Oleh Catholic Sabah

LIMBAHAU – Sewaktu kumpulan penziarah bagi Tahun Jubli Harapan mula reda, Gereja sekali lagi membuka musim rahmat yang baharu. Pada 10 Jan 2026, Bapa Suci Leo XIV secara rasmi mengisytiharkan Tahun Jubli Khas khusus untuk St Francis dari Assisi, menandakan ulang tahun ke-800 kematian (transitus) santo tersebut. Tahun ini, yang berlangsung hingga 10 Jan 2027, mengajak umat beriman untuk merenungkan tentang keamanan, persaudaraan, dan pertaubatan ekologi, serta menawarkan indulgensia plenaria atau pun pengampunan penuh bagi mereka yang melawat tapak ziarah Fransiskan yang ditetapkan mengikut syarat-syarat biasa.

Di Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu, Uskup Agung John Wong secara rasmi melancarkan Tahun Jubli Fransiskan dalam Misa yang dirayakan pada 22 Mac 2026. Beberapa tempat telah ditetapkan untuk ziarah, termasuk Hutan Laudato Si’, Pusat Retret Pace Bene, dua gereja kecil di bawah Paroki Ranau, dan Pusat Retret La Foresta.

Sebagai permulaan musim ziarah, 130 penziarah Fransiskan membuat pendakian pertama ke Hutan Laudato Si’ pada 28 Mac 2026. Paroki Limbahau secara rasmi membuka tapak tersebut untuk ziarah dengan Misa Kudus yang menekankan seruan untuk menjaga ciptaan.

Hutan tersebut, yang dijaga secara kolaboratif oleh Paroki Limbahau, Komisi Keadilan Ciptaan, dan Chapel St Anthony, Bolotikon, menjadi tempat retret sejak dibuka secara rasmi pada tahun 2025. Hanya boleh diakses dengan berjalan kaki atau kereta pacuan empat roda, para penziarah perlu melalui jalan tanah merah sepanjang 1.3 kilometer untuk sampai ke tapak tersebut. Setiba di sana, mereka akan berkumpul di ‘gereja’ terbuka di bawah naungan pepohonan hijau, sebuah bumbung kayu menaungi altar tempat paderi memimpin Misa, dan sebuah patung St Francis setinggi 12 kaki.

Baca berita penuh dalam Catholic Sabah Vol 69 No 8 bertarikh Apr 19 2026.

Dii AT, Soccom KB

KOTA BELUD – Lobi 30 Katekis Paroki St Edmund, Kota Belud i binuruanan di Katekis Blasius Kusi, Ponorikohon, minonginwagu do komitmen diolo sabaagi katekis momuruan sambayang tadau minggu ontok aiso pado, manahak kosombutan (komuni kudus) om momuruan sambayang toi pamarakatan do suai id labus do gereja, di ontok ko 22 Mac 2026.

Id Misa tadau minggu ko limo prapaskah, binuruanan di Fr Isidore Gilbert ontok kosuabon dilo om wookon id ka’ajaran di sio nopo nga pinoposorou di katekis ngawi do tootopot dot mongigit do karaja toi ponompuanan diolo sabaagi do katekis.

“Kada dikoyu owito nunu nopo o kobolingkangan mantad walai, kinoiyonon posorili, toi mantad binuruon dokoyu, suai ko i Yesus o owiton dokoyu kumaa do tulun di ongotumbayaan hinongo kou nopo do monompuan.

“Nung monompuan kou do amu dokoyu owiton i Yesus nga, nunu nopo i wonsoyon toi boroson dokoyu dii nga yokoyu no o mimboros id di, om okon ko i Yesus. Mantad dilo do id koinwoguan do komitmen om kopougadan dokoyu do mongoi ponompuan, mositi do haro koinsiribaon ginawo om kapanahak pomitanan tosonong kumaa tulun di tompuanon dikoyu,” kaa di paado.

Pogulu i dilo pinopoharo po do rekoleksi o tinimungan diti katekis ontok 14 Mac 2026 miampai di Fr Isidore om Fr Maxmillianno montok koposodian ngawi diti kina’antakan di baino.

Dii EVA/AT, Soccom KB

KOTA BELUD – Nakaanjur o iso kursus pemberkatan toi konvalidasi pisasawaan ontok 7 Mac 2026 om pinaanjur iti miampai piniuhupan do Komiti Katekis Paroki om Komiti Kerasulan Keluarga Katolik Paroki (KKKP) soginumu 22 misasawo nakatanud.

