RPR and Taman Landeh Celebrate Feastday

On Saturday, 24th February 2007, the Catholic Community of St Polycarp, RPR and Taman Landeh (10-15 minutes' drive away from the baruk) celebrated their feastday with a Celebration of the Eucharist, a fellowship meal, as well as a song and dance. In attendance were Friar Joseph Goh OFM and catechist Emily Ayu.

Celebrating the Family

Some time back, we posted a picture of the Holy Family and a prayer for families (used by the Archdiocese). Today, I thought I'd post a photo of the banner that we are using at St Ann (with 5 languages: English, Bahasa Malaysia, Bidayuh Biatah, Iban and Chinese) with the official logo. Posted here as well is the modified version used throughout St Ann, which also includes a short prayer for the success of the project of the new complex:

O God, in the Holy Family, you left us a perfect model of family life, lived in faith and obedience to your will. We thank you for our family. Give us the strength to remain united in love, generosity and the joy of living together. Help us in our mission of transmitting the faith that we received from our parents. Open the hearts of our children so that the seed of faith, which they received in baptism, will grow in them. Strengthen the faith of our young people, so they might grow in knowledge of Jesus. Increase love and faithfulness in all marriages, especially those going through times of suffering or difficulty, and shed your grace and blessing on all families worldwide. We also ask you to bless the new St Ann's Complex project, that it may be completed soon.

For those of you with 'sharp eyes', wondering why the Paschal candle is present during the season of Lent, the reason is simply because we had Babies' Baptism that afternoon.

Mass for the Sick

Approximately 300 men, women and children turned up at St Ann’s Baruk on Thursday, 15 February, for a Celebration of the Eucharist that focused laregly on the sick. Friars Joseph Goh and Gerard Victor OFM spoke of God’s healing through the Liturgy of the Word as well as through a laying on of hands at the end of the Mass.

Chinese New Year Ang Pow

I found this very interesting explanation on the Chinese red packet from Wikipedia Online:

"A red envelope or red packet (Traditional Chinese: 紅包; Simplified Chinese: 红包; pinyin: hóng bāo) is a monetary gift which is given in Chinese society, more appropriately, the Han people. The name comes from the red envelope in which the money is contained. It is called lai si (also transcribed lai see) (利是, 利市 or 利事) in Cantonese, Ang Pao in Min Nan/Taiwanse and Pung Pao in Hakka.
Red envelopes are often presented on social and family occasions such as a wedding reception or a holiday such as Chinese New Year (in which context it is also known as yāsuì qián, Traditional Chinese: 壓歲錢). The purpose of the red packet is that the red colour of the packet symbolizes good luck. The cash amount contained within is not important but is required to be of an even number as odd numbers are related to cash given during funerals (白金 Bai Jin). During Chinese New Year, a hóng bāo is typically given by married to the unmarried. Any unmarried individual is eligible regardless of age."

Chinese New Year is just around the corner...18th February, to be precise, and once again, the Chinese community, Christian and otherwise, will engage in the exchange of red packets. Christians no longer believe in luck as symbolised by the red colour of the envelopes, but rather in the Divine Providence of the Lord. Nevertheless, red is used litugically for the martyrs, Confirmation and the feast of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps as we exchange ang pows this year, we can remind ourselves of the gift of the Holy Spirit that Christ our Lord bestowed upon his Church after his ascension into Heaven.

At the same time, as we give red packets to friends and relatives, we could also consider presenting one to St Ann's Church Building Fund.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!!

Birthdays!!!

We celebrated Sr Anna's and Priscilla Jinang's birthdays on Tuesday, 13th February at the Presbytery Dining Room. Happy Birthday, ladies!!

Priests' Monthly Recollection

As the friars are ministering in a Diocesan parish, they take part in the monthly recollections at the Archbishop's Office, where priests take turn to share and conduct the recollections. Friars Moses, Gerard and Joseph attend these recollections regualrly.

Photos show the priests listening attentively as Fr Jerome Juleng, the Rector of St Jude, Bunan Gega, shares his views.

Some of the Events at our Parish on 11th February 2007

The Sub Parish of Teng Bekap met with Fr Joseph Goh OFM to mark important events for the year (11.30am), the St Ann's Annual Feastday Committee had its inaugural meeting with Fr Gerard OFM in attendance (2.30 pm), The Maintenance Committee met to discuss some infrastructural issues (2.30 pm).

Interested in Golfing and Donating at the Same Time?

Wait for more postings from St Ann...

Kampung Batung elects New Chairman

Every village which has Catholic families also forms a village-based Catholic Church Committee, which comprises a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and assistant, Treasurer and assistant, and committee members. They see to the spiritual needs of their fellow Christians for a period of 2-3 years, and liaise with the parish office.

This year, the community of St Margaret, Kampung Batung held its Annual General Meeting. Mr Andrew and Ms Anjunla were elected as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.

Apart from the community, Fr Joseph Goh OFM, the Rector, Mr Robert Josem, the Parish Council chairman and catechists Sr Hilda and Sr Antoinette SSFS were also present. At the closure of the AGM, Fr Goh called for more cooperation between the members of the committee and the community at large, setting aside petty differences, concentrating on the work of God and fostering a deeper relationship between the village and the parish.

Setting Up Space for Merarau

John Harry Dan and Edwin Lipan, both from the St Ann's Complex Committee, busy doing up canvas awnings for the Sunday Brunch sale on Saturday afernoon. The proceeds from the sales will go the Complex Fund.

See on update of latest developments in St Ann Baruk