By Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan SOCCOM
KOTA KINABALU (12 November) — Sabah’s Catholic community particularly those around the state capital are now better served with the opening of the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre (CAC) here today.
Describing the CAC as the nerve centre of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, Archbishop John Wong said the complex just adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral is a symbol of the Catholic community’s growth and unity as a local church.
“At the same time it should remind us to double our efforts in carrying out the mission of the church,” he said at the blessing and opening of the CAC,” said the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu.
The CAC blessing and launching was officiated by Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) to Malaysia and Archbishop Wong.
Also present was the Bishop of Keningau Cornelius Piong, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and former Malaysian Ambassador to the Vatican Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
Serving as the administrative centre of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, the CAC houses the offices of the Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, the various commissions within the Archdiocese as well as its archives.
Built at a cost of some RM9.5million, the three storey CAC is also equipped with a hall and a chapel.
Noting that the CAC is not the Archdiocese per se, the but rather Archdiocese is the sum of the 21 parishes and outstations as well as the clergy, catechists and all Catholics – both active and lapsed – within its jurisdiction.
Archbishop Wong also pointed out that the Archdiocese is also made up of all the human, physical and financial resources as well as the pastoral structures, systems, styles and policies within it.
“Together, under the pastoral leadership of the archbishop, they form the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu,” he said.
“It is my hope that CAC will facilitate the process of harnessing the charism and potentials of all pastoral agents, strengthening the various pastoral structures, streamlining our resources and mobilising all the baptised in carrying out our mission as ‘a caring communion of Christ-centred communities’ in this Archdiocese,” Archbishop Wong added.
In this regard, he hoped that the Vision and Mission of the Archdiocese would be further promoted and enhanced through the various pastoral and administrative offices at the CAC.
“It is our desire to be a synodal Church that aims to walk forward in communion, carrying out our mission through the participation of the baptised,” Archbishop Wong said.
“Let us do this with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the intercession of St Joseph, the Patron Saint of our Archdiocese,” he added.
Stating that he was impressed with the design and architecture of the CAC, Archbishop Zaluski expressed hope that the centre would inspire and motivate the Catholic community here to carry out the mission of the church even more enthusiasitically.
“Let this be a place to come to meet, work, discusss and motivate in the service of our faith,” he said.
Archbishop Zaluski said he was also heartened after being informed that much of the funds for the construction of the CAC came from the Catholic community.
He said Catholic community have been generous in the development of the Church here, they should also continue to lend a helping hand to Catholics in poorer countries.
In this regard, Archbishop Zaluski said on a recent visit to Timor Leste, Catholic church officials there proudly showed them facilities built with aid from Catholic community in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
The CAC replaces the Catholic Diocesan Centre (CDC) at Taman Hiburan in Penampang that had been in use since 1988 and will now be utilised as a centre for priestly formation.
The new centre has also gained the attention of building professionals and it was named as a recipient of Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (Sabah) Commendation award in Oct 22 this year.
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