross that reveals the purest meaning of unconditional, infinite and boundless love to all mankind.

As we look at the Cross it reminds us of something else, it reminds us of our sinful state not only as individual but the sinful state of the whole mankind. It is true that Jesus was crucified by the Jews 2,000 years ago but it is also equally true that we continue to crucify Him whenever and wherever we act indifferently to others, holding on to the attitude of being selfish and refusing to get involve for  the growth of our community or in short we fall into sins.

Congregation of the English Good Friday Service

Jesus death on the Cross not only remind us of God's love and mercy but it also remind us of our sinful condition and our perpetual need to be forgiven and to be redeemed by Him.


He continue to say, 'By the end of the service today, we will come forward to venerate the Cross, adoring our crucified King but let this act of veneration be not an empty ceremony but let it be a  sincere  token of prayer to Him to  remind ourselves in praying to our Lord;

'Lord, Master of love, 

take hold of me, a sinner

and give me your Holy Spirit 

so that I may share your glory of  resurrection

and share your glorious new life'

This is the wood of the cross, on which hung the Savior of the world

Come, let us worship

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Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper Holy Trinity Church

Msgr Ong ~ celebrant of the Mass

Tawau : Holy Trinity Church started the Triduum celebration with the evening mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.

In his homily, the rector Msgr. Nicholas Ong reminded the congregation that The Easter Triduum starts with the Lord's Supper, Good Friday Service to commemorate the Crucifixion of Christ and Resurrection of Christ on Easter. 

"That is why there will be no dismissal after tonight's mass. Dismissal will only take place after the Easter Vigil mass.

So you have to come for tomorrow's Good Friday service and the Easter Vigil mass as well, as all these three events are one big single celebration."

"The readings of the mass tonight tell us three very important things, namely  Christ instituted the Eucharist, Christ instituted the priesthood, and Christ gave us a new commandment ~ love and serve one another."

"The 2^nd reading (1 Corinthians ) is the first and oldest account of the institution of the Eucharist. In that account, Christ did four things, He took the bread, He gave thanks to the Father, and He broke the bread and gave to his disciples.

In other words, Christ gave thanks to His Father for the gift of life so that He could gave His own life to others."

"The Gospel reading regarding the washing of the feet tells us about our Christian servitude and humility."

The rector continued "Tonight the Church also commemorates the institution of the priesthood."

Transfer of the Eucharist in procession

"The lack of vocation in our parish is the lack of response rather than the lack of calling. So let us pray tonight that more young men of our parish may respond to God's call to the priesthood."

Down in adoration

Soccom

Holy Trinity Church

St Mary's Cathedral Celebrates Holy Thursday

Sandakan : Holy Thursday is the day that Christ celebrated the last supper with his disciples, four days after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Judas would betray him setting the stage for his crucifixion on Good Friday. The feast is  the commemoration of the the institution of the three pillars of the Catholic faith, the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the priesthood and the Mass.

Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom celebrated the Mass of the Lord's Supper yesterday evening, 21st April 2011 at St Mary's Cathedral with a congregation of more than 1,500 people. The same mass was also celebrated simultaneously at St Joseph's Church in Chinese and St Mark's Church in Bahasa Malaysia by visiting priests, Fr Thomas Chong SJ and Fr Erik Jerome respectively. 

The prelate in his homily said, 'God is love. The whole being of God is identical to love. The nature of God is love. Without love God simply doesn't exist. It is through Jesus that God communicates to us His love.'

He called on the people not to lead an individualistic life which is never the way of the Lord. It is not merely me and God only. We need to help one another, raise each other up and grow together as a community of love and unity.

He reminded the people that through the Eucharist we form a single body of Christ and Church with those who share his body and blood. We are bonded as brothers and sisters in selfless service to each other.

He asked the people to keep in mind the wonderful lesson of washing others' feet which symbolizes our serving others with humility and without imposing our own conditions. Jesus tells us to emulate His actions in the simple ceremony : 'For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.' (John 13 : 15)

He said those who would follow Jesus must reflect on ; Will we dedicate ourselves to Jesus' way of selfless and humble service toward others, or will we go the way of the world, demanding and taking and serving ourselves? Christ's example of washing His disciples' feet is  a reminder of that fundamental choice.

He concluded, 'We pray that all of us will be renewed  and incline to serve one another with God's love.'

Immediately after the homily, the prelate proceeded to wash the feet of 12 people selected among the congregation accompanied by the hymn on 'A New Commandment' sung solemnly. The opening lyric 'A new commandment I give unto you. That you love one another as I have loved you' are the words spoken by our Lord to His disciples at the Last Supper, after he completed the washing of the feet. The symbolic act is a call to all of us to emulate Christ's humility in serving others.

After Holy Communion, the Eucharist is transferred from the altar to the tabernacle in solemn procession with the congregation singing 'O Sacrament Most Holy' and 'Down in Adoration.' After which, there was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the various groups till midnight.

