SERIAN — On 3 January, a huge crowd attended the Mass to thank God for his blessing that Serian has been administratively elevated from a district into a division.
The Thanksgiving Mass was part of the function in celebration of the elevation, jointly organised by the Special Function Committee of St Theresa’s Parish and Serian Resident Office. The Special Function Committee was in charge of the liturgical aspects while the Resident Office was responsible for the brunch after the Mass.
“SK St Teresa will definitely be relocated soon and will be named as SK Sri Sadong instead,” the State Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister YB Dato Sri Michael Manyin confirmed this in his speech at the end of the Mass.
Manyin, who was an Altar Server in his younger days, commented on the good turnouts at Mass. He was happy that the local churches were packed during Masses, a sight rarely seen in other parts of the world today.
In his speech at the brunch, the Parish Council chairman Dennis Sung welcomed YB Dato Sri Michael Manyin, the Serian Resident Dahim Nadot, government staff, Community Leaders and parishioners for the Thanksgiving Mass. The Mass, celebrated with the attendance from the government agency, was the first of its kind.
Dennis thanked Manyin for his efforts for the developments of the Parish and the relocation of SK St Teresa so as to solve problems faced by the Parish with the authority all these years.
The historical elevation of Serian into the 12th division was announced by the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the Birumuh Festival in Serian on 11 April 2015.
In a separate press release in Borneo Post dated 23 January Archbishop John Ha pointed out that the proposal was in line with the institution of Serian as a division of the state.
“The church would like to continue contributing towards the education of children. With over 80 years of experience through St Teresa’s Primary School (now SK St Teresa), the church would like to set up a private primary school. This will be following the national syllabus and ensure students’ proficiency in English.
“I call on all Catholics and alumni of St Teresa’s Mission School (in) Serian, to give their support to the proposed St Teresa’s Private Primary School, which will be building on the legacy of the present SK St Teresa,” he said in a statement issued here yesterday.
Ha said the Catholic Church had been highlighting the matter to the Education Department, especially that concerning the deteriorating condition of the wooden buildings in SK St Teresa, which stand next to St Theresa’s Church in Serian.
The structures were deemed ‘unsafe’ by the Public Works Department (JKR) in 2005, he pointed out, adding that minor renovations, maintenance and repair works had been carried out since then.
“For the safety of the students and teachers, these buildings will eventually be demolished,” he added.
“The Catholic community of St Theresa’s Parish has also been expanding over the years and is in need of meeting rooms and classes for their Sunday School. Currently, the parish is planning to put up a Pastoral Centre, using a section of the land where the school presently stands.”
Joseph Then
Today’s Catholic Vol. 27 No. 11 February 2016
