Fr Sunny Chung | Photo DOSPO
By Linda Edward
July 1 2020
KOTA KINABALU – KK Archdiocese welcomes back Fr Sunny Chung, who was on secondment in the Diocese of Sandakan during the last six years.
Due to the shortage of priest in 2013, especially Chinese speaking priest, Archbishop John Wong has agreed to “loan” Fr Chung to the diocese on the East Coast of Sabah for a period. The Sandakan Diocese was established in July 16, 2007 by then Pope Benedict XVI.
While in Sandakan Diocese, Fr Chung was assigned by Bishop Julius Gitom of Sandakan Diocese to serve in St Mary’s Cathedral (2013 – 2017) and Holy Trinity Church Tawau (2018 – 2020).
Effective June 30, he will serve as assistant priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral, alongside parish priest Fr Paul Lo and assistants Fathers Russell Lawrine and Saimon William.
Speaking to Catholic Sabah, Fr Chung said he is happy to be back in his own home diocese, “a place where I grew up, near families and friends,” he said.
After spending more than half of his 10 years of priestly life in Sandakan Diocese, he said “I am really going to miss the bumpy winding dusty road, the smell of the palm oil, the daily Indonesian slang spoken, and many others,” referring to the living situation in Sandakan.
Looking back at his secondment, he recalled “The secondment in Sandakan diocese was meant to be for two years, but looking at the pastoral needs and shortage of priest at that time, I was asked for another two-year extension, and then another two and a half years before Archbishop John called me to return to the archdiocese.”
Fr Chung said the pastoral situation in Sandakan Diocese was slightly different from KK Archdiocese, “In Sandakan Diocese, we have to deal a lot with migrants from Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as local migrants from other districts working in Sandakan.”
He shared his joy serving in the Sandakan Diocese, “I have enjoyed my pastoral in the diocese. Besides taking care of the administration, physical and spiritual development at the main parish, I really enjoyed visiting the outstations, being among the migrants at the oil palm plantations as far as the Kalimantan border.
“It was truly a joyful experience to celebrate the Sacraments with them because being deep in the plantation, they hardly have access to the Sacraments.
“I also enjoyed the friendship among the bishop and the diocesan clergy, as well as many good people in the diocese.
“But, as I have always told myself, a priest is not a priest for a certain place or people. The time will come when God calls me to a place where He knows best and where there is a need.”
On his new assignment at Sacred Heart Cathedral, he said, “I am anxious but also looking forward to serve in my new parish. I guess I would need a bit of time to adjust and to adapt myself in this new place, but I trust God knows best for me.”
Fr Sunny Chung was ordained priest on Aug 4, 2010 at Sacred Heart Cathedral together with classmates, Fr Mattheus Luta and Fr Wiandigool Runsab by then Archbishop John Lee.
In Sandakan Diocese, he was part of the Vocation Promotion Team, assisting Fr Simon Kontou, as well as in charge of the Sandakan Diocesan Youth Team and Sandakan Diocesan Social Communications Commission (SOCCOM).
