Bishop of Sibu launching the Year of Oil and Anointing on World Day of Peace, Jan 1 2024 (Photo: Sibu Soccom)
By Sibu Soccom
Jan 3 2024
SIBU — The Roman Catholic Bishop of Sibu, Right Rev Joseph Hii called on all Catholics to be the blessings to the world.
In his homily during the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God at Sacred Heart Cathedral on 1 January, he said God will always give blessings to the people and at the same time they are called to pass on the blessings to the world.
“God’s blessing will always shower us like rain and snow upon the earth, but we must not keep the blessings to ourselves, it is not healthy.
“As children of God, we are the inheritance of all the blessings from God. When we receive the blessings, we must be the blessings and bring peace to the whole world,” he pointed out.
After the Mass, Bishop Hii also launched the Year of Oil and Anointing – the 8th year of the decade of Creation Justice for the Diocese of Sibu from 2017 to 2026.
He said throughout the decade of Creation Justice, every year, the Diocese of Sibu has one element to celebrate and to care for.
This year, he said ‘Oil and Anointing’ was chosen because of its richness and is precious, and in history, it was referred to as the liquid gold. “The oil, whatever oil maybe is so nutritious, and they will give us strength,” he said.
He said out of the seven Sacraments in the Church, there were four Sacraments in which oil was used. They are Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
“You and me, through baptism has been anointed Chrism oil; the same Chrism oil that is used to ordain priests and the same Chrism oil to consecrate bishops.
“If that same oil that is used to baptise you, who are you? Do not just look up to priests and bishops, look up to yourself also as you are also being anointed by this same Chrism oil, the holiest oil that was put on your head,” he pointed out.
He also said that in the Bible, oil was used to anoint kings and set people apart as their leaders. Thus, he said this is the dignity as children of God.
The Mass was followed by ‘Walk for Peace’ and plogging activities starting at Jalan Tong Sang, Jalan Wong King Huo, Jalan Aman and back to the Cathedral.
Read/Download Pastoral letter from Bishop Joseph Hii – Today’s Catholic