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Minggu Palma dan Sambutan Hari Belia Sedunia Peringkat Gereja St Mark, Sandakan

Sandakan: Bersempena dengan sambutan Hari Belia Sedunia yang jatuh pada setiap Hari Minggu Palma, tahun ini, belia dari Gereja St. Mark, Batu 12 dan St. Peter, Sg. Manila mengambil kesempatan untuk berkumpul bersama.

Sebelum memulakan program belia, Misa Kudus Palma dirayakan bersama para umat dari pelbagai keturunan dan bangsa yang disatukan dalam Kristus. Selebran ialah Bapa Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom.

"Pada Hari Minggu Palma, kita mengenang akan kesengsaraan Yesus Kristus yang wafat bagi kita di kayu salib bagi menebus dosa kita semua," kata Bapa Uskup dalam homilinya.

Bapa Uskup turut menyentuh tentang mesej Bapa Suci, Sri Paus Benediktus ke-16 terhadap para belia di seluruh dunia. Tema Hari Belia ialah "Berakar dan dibangun dalam Yesus Kristus, Teguh dalam Iman" (Kol 2:7)

Misa Kudus

Sejurus Misa Kudus, seramai lebih kurang 40 orang belia berkumpul di Dewan Serbaguna Gereja St Mark bagi menjalani aktiviti Sambutan Hari Belia Sedunia. Antara aktiviti yang telah dijalankan pada hari tersebut ialah:-

• Menyanyikan lagu-lagu pujian dan penyembahan.
• Mendengar informasi mengenai Sambutan Hari Belia Sedunia ~ Roland Henry.

Menyanyi dan menari bagi DIA

• Bermain beberapa permainan yang dapat membuat para belia lebih mesra dengan sesama belia lain.

• Mengadakan jamuan makan pot-luck

• Mengadakan konsultasi yang mempunyai kesinambungan dengan S.H.O.U.T Camp 2010. (Ciri-ciri belia, Realiti Belia dan Cabaran Belia). Ini bertujuan untuk mendengar suara belia dari 2 buah gereja ini terutama dari Komuniti Timor.

• Berdoa bersama bagi kesatuan belia Katolik di seluruh dunia.

Komiti penganjur agak berpuas hati dengan perjalanan program pada hari tersebut walaupun hanya disambut secara sederhana. Para belia pula berharap agar program sebegini lebih kerap dijalankan kelak.

~SJ

"Coffee Morning" Kerasulan Belia Paroki St Mary, Sandakan

Belia - belia dari KKD MERAK

Tim Rakan Belia - Remaja (TRBR)

SANDAKAN- ‘All For Unity, Unity For All’, motto inilah yang menghidupkan kesatuan belia antara sesama dengan mengadakan aktiviti "Coffee Morning" bertempat di Dewan Paroki St.Mary pada 10 April 2011. “Coffee Morning” atau dikenali sebagai Jualan Belia pada pertama kalinya tahun ini sukses dijalankan. Penglibatan seramai 50 beliawan dan beliawanis yang bertemakan baju hijau sebagai solidariti belia semasa “Coffee Morning” berjaya dilancarkan.

Taman Rimba Youth Choir (TRYC)



Belia - belia KKD Indah Jaya



Semangat menjual ...

Bukan saja jualan makanan dan minuman malah perkhidmatan "car wash" juga disediakan

Memastikan semua bahagian dibersihkan



Kumpulan Belia JCC



Tim Rakan Belia Remaja ( TRBR) , Junior Catholic Choir ( JCC), Taman Rimba Youth Choir ( TRYC), belia-belia KKD Merak dan Indah Jaya serta ahli Kerasulan Belia Paroki ( KBP) adalah antara kumpulan belia yang terlibat. Pelbagai jenis makanan dan minuman yang berteraskan sarapan pagi dijual di gerai masing-masing. Selain itu, aktiviti mencuci kereta juga dijalankan di luar kawasan dewan paroki yang dikendalikan oleh TRBR.

“Coffee Morning” ini diadakan untuk mencari dana belia dan dana ini akan digunakan dalam penganjuran program belia sepanjang tahun 2011. Selain itu program ini dapat mengeratkan lagi hubungan belia sesama belia di dalam kasih Yesus.

Suasana “Coffee Morning” di dewan pada masa itu sangat meriah dan dipenuhi oleh umat yang sentiasa memberi sokongan moral, tenaga mahupun kewangan untuk menjayakan jualan belia. Ibu bapa juga tidak ketinggalan untuk turut serta memeriahkan “Coffee Morning”. Ada juga ibu bapa yang turun padang membantu belia membuat persiapan. Inilah yang belia perlukan sokongan ibu bapa dalam pelayanan belia. Diharapkan melalui Komuniti Kristian Dasar (KKD) akan ada lagi ibu bapa yang akan turut serta dalam program belia.

