‘Paddling with Christ’ participants together with those travelling by land pose with Rev Father Obaso, Rev Father Olili and Rev Father Joseph before they set off to Selidap.
The participants, in safety gear, ready for the paddling journey to Sungai Selidap.
BINTANGOR: Over one hundred Christians participated in a ‘Paddling with Christ’ event organised as one of the activities in conjunction with the 100th anniversary celebration of Christ The King Church, Bintangor.
The participants, comprising fellow Christians from various places such as Kanowit, Julau, Sarikei and Sibu, set off in 18 boats from the express wharf jetty here around 10am yesterday.
Earlier on, they gathered at the open space in front of Bintangor Town for a safety briefing and prayer.
Church rector Rev Father Philip Obaso, in his short speech, said the paddling event to Rumah Peter Kilas along Sungai Selidap which would take about one-and-a-half hours was to show their appreciation towards the efforts of missionaries and catechists to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in the past.
“The ‘Paddling with Christ’ event is organised as an expression of deep gratitude to God for the gift of Faith in Jesus Christ and for the gift of Mill Hill missionaries, diocesan clergy, the brothers and sisters, the catechists and all the beloved people of God in Bintangor who have tirelessly and faithfully laboured to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in this region,” Obaso said.
Apart from being part of the church’s centenary celebration programme, the paddling event to Selidap was to commemorate the arrival of Mill Hill missionaries in Meradong, he said, adding Selidap was the first place in Meradong where the missionaries set foot.
He thanked various government agencies such as Sarawak Rivers Board, Fire and Rescue Department, police, SMK Julau and SK St Alphonsus, Julau for their role in ensuring the safety of the journey by boat.
On arrival at their destination, they were joined by locals and fellow Christians from other areas who came by cars in a special prayer to commemorate the historic event at St Joseph’s prayer site near Rumah Peter Kilas.
Thereafter, they were feted to a fellowship luncheon at Rumah Peter Kilas.
Among those who participated in the ‘Paddling with Christ’ event were Rev Father Joseph Sebastian, Rev Father Mathews Olili, religious sisters, invited guests from Kanowit, Julau, Sarikei and Sibu and parishioners of Christ The King Church, Bintangor.
From left: Father Joseph, Father Olili, Father Obaso and others in one of the boats.