KUCHING: About 1,300 parishioners attended the 5-in-1 2019 year-end fellowship dinner, organised by St Theresa’s Parish Pastoral Council on Dec 28.
The dinner was held in conjunction with the Christmas and the coming of the new year celebration as well as to celebrate Rector Fr Paul Herry’s farewell-cum-birthday and to welcome the new Rector Fr Leonard Yap and Priest Fr Robert Jissem.
His Grace Archbishop Simon Poh was the guest-of-honour at the event.
Members from the Parish Youth Ministry, Parish Chinese Community, Parish Catholic Senior Citizens’ Fellowship and some talented parishioners presented their performance as an entertainment for the dinner.
Poh urged parents to make sure their children experienced faith formation and see whether they have already received sacraments of baptism, confession, communion and confirmation.
“The archdiocese recent priests reshuffle exercise is the new era of the archdiocese. The church needs new generation of priests to lead in the new era.
“That’s why many new rectors are appointed from the younger generation priests. These newly appointed rectors have been serving the parishes together with different experienced rectors in the past and they are therefore experienced to lead the church,” he said in his speech at the dinner.
Parish Pastoral Council chairman Dennis Sung, in his welcoming speech, reflected on what the parish had achieved so far.
“Are we satisfied with what we have contributed and achieved so far? Let us not be complacent if we have but to continue to strive to do better.
“Let us be motivated by tonight’s gathering to do so in the coming year, if we have not done so,” he said.
He added that in order to achieve success in all undertakings, the parish needs constant support and cooperation.
“As what Helen Keller had said, ‘Alone, we do so little. Together, we can do so much’,” he said.
Dennis also mentioned that the dinner was an equally significant occasion for them to express their gratitude and appreciation towards Paul Herry for his service in the parish for the past 12 years as he will be transferred to serve at St Stephen’s Church, Bau.
“During his tenure of service here, Fr Paul has committed himself and served the parishioners through pastoral cares and priestly ministry. He has a fair share of the ups and downs of our parish’s development and pastoral works.
“Fr Paul’s personality has instilled a sense of belonging amongst the community, especially among the youth, to be active in church activities. He inspired six youths to priestly vocation and two religious sisters from the parish,” said Dennis.
