Photos of 15 heroes of the Day together with teacher Dr Pauline Wong
Dr Pauline Wong
Sep 8 2021
KOTA KINABALU – On Aug 20 after a whole series of talks on Christian Morality involving the Theology of the Body, Boy-Girl relationship, Christian Sexuality and the virtue of Chastity, given by Dr Pauline Wong to her Confirmation class students of 10B, a ‘Pledge of Chastity” was held on Zoom.
The meaningful event was witnessed by the teachers Dr Wong and Evelyn Lee, parents, Sunday school coordinator Gregory Matanjun, PPC catechetical committee member Catherine Wan and parish priest Fr Paul Lo.
The teachers were not sure whether any students would be brave enough to take up this challenge to live a life of chastity knowing that they would be opposing the tides of secularization and the increasingly difficult environment in order to keep this Christian virtue.
Nevertheless, a list was given out to be signed by students who wished to pledge without any coercion or appeal to do so. Incredibly, 15 of them (out of 34) were willing to do so. With much joy, a ceremony was planned. Each of these students wrote his/her own pledge that suited him/her best, to be read out loud and signed during the virtual ceremony.
Some parents supported them with gifts such as ‘chastity rings’ or ‘bracelets’ to remind them of this day. In fact, among them, two of them were infected with COVID-19. One of them was placed in Kota Belud but could not join the virtual ceremony because of poor internet facilities, while the other (Andy Samuel) who was warded at the QE1 hospital, joined the event from his hospital bed. It was a touching moment for all of us.
Below are some of the heartfelt expressions of what they have learned:
Fontaine Hiew: I feel blessed and graced by the Lord’s presence when I attended Sunday school and heard the sharing on Christian Morality. It was not simply just words that were being shared, but the word of God that we took into our hearts and souls. I felt the joy when listening to the sharing because I believe that what I have received is another step closer to God and to receive the Holy Spirit. I felt secured, holy and pure when I became one of those who were involved in the Pledge of Chastity ceremony because that shows that I, as a child of God, will remain pure in flesh and loyal to the Word of God.
Fay Morgana Samson: These past few months, I have learned many topics in my Sunday classes which I was not exposed to a lot. They were about dating and Christian sexuality. Now, I am glad that I have been taught in depth about it so that I will not be confused over these issues later in life. I have learned that dating is not timely for teenagers as it can distract us from our primary responsibilities in preparing for the future. I also learned that sex is not something bad but it is a gift from God that should be kept sacred. That is why practicing chastity is important to prevent us from abusing this gift of God. Thanks to my Sunday class teachers, I was able to pledge a life of chastity to God and could live a joyful life at the unforgettable ceremony that was arranged for us although it was on zoom.
Kaylee Sarah Foh: I am a student in Dr Pauline Wong’s Confirmation class and she recently gave us lessons entitled “Christian Morality”. I remember it went on for approximately three months as there was a lot to be covered. I learned that keeping myself chaste was vital especially if we want to follow Jesus. Furthermore, the lessons widened my perspective about certain real things in the world that no one ever told me before. I am eternally grateful for these lessons and I strive to keep myself chaste for as long as I live.
Andrew Soon: The past few weeks have been very interesting and informative listening to the teacher talking about Christian Morality. We have learnt a lot about what we should avoid and the right thing to do as Christians. A lot of discussion went on during those few weeks and I am sure that many of us have found answers to our many uncertainties. I have realized that many things that are present in our current society are not aligned with our Christian beliefs. I have done a lot of reflection after class as there are a lot to be processed and thought through. Nevertheless, it was very wise of the teacher to bring up these topics to us. I took the opportunity at the Pledge of Chastity ceremony to express that I will keep my body, mind and soul pure. I hope that all my friends and I will have the strength and stay true to our pledges with the help of God. Lastly, I have also learned that we should not go along with public opinion or the “big direction” but rather stay on track and follow the true Christian way.
Chantelle Venantius: Sunday school acts as a safe place for me in today’s world that is full of sins, and bad influences are everywhere. I thank God for the teachers who have assisted me in my spiritual growth, Their guidance in the sharing of the Bible has built in me a strong bond with Jesus and deepened my knowledge of the Bible.
Brandon Foong: I felt like throughout the few weeks of learning Christian Morality, I have become more aware of how important it is to respect my own body. I think the whole ceremony helped me to prepare myself for the beautiful Sacrament of Holy Matrimony!
