(From left) Friars Phillip Miscamble ofm, Cosmas Francis, Crispus Mosinoh, Archbishop John Wong, Gerald Terence Saimel, Sixtus Pitah Amit and Derrick Yap ofm
By Linda Edward
July 4 2022
KOTA KINABALU – Following close on the heels of a priestly ordination in late June, God continues to bless Sabah with priests and religious when Archbishop John Wong ordained four local lads, namely, Cosmas Francis, Crispus Mosinoh, Gerald Saimel and Sixtus Pitah of the Order of Friar Minors (OFM) at the Sacred Heart Cathedral July 2.
Commonly known as the Franciscan friars, the newly ordained friars termed their vocation as “A vocation of love, filled with love and made with love”.
“It is a gift not for oneself, but for the people of God,” said Friar Gerald in his speech expressing the collective sentiments of his brother friars.
A sentiment equally shared by the prelate, “Now, as ordained ministers of God, they no longer live for themselves. Their lives belong to the community, to the Church and to the society.”
Reality of ordained ministers
He continued illustrating the reality of living as ordained ministers and imitating the Lord’s life.
“Ordained ministers are more visible in a community…more visible witnesses of the Good News but at the same time, they are more vulnerable to public opinions.
“When a person is ordained, he assumes his role as a minister of the Lord. Many will congratulate and praise him.
“But as years go by, gardens of Gethsemane and Calvary mountains will await him; for the vineyard of the Lord is not a bed of roses.
“Our Lord Himself has gone through such experiences. So, for those whom He has called, such experiences would be part of their vocations.
“Hence it is necessary and important that we continue our prayer for the priests,” said the prelate.
Who are the newly-ordained
All four newly-ordained are from the Order of Friar Minors, Custody of St Anthony, Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei.
About 1,500 family members and parishioners witnessed their ordination, and more than 5,000 followed the event online via the Sacred Heart Cathedral YouTube channel.
Friar Cosmas Francis, 48, hails from Kg Lubong, Tambunan. He was born to the late Francis Yasun and Dorthia Gatim in 1974, and is the eighth from a brood of 12 siblings.
Friar Crispus Mosinoh, 37, hails from Taman Rimba, Sandakan, and born to Philip Mosinoh and Emily Makajil. Philip originates from Hungab, Penampang, while his mother comes from Inobong, Penampang. He is the youngest of four siblings.
Another Sandakan lad, and also the youngest of four siblings, Friar Gerald Terence Saimel, 36, hails from Mile 7. His father is Terence Saimel from Kg Rampazan Papar, and mother (the late) Janita Anne Malaning from Kg Nagapas, Papar.
From Silam, Lahad Datu, Friar Sixtus Pitah Amit now 36, is the youngest of six siblings. Sixtus’ father Pitah Amit @ Peter is from Kg Tinompok, Tambunan and his mother Nelly Jonut @ Viuni Tinid is from Kg Mogonibung, Penampang.
Before joining the Franciscan Friars, Cosmas was in the tourism field. Gerald served as a counsellor at Sacred Heart Cathedral while working as a tutor at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Both Crispus and Sixtus were English teachers, and taught in Beluran and Sandakan.
All four officially entered the Order in 2014 as Postulants, began their novitiate year in 2015 and had their First Profession of Vows in 2016.
They did their Franciscan formation for eight years in Singapore at the St Francis Xavier Major Seminary.
Crispus and Sixtus were solemnly professed into the Order Feb 8, 2020, while Cosmas and Gerald on Apr 16, 2021. All were ordained as deacons Nov 26, 2021 at the Cathedral of The Good Shepherd by Cardinal-elect, Archbishop William Goh of Singapore Archdiocese.
35 friars of the Custody of St Anthony of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei flew in to witness the ordination, including Friar Robert Michael Frazzetta ofm, Visitator General from OFM Curia in Rome, Friar Phillip Miscamble ofm, Minister Provincial of Holy Spirit Province Australia and Friar Derrick Yap ofm, Minister Custos of St Anthony Custody Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei.
Each newly-ordained friars cutting their own ordination cake, while the leaders look on
18 priests also came from Penang Diocese, two priests from Malacca-Johore Diocese, as well as priests and deacons from the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, and the Dioceses of Keningau and Sandakan.
The neo-ordained extended their gratitude to the religious congregations who were present from all over Malaysia. However, special thanks were accorded to Mother Frances Mani, Mother General of the FSIC for accompanying them with her maternal love since they entered the Order.
All four will continue to serve in the parishes where they were attached to as deacons; Sixtus at St Joseph Church, Plentong, Johor (Malacca-Johore Diocese), Crispus at Risen Christ, Ayer Itam, Penang (Penang Diocese), Cosmas at St Theresa Church, Tambunan (Keningau Diocese), and Gerald at St Dominic, Lahad Datu (Sandakan Diocese).
