John Ha greeting the congregation upon his arrival at the dinner. On his right is Ose.
KUCHING: The Orang Ulu community of the Dayak Catholic Cultural Association of St Joseph’s Cathedral Parish here last weekend hosted a grand Gawai Mass and pre-Gawai dinner, which both attracted over 1,000 attendees.
According to Charles Aloysius — the spokesperson for both events — about 1,100 parishioners and well-wishers were estimated to have converged on St Joseph’s Cathedral here on Friday — a figure supported by the number of guests who attended the dinner celebration at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre, Stampin the following evening.
“It was a colourful and spectacular pre-Gawai dinner celebration. The parishioners and well-wishers were entertained and mesmerised by various cultural dances and songs performed by the Dayak Catholic Cultural Association’s dance troupe, the Orang Ulu community and also St Mark’s Batu Kawah choir band.
“Adding more colour to the occasion, lucky draws and golden voices (fund raising singing programme) were also held,” he told The Borneo Post on Thursday.
Those present at the May 23 dinner included Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Most Rev Datuk John Ha Tiong Hock, Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang, the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Cathedral Kuching Rev Fr Simon Poh and Aloysius Lisu who is the organising chairman.
John Ha, in his opening speech, expressed his Gawai wishes to all Dayak Christians and reminded them of the importance of culture in celebrating the harvest festival as one big family of the Church.