St Theresa’s Parish Council holds dialogue

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FRESHLY OUT: New books for the Holy Masses, commentaries and prayer books in Bidayuh (Tebedu and Serian).

LET’S TALK: St Theresa’s Parish Council at the dialogue with the principal officers of the KGK and BCC under its jurisdiction.

SERIAN: St Theresa’s Parish Council here held a dialogue with the principal officers of the KGK (Ketua Gereja Kampung) and BCC (Basic Christian Communities) under the jurisdiction of the parish last Saturday.

The dialogues centred on what KGK and BCC members should and should not do to benefit the community as a whole.

It was also held with the aim to foster better relationship and understanding amongst them.

The dialogue held at the church saw the attendance of around 300 participants including outgoing Rector Fr Christopher Laden, incoming Rector Fr Paul Herry, Fr Joseph Chai and organising chiraman Wilson Banyui.

New books for Holy Masses, commentaries and prayer books in Bidayuh (Tebedu and Serian) were also introduced to the participants for use with immediate effect.

Christopher in his opening speech explained in depth the theme ‘one heart, one church’ and he also invited the participants to respond to the vatican’s call so that the number of priests, brothers and nuns would be increased to meet the need of the people of God.

Care-taker chairman of the parish council, Dennis Sung, told the participants that the dialogue was important to update them on the ‘dos and don’ts of a member.

He said he was very thankful to all those who had helped in one way or another to help the parish council achieve all its proposed events physically and spiritually.

This year, the major events of the council included successfully celebrating Easter together with the Indonesian workers from plantations around Serian, organising a pilgrimage trip to Mount Singai, Bau on May 1, celebrating the closing of Gawai on June 15, celebrating the Feast of St Theresa, the annual major fundraising project on Sept 29 and 30, arranging and subsidising about 1,000 people from the parish to attend the Holy Mass on Nov 5 at St Peter’s Church at Padungan here in conjunction with the closing of The Year of Faith.

“The year 2013 was an eventful year with the many events organised by the initiative and active members of lay organisations of the council to benefit the parishioners to enhance better fellowship and understanding,” Sung said.

However, he said as meetings and lengthy discussions were required, the only project left behind this year was the construction of the proposed church bell tower.

The project is now under the care of the council’s architect and will be implemented by early next year.