235 Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) members pose outside the hall, Jan 6
By Neil Mah, ADST member
Feb 1 2023
KOTA KINABALU – “Firman jadi manusia, diam di antara kita” (“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” – John 1:14) resounded loud with passion and energy that filled the entire Catholic Archdiocesan Centre (CAC) Hall, when 235 Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) members came together to praise and worship God in conjunction with Christmas and New Year held here last Jan 6.
Organised by the Archdiocesan Service Team (ADST), the highest body in the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu that looks after matters of the CCR ministry, CCR members from various parishes and churches; Kolopis, Kepayan, Inanam, Kobusak, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dontozidon, Tuaran, Inobong, Kota Marudu and Tanjung Aru came together for a combined prayer meeting, hosted by CCR Tanjung Aru.
The expression of joy can be seen as CCR members greeted one another in a spirit of unity and fraternity, since the last combined prayer meeting organized was the Pentecost Rally held at Sacred Heart Cathedral in 2017.
The praise and worship session began with the singing of Christmas hymns and carols sung in English and Malay languages.
This was followed by the reading of the Solemnity of the Epiphany Gospel and reflection on the Word by Fr Sylvester Wong, the newly appointed Spiritual Advisor of ADST.
Fr Wong expounded that this Solemnity not only commemorate the visitation of the wisemen to the manger, but importantly they recognized Jesus as the Messiah and have come in humility to pay Him homage and to search for the truth that is in Him.
Fr Wong further exhorted that this combined CCR gathering and the good response it received reflected our recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and our longing too to search for the truth in Him.
He elaborated that those who saw Jesus at the manger were the shepherds, representing the lowly and uneducated but were given the truth about Jesus, and the wisemen, representing the educated but humble in searching for the truth that was in Jesus.
Fr Wong also cautioned all present not to be like those who did not see Jesus at the manger; King Herod, who was anti-Christ, self-reliant, who does not need God in his life, and the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were too preoccupied with their tasks and were not open to Christ.
Fr Wong encouraged all present to worship Jesus with joy, humility and to enthrone Him in all of our life’s situations, trusting in His care and providence. Jesus will show us the Way, the Truth and the Life to God.
Fr Sylvester Wong and Hector Jintony stand with all CCR members during the praise and worship session
Encouraged and strengthened by the Word, all present then entered into a time of high praise and worship, proclaiming Jesus as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, thanking Him for His love and blessings, affirming that salvation comes from God alone, exalting the majesty of Jesus and acknowledging we rely solely on God alone for hope and strength to face life’s situations and challenges.
Hector Jintoni, the chairman of ADST, then addressed all present to thank them for coming together to start the new year by praising and worshipping God as an archdiocesan CCR community.
He also announced the upcoming ADST program, Charis CCR Leaders’ Retreat and the election of the new ADST office bearers which will be held February 10-12 at this same venue. He encouraged all CCR groups throughout the archdiocese to send their leaders and potential leaders to this retreat.
The night of praise and worship ended with a closing prayer and blessing by Fr Sylvester Wong, the singing of Feliz Navidad and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, group photo at the CAC nativity crib and a fellowship of light refreshments.
