CREATIVE CATECHESIS

The idea of organizing a workshop for the Parish's Catechists was first mentioned about three years ago. The Catechists are many of the unsung "heroes" of the Parish who took it out upon themselves to contribute to the spreading of the Faith. They are all volunteers and one way or another have serve the Parish tirelessly ranging from range of service of two to twenty nine years.

It was felt that the catechists should be given more exposure to assist them in spreading the Faith in today's environment. The present teaching methods are based on each individual animators' initiative as to how the Faith can be shared effectively. Not that there are any "fixed" method/s of doing it but the idea was to provide more choices for them to adopt from.

The two-day workshop on 21st and 22nd April, was well received with registered particpants of eighty eight persons and held at the Fr. Mulders Catechetical Centre since the Parish Hall was occupied. Particpants' age range from varies from fifteen to even seventy years old! Particpants were from the Our Lady of Fatima Church, Beluran, St. Paul's Church, Ulu Dusun, St. Mark's Church, Jln Cheng Ho, St. Peter's Church, Sungai Manilla, St. Dominic's Church, Lahad Datu and from the St. Mary's Cathedral, Sandakan. Most of these are Sunday School animators whilst the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults(RCIA) formators of the St. Mary's Cathedral also took part. Among the particpants was the Chairperson of Diocesan Catechetical Commission Sr. Veronica.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Mikat

The Workshop was a refreshing experience for the particpants and conducted in both Bahasa Malaysia and English with topics ranging from "Holistic Approach", "Convincing Technics" and "Realistic Concept". As part of the Convincing Technics, group dynamics was emphasized and shared. The Workshop began with the Bible Enthronement and Fr. Anthony Mikat, Assistant Rector, was available to address the particpants. In his address Fr. Anthony shared his "affinity" to the "works" of the participants and remarked that if given time, he would love to be involved in the Catechetical Activities.

Raymond Wong

Mr. Raymond Wong, the Parish Catechetical Committee and the organizing Chairman welcomed the many participants from the various Churches. He expressed pleasure in seing everyone coming together for the workshop. He especially thanked the facilitators from the Cahaya Suara of the Arch Diocese of Kuala Lumpur. The facilitators were husband and wife team Devid Gnanapragasam and Faustina Shanti Selathdra, Patrick Prakash anchored by Sr. Gertrude Tan IJS. Some of the comments from the participants as below sums up the  success of the Workshop and the teams' ability to impart their knowledge. These are only part of the comments selected.

"Seminar ini telah memberi banyak panduan kepada saya dalam pengurusan benda."

"I enjoyed the session very much. Trainers especially Sister Getrude is very good. I do admire all of you, your time and energy involved. May God bless you."

"Very good presentation from all teachers. Learnt a lot, full of knowledge how to teach the young ones."

"Should have a longer time to cover all the sessions other than that it is a very interesting and enjoyable course."

"Beneficial to me, create more awareness in my role as a catechist. At the same time, make me discover myself, who I am, what is my strength and how to overcome my weakness! Praise the Lord!"

"Sepanjang sesi amat menarik, begitu kreatif dan tidak membosankan."

Upcoming Events for May 2012 ~ HTC Tawau

Date	Time	Venue	Particulars
12.05.2012 (Saturday)	7.30 pm	Parish Canteen	CWA Mothers’ Day Celebration
	7.30 pm	Conference Room	3 language group CCR Meeting
13.05.2012 (Sunday)	9.00am – 12.00pm	Parish Hall	Blood Donation Campaign
	9.00 am	Church/Parish Canteen	Nurses’ Day Thanksgiving Mass followed by fellowship
	12.30 pm	Conference Room	Bible Committee Meeting
	1.00 pm	Church Basement Hall	SOCCOM Meeting
	2.00 pm	Church	Infant Baptism
14.05.2012 (Monday)	7.30 pm	Conference Room	Liturgical Committee Meeting
15.05.2012 (Tuesday)	7.00 pm	Church Basement Hall	English CCR Meeting
18.05.2012 (Friday)	7.00 – 10pm	Conference Room / Church Basement Hall	Parish Delegate Assembly Workshop
19.05.2012 (Saturday)	7.30 am-5pm	Conference Room / Church Basement Hall	Parish Delegate Assembly Workshop
21.05.2012 (Monday)	7.30 pm	Conference Room	SOCCOM Meeting
22.05.2012 (Tuesday)	7.00am- (Whole Day)	Conference Room	Diocesan Priests’ Meeting
	7.30 pm	Annex Room 2	Outstation EMCs’ Meeting
23.05.2012 (Wednesday)	8.00 am	Conference Room	Dialogue session between the Diocese of Tg Selur, Kalimantan Timur and the Diocese of Sandakan
	2.30 pm	Church Basement Hall	Dialogue session between Bishop Yustinus and delegation of Tg. Selur, Kalimantan Timur with the Indonesian Pastoral Committee (IPC)
	2.30 pm	Conference Room	Commercial Land Management Committee meeting with Bishop Julius
	7.30 pm	Conference Room	SOCCOM Meeting
26.05.2012 (Saturday)	9.00 am	Church Basement Hall	Wedding Reception
26.05.2012 (Saturday)	7.30 pm – 10.00 pm	Parish Hall Basement	Wedding Reception

** Bible Sharing (3 languages) every Monday at 7.30 pm

** Prayer Meeting (3 languages) every Friday at 7.30 pm

** Novena for Divine Mercy every Friday at 3.00 pm in the Chapel.

Salva, Parish Office, HTC Tawau

Friendship Encounter - Lahad Datu

article by ds/st

photos by warren

Lahad Datu – What’s up! How are you doing?~the theme for the just concluded friendship visit to the Parish Youth Apostolate (PYA) of St Dominic’s Church. Anna Teresa and Sharon Tan from the Diocesan Youth Apostolate teaming up with three youth from St. Martin Telupid; Warren, Shirley Ann and Slone were at Lahad Datu Sunday, 22nd April 2012 for a gathering with the team. The friendship visit is an on-going program aimed at enhancing relationship among the youth of the Diocese. It is also part of the follow-up program of the Diocesan Youth Leader's Camp held last February 2012.

