GAWAI 2011 was extra special for the Mayang Kawanians in Mongkos, Upper Serian.
HAPPY OCCASION: Father Jerome (centre) and eight other priests celebrating the Thanksgiving Mass.
They not only celebrated the Festival of the Harvest but also three priesthood anniversaries and a wedding over five days of merriment.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the community’s own priest, Father Jerome Juleng, who celebrated the occasion jointly with his two other seminary and university mates – Father Joseph Sebastian (20th priesthood anniversary) from St Anthony Church, Sarikei, and Father O’Neal Sanchez (12th priesthood anniversary) from University of Pontifical, Manila.
Father Joseph and Father Jerome (from St Jude Bunan-Tebedu Parish) were ordained on April 6, 1991 and May 28, 1991 respectively – 34 years after the first 10 families of Kampung Mayang Kawan embraced Christianity (Roman Catholic).
The celebration started with a Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Father Jerome with eight priests in attendance – five from Indonesia and one each from the Philippines, Kuching and Sarikei – on the Eve of Gawai Dayak at St Anthony Catholic Church. Father Joseph delivered the homily.
Apart from Father Simon Poh, Rector of St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching, the five priests from Indonesia were Father John Eddie and Father Petrus Sumardi, both from the Entikong Parish; Father Felix and Father Leo, both from Kuala Dua, Kembayan, and Father Marcel from Sekayan-Balai Karangan.
Over the past few years, Father Jerome had conducted mass at the village on Gawai’s Eve. This year is the first time a big mass was held at the kampung since its establishment in 1920 – or 54 years after the Roman Catholic community was introduced to the village by the late Dominic Simong and Peter Nyanggu.
Big gathering
About 1,000 villagers, family members as well as friends from Malaysia and other countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, came for the cele-bration.
The church choir added a festive air to the occasion. Maidens clad in traditional Bidayuh costumes and members of the community wearing their festive attires and also kebaya depicted the rich cultural diversity for which Sarawak is well known.
In his homily, Father Joseph urged the congregation to continue strengthening their faith and praying for world peace and unity as well as the well-being of the Bidayuh community, the state and the nation.
“I hope more parents will encourage their children to join the seminaries, particularly to become priests,” he said, adding that Sarawak has acute shortage of priests.
Father Joseph said Sarikei Division is one typical example where he is the only priest to serving 8,000 Catholics from 85 villages.
The Bunan-Tebedu Parish is no exception with two priests serving a 20,000 Catholic population.
Father Jerome later told thesundaypost that holding the anniversary celebration in conjunction with Gawai this year at the village was one of the ways to share his joy and fulfilment of life as priest with the people, particularly his family, fellow villagers and friends.
“It’s to bring goodness to the people and share the joy with those who we know and grow up with. Their joy is also the source of our joy,” he said.
After Mass, the priests and the other celebrants adjourned to the community hall for a reception. Traditional and contemporary dishes were served gotong royong and potluck styles.
Great honour
Before dinner, newly-appointed village headman Peter Nanggi, in his welcoming speech, said the village was honoured to have nine priests, two Sisters – Hilda Paim from St Jude Bunan-Tebedu Parish Convent and Jovita Michael from St Mary’s Convent, Sibu – and foreign church delegates present at the first two celebrations – priesthood anniversaries and Gawai.
“This gathering of one faith will further enhance the 1Malaysia concept and augur well for continued racial, cultural and religious harmony among the people from within and outside Kampung Mayang Kawan,” he added.
Later, Nanggi and the organising committee, guests and the villagers joined the choir in singing the anniversary song while Father Jerome, Father Joseph and Father O’Neal jointly to cut the anniversary cakes.
The cakes were offered to the visitors and villagers, and those receiving a piece made a donation to the village’s development, educational and recreational fund. The live band – The Bleeding Roses – was in attendance.
Other programmes were held until June 4, including presentation of educational awards to top SPM and PRM students, traditional and contemporary dance competitions, giving away of prizes and lucky draws.
On the first day of Gawai, the villagers cleared the cemetery half a kilometre from the village as a mark of respect for the departed.
Subsequently, in keeping with the traditional way of celebrating Gawai, Dayak families held open house over the next three days to welcome family members, relatives, friends and well wishers.
Father Jerome hosted Archbishop of Kuching, John Ha, and Father Simon Poh during his open house.
On June 2, family prayers for all the 93 homes in the kampung were conducted by two groups of church lay members. The next day, a telematch was held at the village football field to foster closer rapport and promote traditional games.
The celebration ended with a wedding reception for Kenny John and his bride, Angela, followed by entertainment programmes at the village community hall.
The village now enjoys, among other amenities, roads, 24-hour electricity supply, gravity feed water supply, a primary school, a community hall, football fields and financial assistance from individuals and corporations for various projects and activities such as the church building effort, the Sante Maria grotto and the village co-operative shop.