Fr Andrew Kim is giving his speech during the WDCL celebration Feb 2, 2023
By Linda Edward
Feb 8 2023
PENAMPANG – “Today especially, let us help each other so that we can live by keeping our respective religious vocations.
“Our consecrated life is not for our own glory, but for the glory of God, not only for our own salvation, but for the salvation of the world.
“A religious life is a consecrated life not compelled and commanded by someone, but by one’s own free choice.
“By choosing a consecrated life, religious men and women have committed themselves to God, promising to preserve chastity, poverty, and obedience,” said Fr Andrew Kim, Head of the Council of Religious for the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu Feb 2 where the Universal Church celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life.
The local celebration with a Holy Mass was held in St Michael’s Church Penampang with over 250 religious men and women from eight congregations converged.
Fr Kim also asked for prayers for the religious for he said that religious are also human beings, lack many things, and so in need of many believers’ prayers.
The Korean priest emphasized that parents’ support is essential in letting their children choose their vocations.
He hoped that many young people in the community wish for a religious and clergy vocation. He said God will want many religious and priests in the community as His workers.
To end his speech, he asked the congregation consisted of the religious, associates and laypeople parishioners, “What do you ask of God and of his holy Church?
“I ask for perseverance in following Christ our Bridegroom in this religious community all the days of my life.
“I ask for lifelong perseverance in the Lord’s service and the proclamation of his Gospel in this religious family.”
He invited all to always work together to realize God’s love and mercy in our lives and to consecrate ourselves to God with a pure heart as mature believers.
Archbishop John Wong presided the Eucharistic Celebration, which was also the Feast Day of the Presentation of the Lord, together with Msgr Nicholas Stephen, Vicar General, Fr Wilfred Atin, Chancellor. A number of the diocesan priests were also present at the celebration.
