By Catherine Wan
KOTA KINABALU — In a letter to the clergy, religious and laity, Archbishop John Wong called on all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu to answer our Holy Father’s call to join him in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and to pray for peace in the world, especially for Ukraine.
The day of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25 was chosen for the Consecration.
Archbishop Wong sent the letter to all parishes ahead of the Consecration as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of war and urged all Masses on Mar 25 to be dedicated for peace in Ukraine and the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the lmmaculate Heart of Mary.
Sacred Heart Cathedral (SHC) responded with a Holy Hour on 24 March (Thursday) evening. Referring to the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, parish priest Fr Paul Lo underlined that Mary consented to the will of God to conceive the Son of God, Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit for she believed that nothing is impossible to God when the will of human is joined to the will of God.
In recalling the war between Russia and Ukraine, Fr Paul reminded the faithful of their role as peacemakers as to pray for peace is an act of charity through the intercession of the Mother of Peace.
He added, only God can stop the war in Ukraine. “Pray for the leaders of the world to bring peace, just like Mary, conceived with child, went all the way across the hill country to visit her cousin, Elizabeth to serve her needs for a few months,” urged the parish priest.
The Holy Hour concluded with Benediction.
The next morning at 6.00 am (25 Mar), the Mass for the Solemnity of Annunciation of the Lord was presided by Archbishop John Wong and concelebrated by Fr Paul Lo, Fr Sunny Chung, Fr Saimon William and Fr Joshua Liew.
The prelate urged the faithful to emulate Mary, to trust God fully and to surrender her life in the hands of God when she said “yes” to the will of God to fulfill the plan of salvation for humankind as she loves God above everything else. In order to do the will of God, we must love God with our hearts and minds.
Following the Communion Prayer and before dismissal, Archbishop Wong prayed a “solemn Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary” as appealed by Pope Francis. He was accompanied by the concelebrants Fr Paul, Fr Sunny, Fr Saimon and Fr Joshua and seminarian Jerry Muhamat.