The event of the day held at the Parish Hall with an attendance of 22 youth started at 2 pm with a 'sing- along' action songs followed by an Opening Prayer led by Harl Joenie.

The session on 'Ice Breaking' or 'fun time' is an integral part of the program. The session is likened as the 'appetizer' to the youth before having the main course of the meal. The session, facilitated by Rikkie, comprised of two games; 'Ultimate Ninja' and 'How far can you remember?'. The objective of the session is to make leaders more focus, consistent and able to persevere in carrying out their leadership roles. Such elements can help a leader achieve their set goals.

Macam ini bah gaya Ninja.

1, 2, 3, Ultimate Ninja! 

Can you remember your friends name? 

"Know your friends" is a game where everyone is tested how much they know and understand their team members or their friends. We need to relate and build up an intimate relationship with each other to ensure gradual and healthy growth of the Apostolate as in John 10 : 14, Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He knows His own. In fact He knows His own by name. He calls them by name.

Do you know your own by name? 

"When we consider the blessings of God—the gifts that add beauty and joy to our lives, that enable us to keep going through stretches of boredom and even suffering—friendship is very near the top."

—Donald W. McCullough, Mastering Personal Growth

After the light, cozy and crazy but meaningful fun games, everyone joined the fellowship and serenaded a birthday song to Sister Marysia fsic.

May the Good Lord bless you... 

The next session was the 'YLC Flashback'. During this session, a video clip on the flow of YLC was shown to the youth to recall their journey during the camp and at the same time to share their experiences with those who were unable to join the program. 

Slone, from St Martin, Telupid shared his experience at the camp. He said, 'I am grateful to be part of YLC. I picked up much on leadership role during the camp. I am enriched and am much confident after the camp.'

After listening to the sharing of Slone, Warren also from St Martin Telupid gave the members a few prompting questions to reflect on and Shirley Ann invited all to express their reflections in creative ways.

Our version on 'Shine Jesus Shine'

Give Thanks (Lahad Datu Version) 

Thanksgiving was led by Sharon Tan where everyone was asked to express their gratefulness to God through their body movement. Such activity is also an opportunity for members to express their gratitude to the Lord with the blessing of their bodies, feeling comfortable and confident expressing freely in thanking and praising God

... I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you ...

- Romans 1:8

HARVEST FESTIVAL THANKSGIVING MASS

JCK Soccom Tawau

Tawau : The Kadazandusun Community is called to be good branches of the vine and bear  fruit to the plenty, witnessing to Gods’s love during the Harvest Festival Thanks Giving  Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Tawau on Sunday, 6th May 2012.

More than 1000 parishioners, of which nearly 400 members from TUKAD ( Tinimungan Umat Kadazandusun ) attended this meaningful celebration presided over by the assistant rector Rev. Fr. David A. Garaman at the 9.00 am Bahasa Malaysia Mass .

This yearly event is always a moment of expressing our deep gratitude and thanks to God for His abundant blessings showered upon His people. It is through the wide and deep love of God  that we are provided with all the good gifts, the daily necessities of life which we received endlessly throughout the year.

Reflecting on the Gospel for that Sunday taken from John 15:1-8, parishioners were reminded that Christ is the true Vine and we the branches. We will bear much fruit if we abide in Him, following His teachings and His commands. Without Jesus we are nothing and separated from Him we will wither and die.

Continuing with his homily, Fr David said that when we abide in Jesus as whatever you ask for, the Lord will answer. We are to walk the path of the Lord each day and to turn our back on the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world.

Addressing all the TUKAD members and the congregation at large, Fr David urged each and all to journey as a community in the parish, living  in communion, tolerance, respect and care to gather more fruits and become authentic witnesses of Christ. We have to contribute to build up  the one apostolic church. We need to sacrifice for the well being of the Catholic Church. 

Fr David concluded his homily by inviting all parishioners to remain in Christ, emulating Him in all we say or do. It is only in connection with the people of Christ that we can truly be part of the vine.

Fr David with the EMCs

After the Thanks giving Mass all parishioners adjourned to the Parish Hall for lunch and some entertainment.

 

In his welcoming words, Fr. David again stressed on the importance of keeping the tradition alive among the new generation so that the true identity of the Kadazandusun will not perish in the course of time. He was happy to note that through the discernment weekend held in March 2012, TUKAD had started the  Kadazandusun classes for their children a month ago.

Edward Nuing the present chairman of TUKAD shared in his speech that the response from  parents sending their children for the Kadazandusun tuition class is very encouraging. The teachers are qualified and registration is free.

The PPC Chairman, Mario Domingo said that 'when we do things, do it with honesty and humility, the key elements for achieving peace within the community, so that all of us will give thanks and praise to God  as His people.

Fr David presenting a certificate of appreciation to Thadeus Sibir for his outstanding service as one of the pioneers of TUKAD.

Sr Tauria fsic rendering a Kadazan song

Presentations by the children and teenagers of TUKAD 

The gathering ended at 3.00 pm with a Closing Prayer led by Fr. David Garaman.