Fr Nelbart Peter
I am the second of six siblings. My early years were spent in Keningau, where life was comfortable and stable. Our parents made sure we attended Mass every weekend at the Cathedral of St Francis Xavier, and I studied at St Francis Mission School from kindergarten through Year Three. School supplies and necessities were easily accessible, and life in town seemed secure.
However, everything changed when my parents decided to return to our ancestral land in Simbuan to cultivate the fields. Transitioning from urban comfort to rural village life was a profound adjustment. School supplies became scarce, and poor road conditions made trips to Keningau town rare, sometimes just once a year. Despite these hardships, it was in the simplicity of village life that I learned to speak my mother tongue, Dusun, and discovered a deeper connection to the land and to God’s providence.
Reflecting on this experience, I see how it shaped my vocation theme: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Luke 10:2). Life in the village taught me resilience, gratitude, and faith, seeds that would later blossom into my priestly vocation.
School Days: Challenges and Perseverance
My educational journey spanned two very different environments: urban and rural. In town, we were driven to school; in the village, we walked daily, rain or shine. Initially, I struggled academically, I couldn’t even read until Year Two. But through my mother’s tireless encouragement, I eventually caught up. Moving to the village improved my academic performance somewhat, although my passion leaned more toward practical skills rather than academics. During secondary school, my disinterest in purely academic subjects often led to poor performance, worrying my parents, especially my mother.
In Form Three, determined to pursue a vocational path, I studied hard to complete the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) syllabus within a year. With support from my teachers and older brother, I passed with excellent results. However, despite my dream of entering vocational school, my mother insisted I continue on the academic path.
After completing Form Five, I reluctantly entered Form Six at SMK Bingkor in 2012, but after a month, I expressed my desire to quit. Hoping for an easier commute, my mother transferred me to SMK Sook. Yet, after beginning Form Six there, I once again asked to leave. Frustrated, and seeking an end to the discussion, I blurted out words I barely understood: “I want to be a priest.” My parents, shocked into silence, didn’t press the issue further.
Seeds of Vocation
What began as an escape from academic pressure unexpectedly opened a door to a true calling. Living close to the land, I often read the diocesan diary after work. Luke 10:2 “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few”, stirred something deep within me. I prayed for young men from our village to answer God’s call, until one day I realised: I could be the answer to that prayer.
When I shared this newfound desire with my parents, they were surprised, and my grandmother initially objected, worried about the lack of grandchildren. But my mother helped her understand and, in time, she accepted my decision.
To discern more deeply, I met with Fr Benedict, our parish priest, who explained the formation process. I was intimidated by the eight-year journey ahead especially the English requirements, but Fr Benedict, who shared his own struggles, encouraged me. Trusting in God’s grace, I attended a vocation seminar at Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre in 2014.
Although I was initially placed on the waiting list, I remained hopeful. Later that year, during a vocation retreat at Tatal Retreat House, I was chosen to begin my seminary formation in 2015.
Seminary Life: A Time of Growth
Starting formation at the Catholic Diocesan Centre (CDC) in Kota Kinabalu was a moment of great joy. Seminary life was structured and prayer-centred, and though it took time to adjust, I gradually embraced it. In 2015, seminary restructuring moved the philosophy program to College General in Penang, and a higher MUET score was required. My English skills were not strong, so I spent an extra year improving them. Thanks to God’s help, perseverance, and support from teachers, I passed MUET with Band 4 in 2016 and entered the Initiation Year in 2017.
The Initiation Year deepened my spirituality and knowledge of Church teachings. However, 2017 also brought a painful trial: the sudden passing of my mother. I had prayed fervently for her healing, and her death left me lost and heartbroken. Yet God’s grace sustained me. Supported by my siblings, friends, and seminary community, I found the strength to continue. This suffering matured my faith and taught me to entrust my life fully into God’s hands.
Formed for Mission
I continued my formation at College General, Penang (2018–2019), studying the development of human thought and preparing for theological studies. From 2020 to mid-2024, I studied Theology at St Peter’s College (SPC) in Kuching. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted classes and pastoral assignments, but even in adversity, I grew in perseverance and love for the Church’s mission.
After nine and a half years of formation, I was assigned full-time pastoral ministry at the Church of St Theresa, Tambunan embracing with joy the very mission I had prayed about years before.
Ordination and Mission
On Nov 10, 2024, I was ordained a deacon by His Lordship Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong at Dataran Keuskupan Keningau. On Mar 2, 2025, I was ordained a priest at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sook — the culmination of a journey that began with a small, half-understood “yes” to God many years ago.
I now serve joyfully at the Church of St Theresa, Tambunan, answering Christ’s call to labour in His abundant harvest.
A Word to the Youth
To the young people, especially those still discerning their future: Do not be afraid to deepen your relationship with God. Trust Him. He may call you to the priesthood or religious life. The journey is not without struggle, but the reward is a life filled with purpose and profound joy. As Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.” (Luke 10:2)
Let us pray for more generous hearts to answer His call. – Herald Malaysia
