By CSG-UMS
KOTA KINABALU – On Apr 25-27, the Catholic Student Group – Untuk Melayani Sesama (CSG-UMS) organised a Planning Camp (PC) that lasted for three days and two nights, held at the Msg Wachter Center. A total of 42 Catholic students from University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) participated in the program. Representatives from the Archdiocesan Campus Ministry Office (CMO) and Campus Ministry Team (CMT) were also present. The theme chosen for the program was taken from Is 6:8, “Here I am. Send me.”
The purpose of the Planning Camp program was to re-evaluate and dissolve the past completed programs, to decide future programs for next session, and to fine-tune programs in line with the vision and mission of CSG-UMS, as well as provide participants with the opportunity and space to reflect on their ministry and respond to God’s call.
In the See, Judge, and Act session, participants were given the space to express their opinions through a two-way discussion on current issues faced by Catholic students in campus. Based on the discussions held during session, participants were then given the opportunity to propose programs as a venue to address issues that were discussed.
The activity was followed by a process of proposing and voting on proposed programs by the Exco members. Two additional programs received the highest votes, namely Seeds of Hope and Journey To Emmaus. Meanwhile, two mandatory programs that have been conducted for every session were the Welcoming Junior Party (WJP), to welcome new Catholic students at UMS and the Night of a Thousand Memories (MSK), for final-year students who are about to graduate.
The selection for the board of directors (LP) for each coming program in 2025/2026 session was conducted with an open heart, accepting the call to serve in their assigned programs. The scheduling of the CSG-UMS calendar was also carried out and arranged in accordance with the campus’s academic calendar, so that students could balance their time to engage in spiritual and academic activities.
In the session “Hear Him Calling My Name,” participants listened to several sharing by CSG-UMS students about their service in the organization, with the hope of inspiring other participants to continue serving despite the busyness of being a student. In the LP’s ‘How to’ session, the new LPs were introduced to ways of managing the programs that will be conducted in the coming session. They were provided with useful pointers from the Exco and CSG-UMS alumni on program management.
The session for handing over the program files from the old to the new LP was conducted on the last day of the PC program. The files handed over to the new LP serve as their guide to plan the execution of the programs they have chosen. The organizers hoped that all the programs selected for the coming session can be successfully carried out. They also extended their heartfelt congratulations to all the LPs who have answered the call to serve in the CSG-UMS programs for the 2025/2026 session.