Hontolon nopo do kinopo’onjuran diti nga manahak pomorotian taralom kumaa dii misasawo do nunu kopio o rati pisasawaan tumanud ka’ajaran do gereja toi ko Kristian, om nogi manahak koposodian diolo do monorimo pamarakatan toi konvalidasi pisasawaan id suang do gereja.

Wookon di pinonuang sesi ngawi di pinolombus nga kokomoi do sakramen pisasawaan, suai ko ilo pinosotol nogi o topik ekonomi id suang do paganakan tumanud do kaajaran Alkitab om poingkuro mongurus dot kousinan dit abaal.

Kursus nogi diti nga noroitan o poingkuro mongulud dot paganakan Kristian id koposion tonggungan ngoduo molohing do monuridong paganakan i kikotumbayaan om nogi piromutan pisasawaan di oulud.

Toinsanan dit nakatanud noonuan timpu do minsingilo nunu i nawayaan diolo id poingompus do kursus. Ababayan sangadau diti nimpupuson miampai kinopotunuian do sijil montok tanda pamagatangan di toinsanan nakatanud diti kursus.

Poingompus do kursus diti nakapanau do osonong tu’ haro piuhupan tosonong mantad manganganjur om i tuminanud.

Herald Malaysia

KENINGAU – More than 1,000 faithful gathered at Dataran Keuskupan Keningau for the Chrism Mass, a significant liturgical celebration marked by reflection, renewal, and a call to deeper faith.

The Mass brought together clergy and laity from across the diocese, including several priests from Indonesia currently serving in Keningau, who concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration.

In his homily, Bishop Cornelius Piong invited the congregation to reflect on a profound question from the Gospel: why Judas Iscariot chose to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and why he failed to remain faithful.

“Why did Judas sell Jesus for only 30 pieces of silver? Why was he not faithful?” he asked, urging the faithful to examine their own relationship with Christ.

Drawing from this reflection, the bishop outlined three essential principles to help ensure that the failure of Judas is not repeated in their own lives.

“First, if we desire to remain united with Jesus, we must come to know Him,” he said, emphasising that a genuine relationship with Christ begins with recognising Him not merely as a historical figure, but as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world.

“Second, we must love Him,” he continued, noting that love for Christ is nurtured through prayer, listening to the Word of God, celebrating the sacraments, and acts of charity — the foundations of a living and active faith.

“Third, when we truly know and love Him, we will naturally desire to serve Him,” he added, pointing out that service is the fruit of an authentic relationship with Christ.

Reflecting further on Judas, the prelate suggested that although he followed Jesus, he may not have truly understood who He was. “Judas followed Jesus, but perhaps he did not fully recognise Him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Saviour,” he said.

He also noted that Judas may have been driven by personal agendas and worldly desires, viewing Jesus through a limited, self-interested lens. “Perhaps his desires and thoughts were too worldly, and he saw Jesus only from his own perspective,” the bishop said, warning that such a mindset can distort one’s faith.

He stressed that this serves as an important lesson for all Christians, especially those called to leadership in the Church. Knowing God, he said, is essential to sustaining a faithful vocation.

“As followers of Jesus — and even more so as priests or bishops — it is crucial that we truly know the Lord. If we do not come to Him, listen to His Word, and pray, what will move us to love Him? There will be nothing.”

He cautioned against the danger of following Jesus in name while failing to live according to His will, noting that such a disconnect leads to a superficial faith lacking depth and authenticity.

“Following Jesus without aligning ourselves with His will is not enough. Even when we are busy, we must make time to come to know the Lord.”

Encouraging the faithful to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ, he said this communion of love is the source of strength and fidelity in the Christian life.

“Only by taking time to know Him can we grow into a true communion of love with Him.”

After the homily, the priests renewed their priestly commitment. Addressing the priests from Indonesia, Bishop Cornelius said that although their bishop is far away, they remain united in prayer.

The liturgy continued with three seminarians bringing forward the Oil of Catechumens, the Sacred Chrism, and the Oil of the Sick to the altar.

