HISTORICAL MOMENT FOR COMMUNITY AT KG SAMPUN KELILI

The community at Kampung Sampun Kelili, Samarahan witnessed the Rite of Welcome ceremony on 19 April 2008. This was a historical and proud moment for the community where 26 catechumens participated in the Rite.

Even though the ceremony was celebrated in a simple manner but this event marks the progress and growth within the community. Prior to the Rite of Welcome, there were a lot of ground preparations done to ensure that the candidates were ready for the event.

After the Eucharist, there was a meal fellowship, prepared by the community, where there was opportunity to mingle with the members in the community so as to get to know them better and also support them in their faith journey.

FRANCISCAN CROWN AT TAMAN GREENWOOD

During the month of the Rosary in May, a decision was made by the Rector to recite the Franciscan crown at the different Tamans, under St Ann Parish. This was to build a closer rapport with the parishoners in the various Tamans at the grass root level.

The Rosary month kicked off with Taman Greenwood. The parishoners organised the prayers among themselves and took turns to lead the Rosary. There was a meal fellowship after the Rosary and then we had a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate Mother's Day.

This was the first time where the Rosary devotion was held at the level of Taman and a good number of parishoners turned up for the event.

CELEBRATION OF MOTHER'S DAY

The Children Liturgy group of St. Ann celebrated Mother's Day in a simple yet visible manner. Led by Teresa Jita and her team, they started their project of wrapping single stalk Carnation flowers on Wednesday evening and worked through to Saturday afternoon.

Immediately after the 9.30 morning mass, the children gathered at strategic points to distribute the flowers to the mothers present. It was certainly a small effort to show their appreciation of all mothers who continue to play an important role in the life of the family.

ARMED FORCES MASS AT ST ANN

On 18 April 2008, 626 personnel from the Region Two Military Headquarters attended a Eucharistic celebration, celebrated by Fr Gerard Victor at St Ann Baruk (Kota Padawan), in line with their 75th Anniversary celebration.

This celebration is aimed at fostering close relationship among the personnel - who come from the various Christian denominations - in Kuching. According to Lt Col Selvaraj, he mentioned that this event was also to strengthen their faith in God so that they can discharge their duties better. There are also plans to hold special prayer services in other churches like Bau, Lundu and Serian.

After the Mass, there was a reception on the church's grounds, for the service men and women to mingle with one another.

SUNSET MASS/MANDARIN MASS

The timing of the Sunset Mass at St Ann has been changed from 7.30 pm to 6.30 pm with effect from 29 March 2008. A survey was done much earlier to find the response from the grass root level and the parishoners were happy to bring forward the timing of the Sunset mass to 6.30 pm.

Because of the availability of 2-Mandarin speaking priests on the parish, a decision was made in January 2008 to have the Mandarin mass so as to serve the Chinese community in Kota Padawan area. Both Fr Moses Yap and Joseph Lee take turns to help out with the Mandarin mass on Sundays at 5.30pm.

On 17th February 2007, the Ladies Guild of St Ann conducted the traditional Way of the Crosss, up Mt Sentah. The group gathered at the foot of the mountain, in the morning, and then made regular stops along the way.

It was a wonderful experience where the Ladies Guild from different kampungs took turn to lead the prayer and also carry a 5-foot wooden cross.

After reaching at the top of the mountain, the group rested awhile before celebrating the Eucharist. As usual, there was fellowship after the Mass and many felt good about the experience and hoped that there are more planned in the coming months.

VISIT TO HOLY SPIRIT, SUB-PARISH LUNDU

Some members of the St Ann’s Liturgical committee paid a fraternal visit to the Sub-parish in Lundu on 26 December 2007. The visit began in the morning where the members, together with their families, drove down in a convoy to Lundu.

They were welcomed by the committee members of the Holy Spirit Sub-parish of Lundu and had a short tea-break, where friendship was again renewed with each other. The group from the Sub-parish had earlier visited the Liturgical Committee members of St Ann Parish.

The Eucharist was celebrated by Friar Gerard, followed by a sumptuous lunch cooked by the Ladies Guild of the Sub-parish. It was an enjoyable affair and there were plans to arrange for more fraternal visits in the near future to other parishes.

Children Christmas Party at Teng Bukap

There was a pre-Christmas mass celebrated by Friar Gerard at Teng Bukap on 23rd Dec 2007 at 9.00am, followed by the eagerly waited Children Christmas Party. There were about 200 children present for the event.

Ms Maslinda together with other youths from Kampong Sira, organized the party for children. The children certainly enjoyed themselves with action songs, Christmas drama and games. The event ended with the giving of Christmas presents to the children by 2 youths dressed up like Santa Claus.

Life as Catechist

Working in the Lord’s Vineyard

Going to kampungs regularly to meet with people from all walks of life - young, old, rich or poor alike. People are eagerly waiting to see us and welcome us to their kampungs and homes. Sharing our faith and listening to them are the joys of being a catechist, though we also encounter challenges at times.

Meeting people from young to old is always full of joy and peace because our goal is to bring people closer to God and to help them experience God more deeply and intimately in their life.

New Team at St Ann Parish

Handing and taking over of Rector at St Ann.

