"taken out... appointed... to act for Christ" (Heb 5:1)
By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — On 4 May 2023, Msgr William Sabang, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kuching, marked his 40 years as a priest at a mid-afternoon Mass, flanked by his seminary mate Fr Joseph Chai, Archbishop Simon Poh and Archbishops Emeriti Peter Chung and John Ha.
Concelebrating were many brother priests from the Kuching Archdiocese. Among the congregation at the Chapel of Mother Mary were Msgr William’s family members, relatives and friends from Serian.
Vocation Journey
In 1975, William Sabang, a teenage boy of 18 years, left his village in Serian to embark on his vocation journey to the priesthood. He entered St Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Singapore before proceeding to the College General Penang Major Seminary for more advanced studies in 1977 until 1982. From 1988-1990, he studied for a Licentiate in Canon Law at the University of Urbania, Rome.
While Fr Joseph Chai was ordained a priest on 3 May 1983 in Kuching, Msgr William’s ordination took place on 4 May 1983 at St Theresa’s Church, Serian, although his diaconate ordination earlier in the year (20 February) was in Kuching.
Priesthood
Msgr William recalled how 40 years ago, as a “timid young priest just out of the ‘oven’,” he celebrated his first Mass with two Mill Hill priests beside him. However, “today I am flanked by three Archbishops and a classmate.”
The Vicar General has served in many rural parishes as Assistant Priest and Rector, as well as Rector of St Joseph’s Cathedral and St Peter’s College, both in Kuching.
He had also been appointed Secretary and Chancellor, Judicial Vicar and served on the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in the Archbishop’s Office. Since 2008, he has been serving as Rector and Priest-in-charge of Chapel of Mother Mary/ Priests Retirement Home in Stutong.
Prior to his appointment as Vicar General since April 2017, Msgr William had served as Vicar General (Protem) in September 1996 and Vicar General in June 2003.
Sacerdotal Ruby Jubilee
Archbishop Simon Poh in his homily, congratulated both Msgr William Sabang and Fr Joseph Chai on their sacerdotal Ruby Jubilees. He likened the deep red colour of the “precious stone ruby” to the passion and love of Christ as red represents the “blood of Christ” that priests offer at every Mass as a sacrifice for us.
The prelate thanked Msgr William for saying “Yes” to God and for his “sacrifice and obedience” while serving under all the three Archbishops. A priest’s anniversary celebration is a “celebration of the community” and not only “a celebration for the priest,” he said.
Msgr William is the first priest from the Serian parish as well as the first Iban priest, hence he is popularly known as “Apai Will” meaning “Father Will”.
Archbishop Simon thanked the Sabang family for the gift of Msgr William. To both priests for 40 years of priesthood, he said: “May your joy be full as you give your life totally to serve the people of God.”
Msgr William Sabang’s sacerdotal Ruby Jubilee concluded with a big dinner celebration at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre (CEWC) that night.
Fr Joseph Chai had celebrated his own 40 years of priesthood in Sri Aman a week earlier on 29 April. He has been at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church since 2020. Archbishop Simon Poh, Archbishop Emeritus John Ha and his brother priests were also present.