The Chrism Mass, one of the most important celebrations in the Church’s liturgical calendar, served as a powerful reminder of the call to renewal. It brought the faithful together in a shared expression of faith, inviting them to deepen their commitment to Christ. – Herald Malaysia

（亞庇訊）配合國際婦女節，亞庇總教區婦女委員會將2026年主題定為「女人與生態」，強調女性在守護受造界與推動可持續發展中的角色。多個堂區於3月7日舉行慶祝活動，透過祈禱、講座、彌撒及聯誼，鼓勵信友在生活中實踐對大自然的關懷與責任。

當日上午8時至下午1時，普吉巴登無玷聖母堂婦女聯盟（CWL）舉辦婦女節活動，約120名婦女齊聚。活動由主席Jennifer Jinu致歡迎詞揭開序幕，感謝籌委、嘉賓及支持者的參與，隨後尼閣蒙席帶領開場祈禱。

在生態講座中，尼閣蒙席指出女性在家庭與社會中常扮演照顧與培育者，與自然關係密切，鼓勵她們積極參與環境保護，在日常中節約資源、減少污染，守護共同家園。他亦強調女性參與環境決策的重要性，並呼籲關注環境惡化對弱勢群體尤其婦女的影響。

同日傍晚6時，亞庇聖心堂舉行薄暮彌撒慶祝婦女節，由黃士交總主教主祭，尼閣蒙席、特蘭斯神父、吉爾伯特神父及瑪竇神父共祭。講道中，黃總主教以撒瑪黎亞婦女與耶穌交談的故事作反思，指出「生命之水」象徵聖神，帶來更新，鼓勵信友敞開心門接受天主恩寵，在生活中見證福音的喜樂與希望。彌撒中，身穿綠色服裝的女教友代表不同團體奉獻禮品，以表達感恩。

完整故事請閱讀2026年4月5日出版的第800期《沙巴公教報》

文：謝瑋琴

2026年3月8日正好是婦女節，可是，它也是聖心堂華文堅振班的家長與孩子一起走進彼此心裏的時刻。

當天家長日以朝拜讚美拉開序幕。家長與學生先一起參與了「你指揮， 我畫」的小遊戲，笑聲中多了幾分默契。隨後由善牧修會凱莉魏瑞馨修女給家長 分享；學生則與助教則另一地點進行互動遊戲。

到了午餐時間，大家一同享用了一頓非常美味的午餐。每個人都喫得滿足、喜樂。

下午的遊戲站 把整天的感動推到最深。不同家庭組成一隊，一站一站地進行活動，每一站都有不同的寓意。其中一站是家長與孩子互相擁抱。有幾個家庭在擁抱的那一刻，流下了幸福的眼淚。原本略顯尷尬、不夠自然的親子互動，在這個環節之後，明顯被愛和溫暖打開了。

最後，所有人圍成一個大圈，每個人分享當天的感受。讓人特別觸動的，是很多人雖然不好意思說出口，最後還是勇敢地表達了。更令人欣慰的是，有位學生因爲太害羞，拿起麥克風時有些口吃，旁邊的家長，雖然不是她的親生父母卻溫柔地拍拍她的肩膀，給她鼓勵。那一幕，安靜但很有力量。

凱莉修女在結束前，給每個家庭頒發一張家庭獎狀。大家離開時，臉上都洋溢着幸福的笑容。

這一天沒有華麗的舞臺，卻有真實的擁抱、眼淚與笑聲。願每一個家庭，都能把這份感動帶回家，繼續走下去。

Oleh Clarence Dol

RANAU – Sebanyak 46 pain darah berjaya dikutip dalam Program Kempen Derma Darah anjuran Catholic Nurses Guild (CNG) Ranau, CARITAS dan Majlis Pastoral Paroki (MPP) St Peter Claver, Ranau (SPCR) baru-baru ini.

Program yang turut melibatkan penyertaan dari kakitangan Unit Tabung Darah Hospital Daerah Ranau itu pada awalnya hanya menyasarkan sebanyak 30 pain darah, namun sambutan yang diperolehi lebih dari jangkaan.

Tujuan utama program tersebut dijalankan ialah untuk memberi peluang kepada umat Katolik di sini untuk beramal sempena musim Prapaskah di samping membantu dalam menambah bekalan stok darah di Hospital Ranau.

Sementara itu, jurucakap program, Sr Melania Petrus mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua yang terlibat dalam penganjuran Program Kempen Derma Darah itu yang telah meluangkan masa dan tenaga dalam menjalankan inisiatif murni itu.

Baca berita penuh dalam Catholic Sabah Vol 69 No 7 bertarikh Apr 5 2026.