“Coffee Morning” diakhiri dengan makan tengah hari dan seterusnya bergotong-royong membersihkan kawasan luar dan dalam dewan. Tahniah dan terima kasih diucapkan kepada semua belia yang terlibat untuk memberikan tenaga dan inspirasi di ladang Tuhan.

Disediakan oleh Miriam Lee Su Sian

Gambar diambil oleh Nathaniel Shia

WYD Peringkat Paroki Sandakan

Sandakan – Hari Minggu Palma dirayakan dengan penuh bermakna kerana umat Kristian Katolik di seluruh dunia memperingati akan kesengsaraan Tuhan Yesus Kristus. Hari yang sama turut dirayakan ialah Hari Belia Sedunia ke-26 Peringkat Paroki.

Hari Belia Sedunia yang bertemakan "Berakar dan dibangun dalam Yesus Kristus, Teguh dalam Iman" (Kol 2:7) ini telah diadakan pada 17 April 2011 bertempat di Katedral St. Mary, Sandakan anjuran Tim Kerasulan Belia Paroki.

Perayaan dimulakan dengan perarakan  dari Dewan Paroki menuju ke Gereja untuk Perayaan Misa Kudus. Dalam homili Fr. Muji menjelaskan kaitan Hari Belia Sedunia dengan Perayaan Hari Minggu Palma.

Bapa Uskup dan Fr. Muji menekankan satu perkara penting berkaitan dengan mesej Bapa Suci Benedict ke-16 iaitu belia harus berani menyahut cabaran dengan merenung akan perjalanan kesengsaraan Yesus memikul Salib dalam kehidupan agar para belia juga seperti Yesus, dapat menghadapi dan berusaha melawan segala cabaran yang ada dalam arus globalisasi masa kini.

Selesai Misa Kudus, acara diteruskan di Dewan Paroki. Antara aktiviti yang telah diadakan ialah makan bersama, ‘games’ ‘I am the King of the Universe’, tayangan videoshow berkaitan dengan Salib dan acara kemuncak ialah sesi kerohanian yang telah diadakan di Bilik B.

Objektif aktiviti ini adalah untuk berkumpul bersama dan merayakan Hari Belia Sedunia 2011, diaspirasikan oleh mesej Bapa Suci Benedict ke-16 dan diperbaharui serta dikuatkan sebagai Kerasulan Belia Paroki.

Para belia merayakan WYD dengan memakai t-shirt berwarna hijau yang bermaksud ‘fresh, young and growth’. Secara purata belia yang hadir adalah lingkungan umur 12 hingga 45 tahun.

Dalam sesi kerohanian, acara kemuncak bagi WYD ialah setiap kumpulan belia didoakan agar komuniti Kerasulan Belia Paroki diteguhkan, saling menyokong dan berjalan bersama dalam pelayanan belia di Paroki Sandakan.

Rata-rata 100 orang belia yang hadir menyertai aktiviti ini merasa gembira, puas hati dan mengharapkan program yang sama akan diadakan lagi dan lebih ramai lagi belia menyertai aktiviti seumpama ini untuk pertumbuhan iman mereka.

Puji Tuhan!

Soccom SMCat Sandakan

Holy Trinity Church celebrates Palm Sunday

Arrival of Altar Servers and the celebrant, Msgr Ong

Tawau : Holy Trinity Church marked the beginning of the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday at the Saturday Sunset mass, 16th April 2011. The same mass will also be celebrated on the following Sunday morning.

Francis Anthony and Imelda selling the liturgical booklets

Msgr Ong blessing the palm leaves

 

Parishioners assembled in front of the Parish Hall

Parishioners proceeding to the Church

The congregation assembled at the front porch of the parish hall where the palm branches were blessed by the celebrant Msgr. Nicholas Ong following which we made our procession to the main entrance of the church.

Msgr Ong celebrating the Holy Mass of Palm Sunday

In his homily, Msgr. Nicholas Ong asked the congregation to reflect on the importance and meaning of this Sunday's celebration.

 'Passion" is the Latin word for 'suffering" he said. "That is why Palm Sunday was called the Sunday of the Passion of Christ in Latin."

Touching on the Gospel reading of the mass, he said " we should look at the suffering and death of Jesus Christ as victory over sin and death. It is glory, salvation and resurrection that Christ has brought for us."

" Jesus who without sin took the place of Barabbas who (like everyone of us) committed sin, and was crucified so that we could all be saved through our baptism and the sacrament of reconciliation."

"At the death of Jesus, the Temple veil was torn in two. Thus from then on, God, unlike before, when the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice, is accessible to everyone of us at all times."

"The death of Jesus Christ" he continued, "had also prompted the Roman Centurion, a non Jew, to profess his faith that Jesus was indeed the Son of God."

Msgr. Ong also encouraged the parishioners to come to all the Triduum masses, starting with the evening mass of the Lord's supper on Holy Thursday right up till the Easter Sunday mass as they all form one big single celebration, not three.

Soccom

HTC Tawau.