The new parish team was installed by Archbishop John Ha at St Ann Baruk on 6 December 2007, that consist of Friar Gerard Victor as Rector and Friar Joseph Lee and Moses Yap as Assistants. There was a Welcome-Farewell event later in the evening. The parish welcomed friar Joseph Lee, who returned from his studies in Taiwan, and bid farewell to friar Joseph Goh, who will be going for his further studies in the United States.

In conjunction with the event there was also the launching of the Iban VCD by Jennario and Jenny Tan from Golden Pearl, in aid of the new St Ann Complex. We began the ceremony with the striking of the gong by Friar Gerard Victor followed by singing of songs from the VCD album. The huge crowd that came to witness the event certainly enjoyed the event with the occassional dancing and music.

Month of the Holy Souls Dawns on us once more...

Dear friends, in a few weeks time, we will be celebrating a day of prayer for all the souls of the faithful departed after the solemnity of All Saints on 1st November. The special day set aside to remember all our departed loved ones is 2nd November. As usual, many people have sent in names of their deceased loved ones to us, who will be remembered not only during Mass on 2nd November, but will be lovingly prayed for all throughout the month of November. If you'd like to join us, please contact us at stann10@streamyx.com or gerejakatolikstann@gmail.com. Please do also visit us at http://stannarwah.blogspot.com/

God bless!

May the souls of all departed parishioners of St Ann, Kota Padawan, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

MORE PHOTOS FROM ST ANN'S FEAST DAY MASS AND SALES

Happy Birthday(s)!

Happy Birthday to Robert Josem, our Parish Council Chairman and to Alina ak Bauk, our clerk! Robert turns 56 and Alina is 35 this year! God bless you both!
We celebrated their birthdays during lunch on Thursday, 16th August 2007 at St Ann's parish dining room.

Confirmation Seminar

KOTA PADAWAN-The first of two Confirmation Seminars was held at the chapel of St Francis Xavier, Kampung Seratau, Kuching-Serian Road on Saturday, 11th August 2007, the feast of St Clare. Approximately 380 candidates, 50 sponsors, 5 catechists, 1 friar and a host of helpers were present.

SK St Justin celebrates Mass for Students

On Tuesday, 7th August 2007, Fr Goh and John Harry Dan made their way to SK St Justin, Pesang Begu to celebrate Mass for the students who are sitting for their UPSR exams in September. Mass began at 3.00 pm, finished at 4.00pm. Parents and students were treated to a potluck dinner thereafter.

Preview of Feastday Photos

KOTA PADAWAN-The 39th annual feastday celebrations of St Ann's Parish were carried out with great success this year. We are publishing some photos here...more to come in the next week.

Fr Moses turns 40

KOTA PADAWAN-One day in advance of his birthday on 14th July 2007, the parish gathered for a special lunch and cake cutting ceremony for Fr Moses Yap OFM. Fr Moses hails from Seremban, and with virtually no Bahasa Malaysia background, has taught himself to converse and preach in relatively good Bahasa Malaysia and Biatah!

Catholics in Semeru elect new Chairman

KOTA PADAWAN-On 10th July, the Catholic community of St Teresa of Avila, Kampung Semeru elected retired catechist Gerald Ganyat to replace Jonathan as KGK Chairman. Gerald, who served as full-time catechist at St Ann in the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as part time catechist in Serian for the last 10 years, retired to his home in Kampung Semeru this year. Also elected is Albert ak Gerald Ganyat as secretary. In attendance at the proceedings were Fr Joseph Goh OFM and Robert Josem, the parish council chairman.

Singing Workshop 2007

KOTA PADAWAN-St Ann Parish, Kota Padawan, with the help of Mr Benedict Lo and his team members from the Choir of St Joseph Cathedral, have organised a 1-day singing workshop on June 23rd, Saturday, at St Lukas Centre, and invited all the choir members from the rural villages under the pastoral care of St Ann Parish.
There were about 230 people attended the event and Mr Benedict Lo and his team members conducted the sessions with a lot of fun and laughter and everyone enjoyed and benefited from the singing workshop.
In the morning session, Mr Benedict Lo began the session from the reflection of the Bible with word “worship”. He said that the spirit of worship began from the heart and it was the soul of the person who bow down and worship the Lord in spirit.
Later, he explained that the role of the choir was to motivate the whole congregation to participate to worship the Lord through singing. He reminded the choir and musicians must not perform at the Mass, and therefore the volume of the music and the singing must be in harmony with the liturgy of the Mass.
In the afternoon session, Mr Benedict Lo highlighted some important tactics in singing, such as, to warm up vocal voice, the control of breathing when singing. He encouraged the participants to practise in mastering the skill of diction and also changing the vocal volume from soft to loud and back to soft, and many others skills.
Lastly, Mr Benedict Lo demonstrated how the different musical instruments of the band must not compete with each other, but rather to co-ordinate together to reach a sense of harmony by listening the rhythm of each other. He stressed again that music in the liturgy is not a band performance but rather to create the atmosphere of prayer and worship. The singing workshop was so successful that the participants requested a similar kind workshop should be conducted next year.

-Fr Moses Yap OFM

The Baruk Gets A Facelife

KOTA PADAWAN-The Catholic community of St Martin de Porres, Kampung Sira have been busy repairing the badly-leaking thatch roof of the Baruk since 2 July 2007. Work is expected to be completed by this Saturday. By the time we celebrate our parish feast day on the 22nd of July, we will have a beautiful new roof over our heads!