Oleh Soccom Chapel St Nicholas, Tampenau Lahad Datu

LAHAD DATU – Liturgi Hari Minggu Palma telah diadakan pada 29 Mac 2026, bermula pada pukul 2.00 petang, bertempat di Chapel St Nicholas, Kampung Tampenau. Liturgi itu dipimpin oleh Fredolin Karim.

Liturgi dimulakan dengan perarakan palma sebagai tanda memperingati kemasukan Yesus ke kota Yerusalem. Umat yang hadir turut mengambil bahagian dengan penuh rasa syukur, sambil melambai daun palma dan menyanyikan lagu-lagu pujian dengan penuh semangat.

Liturgi diteruskan dengan pewartaan khabar gembira Tuhan yang menceritakan kisah sengsara Tuhan. Para umat memberikan perhatian serta penghayatan yang mendalam sepanjang pembacaan tersebut, menjadikan suasana lebih khusyuk dan bermakna.

Secara keseluruhannya, Liturgi berlangsung dengan lancar dan teratur. Kehadiran umat yang menggalakkan jelas menunjukkan semangat kebersamaan dalam menghayati permulaan Minggu Suci. – dospo

“Inilah hari yang ditentukan Tuhan; mari kita rayakan dengan gembira” (Mz 118:24)

SAUDARA-SAUDARI terkasih dalam Kristus, Tuhan telah bangkit. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Kita berkongsi sukacita kerana dapat menemani dan menyaksikan saudara-saudari kita yang baru dibaptis yang telah menyertai Gereja Katolik semasa Malam Paskah atau pagi Paskah.

Pembaptisan mereka dalam wafat dan kebangkitan Kristus sekali lagi menjadi kesaksian kepada kita tentang Kehidupan Baru yang mereka terima dalam Roh Kudus. Iman kita kepada Kristus yang bangkit diperkukuh kembali melalui pembaharuan janji baptis kita: untuk menolak Syaitan dan segala perbuatan jahat serta godaannya, dan untuk percaya kepada Tritunggal serta Syahadat Para Rasul Gereja.

Iman Paskah yang kita uar-uarkan ini bukanlah berdasarkan penglihatan, tetapi merupakan anugerah Tuhan. Hal ini diperlihatkan dalam bacaan Injil Hari Minggu Paskah (Yoh 20:1-9), tanpa melihat Kristus yang bangkit, makam kosong dan kain kapan menjadi bukti bagi murid yang dikasihi Yesus bahawa Tuhan telah bangkit. Dengan mata imannya, semua itu merupakan tanda kemenangan atas maut. Kita pun percaya bahawa Tuhan telah mengalahkan maut dan bangkit kepada Kehidupan yang Baru dan Kekal. Tuhan telah memperolehkan bagi kita hidup kekal, iaitu kehidupan abadi dalam kesatuan denganNya.

Baca berita penuh dalam Catholic Sabah Vol 69 No 7 bertarikh Apr 5 2026.

By Catholic Sabah

CS: Thank you for joining us for our series, Living Faith Stories from Sabah. To begin, could you please introduce yourself?
Petronella: Certainly. My name is Petronella Munting. I was born in Bingkor, Keningau, but I have resided in Papar since the early 1970s. I married a wonderful man from Papar, Gary Wong, and we were blessed with three children. Our family has since grown to include three in-laws and five grandchildren, and we recently celebrated our Sapphire wedding anniversary.

CS: That’s a beautiful family. Now, let’s talk about your spiritual journey. What is your involvement in the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS)?
Petronella: Oh yes, my involvement is very dear to me. I am one of the pioneers of the OFS St Joseph Fraternity here in Papar. My journey began as an inquirer in 1991, and I made my profession along with nine others in 1993. Many were called, but only a few were chosen, and that was the beginning of my true calling. While I was involved in many church activities like the CWL and Family Life, I felt like just a Sunday goer with nothingness in my head and heart. Now, my passion is fully with the OFS. I was elected as the National Formator for the Emerging National Councillors from 2017 to 2025. I have committed myself fully to it, though we will be having our Elective Chapter at the end of this month. As they say, I’ve learned to accept that ‘nothing is permanent’. My passion for the OFS is immeasurable, but I have no choice but to step down due to my age.

