KUCHING — On the evening of 5 November, about five hundred friends and benefactors of St Peter’s College Major Seminary gathered at St Joseph’s Cathedral for a Thanksgiving Mass.
Thanksgiving Mass is offered annually in appreciation of the benefactors of the seminary. They are called the Friends of St Peter’s. Their contributions in kind and prayers have helped to support the operation of the Seminary in training and forming future priests.
The Mass was presided by Bishop Joseph Hii of the Diocese of Sibu and concelebrated by seven other priests. During the Mass, Bishop Hii instituted 14 seminarians to the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte.
The seminarians instituted to the Ministry of Lector included Henry Umar (Kuching), Gnana Selvam (Kuala Lumpur), Desomnd Jansen (Penang), Raymond Raj (Penang) and Raymond Lee (Sandakan). Davie ak Entalai (Kuching), Henry Jimbey (Kuching), Johanas Ling (Sibu), Elmer Adonis (Sandakan), Lasius Gantis (Kota Kinabalu), Morti Lambutan (Keningau), Peter Chung (Kota Kinabalu), Sylvester Wong (Kota Kinabalu) and Michel Dass (Kuala Lumpur) were instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte.
In his short homily, Bishop Hii said that the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte are ministries of service. He reminded the seminarians to exercise the two ministries with humility.
After the Mass, a thanksgiving dinner was held at St Peter’s College. Their guests and benefactors were entertained with performances staged by the seminarians.
According to Fr Nicholas Ng, the rector of St Peter’s College Major Seminary, there are currently 27 seminarians from East and West Malaysia undergoing formation. Four of them are from the Archdiocese of Kuching.
Beginning this year, the Seminary only conducts the four-and-a-half year theological formation. Seminarians go to College General Penang for the two years of Philosophy.
Interested parishioners who wish to join the Friends of St Peter’s are requested to contact St Peter’s College office for further details.
Audrey Yu
Today’s Catholic Vol.30 No.9 December 2018
