By Joseph Then
SERIAN — Msgr William Sabang was cordially invited to launch the St Theresa’s Parish Pastoral Centre Building Fund here on the evening of 2 September 2023.
The simple but auspicious ceremony was attended by a large crowd of members of the Parish Pastoral Council, respective zone leaders, Chairmen of Ketua Gereja Kampong (KGK) and Chairmen of the Basic Christian Community (BCC) besides the parish priests, religious sisters and catechists.
The programme of the night was conducted by Master of Ceremony Jimmy Mpulop and included various speeches, choir presentations by members of the Parish Youth Ministry and karaoke. Fr Raj also presented a song to raise funds, thus commencing the fundraising drive.
In his speech, Msgr William Sabang encouraged everyone to donate for a good cause and said that anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as well and anyone who sows generously will reap generously. Each should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
In his speech, Rector Fr Lazarus Swinie said that the site clearing and earth filling up to above flood level of the Parish Pastoral Centre had been completed. As such, the contribution from well wishers for the past 24 years is almost exhausted.
In his speech earlier, Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council cum the Parish Pastoral Centre Building Committee, Dennis Sung appealed to each and everyone to render the same strong support and co-operation as shown generously in the past for all the fundraising projects organised by the Committee.
He said that the most urgent first stage of the project, the site clearing and the earth filling had been completed. He said, “We are now waiting for the approvals of the various government departments before we can call for open tender. During the period of waiting, we have to prepare the amount of the estimated costs of the expenditures. So, the Committee will continuously organise fundraising activities hoping that all well wishers will support.”
The launching ceremony concluded with a good amount of contributions as received from the fundraising commencement.
Meanwhile, it was made known that all the newly proposed fundraising projects will materialise one by one, after the launching ceremony. The proposed projects include monthly family contributions, selling of souvenir t-shirts, lucky draws expected to be drawn on 30 September 2023, fundraising dinner on 6 April 2024 and the joggerton in year 2025.
Those interested can obtain the three-ringgit-each lucky draw tickets from any member of the Parish Council, KGKs or Basic Christian Community (BCC).
The prizes of the lucky draws donated by the YBs were one unit of motorbike, two units of Television Pintar, two units of mobile phone, one unit of refrigerator, one unit of audio system for karaoke, five vouchers of RM100.00 each and family utensils.
The Committee urged everyone to encourage the people in their respective kampongs/places to give strong financial support to the meaningful project.
The Building Committee thanks Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah who had agreed to help through UNIFOR; the press for sparing their esteem space to report the progress of the Centre and those who donate online.
The Committee continuously invites generous well wishers to contribute either by handing over their contributions to the Parish Office, at the Serian main church or bank-in to Hong Leong Bank, Serian with Bank account number 03300013158 for ST. THERESA’S PASTORAL CENTRE FUND.