CS: What was your first contact with the OFS, and what made you decide to join?
Petronella: In the beginning, I was just curious. I wanted to know, “What’s next? What’s next?” But I stayed for an unusual reason. The more our formators talked, the more blurry and confused I became! I didn’t understand. Because I didn’t understand, and because I hadn’t yet filled that curious and doubtful heart of mine, time just passed. Before I knew it, over a year had gone by, and then the next thing I remember was becoming a candidate. I was even more blurry then, but I still agreed to take the admission rite, and it was done.

CS: So, in the earlier part of your journey as a member, how did you find it?
Petronella: In the earlier part, I didn’t think of many things. I didn’t expect anything. Yet, I stayed until profession, and by then I had already been in the OFS for almost five years. There are many factors why I stayed until now. I came to love the way of life, following in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi. The simplicity, the humility, the poverty, the prayerfulness, and the care for ecology, it all just spoke to my heart.

CS: Can you explain the life of the OFS and its spirituality to someone who might not know it?
Petronella: You see, I was baptised during my primary school years. My parents and family were pagan, so I studied Catechism on a very minimal basis. My religious knowledge was very, very shallow. When I became an OFS, we were given formation, so much formation by many of the FSIC sisters who were our Spiritual Assistants. It caught my heart. I said to myself, “This is what I want. I like this upbringing in the spiritual aspect.” Without realising it, I have now been journeying in the OFS for over 30 years.

CS: With any journey, there are bound to be challenges. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced?
Petronella: Challenges are everywhere, in every corner of the journey to perfection in the OFS. But challenges make us wiser. As the saying goes, today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow is better than today.

CS: And what about your family? Do they share this journey with you?
Petronella: Yes! My husband and daughter saw my journey for nearly 20 years before they finally decided to join and make their profession themselves. That was a long wait, but a true blessing.

CS: As a former National Formator, how difficult is it to get people to join the OFS?
Petronella: To be honest, I didn’t find it difficult at all to encourage people to join. During my two terms as National Formator, I managed to help establish six new emerging fraternities: four in the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu and two in the Diocese of Keningau. Three of these fraternities have been officially established, and three are still emerging. It was our policy that new inquirers needed to attend 70-100 percents of the formation sessions before they could be professed. As a former school teacher, I never found any hindrance to being actively involved in the OFS. The OFS is an ordo, a way of life, it’s not an organisation with activities for simplicity or humility. It doesn’t require a specific date, time, or venue. You simply carry the values of Franciscan Spirituality with you to your workplace, to any gathering, wherever you are.

CS: That’s a wonderful perspective. But what about the younger generation? How can we best promote the OFS to them?
Petronella: In my opinion, getting the younger generation involved requires more than just promotions. I see it like this: vocation promotions are often not effective, and even movies like “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” aren’t so relevant to them. What truly works is:

• Christian Witnessing: They need to see Christ in us.
• The changes in attitude of their own parents.
• Feeling the love and warmth from OFS members.
• Seeing Christ in the way we gesture and personally approach people we meet, especially in church.
• They need to feel our authenticity. It’s about how we live, not just what we said.

CS: As you prepare to step down from your role as National Formator, what is your wish for the OFS community?
Petronella: As I said, I will be declining any proposal during our coming election. I wish to remind the next councillors to be more committed and to give priority to the OFS. I ask them to improvise on what I have started and to re-do what I have failed in. I have done what needed to be done, and now it’s time for them to do theirs.

CS: You mentioned earlier that the OFS “moulded” you. In your life as a Catholic, was there a greatest challenge that contributed to that?
Petronella: You know, there was no single, big incident. In the OFS, we are only asked to be a better Catholic. It’s all yours to decide. We lay everything on the table; you take it or leave it. For me, I was very active in church, but I was not a good Catholic. Not until I became an OFS. After being formated, grinded, moulded, and shaped, following in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi… then slowly, the one once known as the ‘Singa Betina’ (the Lioness) became more understanding, more loving, and more tolerant.

CS: That’s a powerful transformation. And in your lowest moments during that transformation, who was your greatest support?
Petronella: Ha ha ha, your question is a bonus question! I could choose not to answer it, but I will. At my lowest moment, I did have someone I could always confide in. He was my spiritual confidante. He would criticise me, he would condemn me, he would bulldoze me with his nasty vocabulary until I fell to the ground, torn to pieces. I shed more tears in silence than ever before. But he could also appreciate me and champion me up to the sky. Through his treatment, his advice, his support, and his encouragement in many ways, he silently made me into an iron lady again. He opened my eyes, my ears, and my heart because before, I used to be closed to the world in countless ways.