By Shannon Wei
KUCHING — St Peter’s College held its annual Friends of St Peter’s Thanksgiving Mass on 3 November 2022, which also saw a total of 15 seminarians instituted to the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte.
The Thanksgiving Mass is traditionally celebrated at St Joseph’s Cathedral, as a thank-you to the benefactors of the seminary, also known as the Friends of St Peter’s.
Joining these Friends at Mass were seminarians and staff of the college, members of the religious, and relatives of the candidates who travelled down as far as West Malaysia to witness this ceremony.
The nine candidates instituted into the Ministry of Lector were Addie Frank Anak Lingge (Kuching), Anthony Robert a/l Peter and Philip a/l Asirwalam (Kuala Lumpur), Brywinedren Godon and Timothy Ivan Galisin (Keningau), Scany Polycarp, Adrian Linus Lojikip and Yoseph Jup Matias (Kota Kinabalu), and Joel Rut Markus (Miri).
The six candidates instituted into the Ministry of Acolytes were Canisius Benjamin (Kota Kinabalu), Dannie Luis Anak Romanus (Kuching), Jonathan Andrew Rao a/l James (Kuala Lumpur), Nelbart Peter (Keningau), Pierre Chang Ming Lung (Malacca-Johor), and Ricki Boy Bin Hasim (Sandakan).
Bishop Joseph Hii of Sibu who presided the Mass, was joined by eight concelebrating priests.
In his homily, Bishop Joseph reminded the candidates that this ceremony was a “minor ordination” towards the priesthood, in fulfilling His mission of preaching the gospel to the whole world.
To the Friends of St Peter’s, he shared that it is not just an honour to be called friends of St Peter, but also friends of Christ.
“We are honoured to be called friends by Christ himself, not so much of what we are able to share in His Office, but because of our baptism that we are called through the anointing of the Chrism oil.”
And to the people of God, he urged them not to find distinction between different roles of the Church when considering the three prophetic roles of Christ: to be of prophet, priest, and king (shepherd).
“We as common people, as we participate in this ceremony today, are reminded of the sharing in Christ’s prophetic role, to bring the Word of God to the whole of humanity.”
Shortly after the Mass, the newly installed received their certificates from the Bishop during the fellowship dinner at the College.
