Fr Arthur John
By Herald Malaysia
May 9 2022
TELUPID – The Diocese of Sandakan welcomed a new priest to its presbyterium on May 3, 2022. Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom ordained Deacon Arthur John, 31, at the Church of St Martin Telupid.
He chose Jeremiah 1:7 “But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you” as his ordination theme”.
Bishop Julius said this was the beginning of Deacon Arthur’s ministry to serve and walk humbly with the people in his pastoral care. The prelate also asked the congregation to pray for more vocations.
The Rite of Ordination began after Deacon Gerald Terence Saimel, OFM, proclaimed the Gospel. Fr Simon Kuntou presented the candidate to Bishop Julius and officially proposed him for ordination. After the election, the prelate gave a homily on the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood. He said priestly duties meant celebrating the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people. It also included being co-workers who assisted the bishop in their pastoral mission, preaching the Gospel, and teaching the Catholic faith, faithfully and reverently, in accordance with the Church’s tradition.
The elect promised to discharge his priestly responsibilities and pledged his obedience to the diocesan bishop and his successors.
After Mass, the neo-ordained and the prelate thanked everyone involved in the formative journey of the new priest. Bishop Julius stressed not to pamper the priests too much as they may forget that their primary role is one of service. The prelate also urged parents not to hinder their children’s vocation to the priestly or religious life.
Fr Arthur ended his speech with a request for prayers from everyone.
Born on July 20, 1991, Fr Arthur is the second son of Telupid to be ordained a priest, the first being Fr Christopher Ireneus. At age 22, Arthur entered the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre Penampang as an aspirant. After a year at the Initial Formation House in Kota Kinabalu, he left for his philosophical and theological studies at St Peter’s College Kuching.
He was ordained as a deacon on Jan 24, 2022, at the Cathedral of St Mary. Telupid, located in the heart of Sabah, is 130 kilometres away from Sandakan, the second largest town in the state.
Pray for our seminarians
We have 86 seminarians in the various stages of formation from Initiation, Philosophy and Theology.
Below is the breakdown of the seminarians and the diocese they come from:
ARCH/DIOCESE NO OF SEMINARIANS
Kuala Lumpur 13
Penang 11
Malacca Johore 8
Kota Kinabalu 20
Keningau 14
Sandakan 5
Kuching 6
Sibu 5
Miri 4
Pray for our seminarians and their vocations. Ask God to grant them perseverance and zeal.
If you have a son, suggest to him to be a priest when he grows up. Ask young men in your parish if they have ever considered the priesthood. Just suggest the idea — the Holy Spirit will do the rest. – Herald Malaysia
