PAPAR, SABAH — The sacerdotal ordination of Deacon Elvost Lunchi, pic, on July 22 was a momentous occasion filled with joy and colour. It marked a significant historical milestone as it was the second ordination of a Malaysian Mill Hill missionary and the first in Sabah.
The ceremony was presided over by Archbishop John Wong. In his address, he warmly encouraged Elvost to spread the message of the Lord’s love with gladness and enthusiasm.
The event drew a large and diverse crowd. Also present were the religious, Mill Hill Family (as friends of Mill Hill are known in Malaysia), parishioners and Elvost’s family members, relatives and friends.
Fr Bernie Luna MHM, the Councillor for Asia, represented the General Council and encouraged the Church in Sabah to support their missionaries, especially through prayers.
The ordination ceremony at Holy Rosary Church, Limbahau was significant. Papar was the first mission station in Sabah. Back in 1881, when the Mill Hill Missionaries first arrived in Borneo, Fr Daniel Kilty, MHM, was sent to British North Borneo (as Sabah was known then) and he made Papar his primary mission station. In 1888, Fr Bernard Kurz MHM, built the Limbahau church.
Now, 135 years later, Papar has produced her first Mill Hill missionary, who will carry the message of the Risen Christ to the world.
Although the Mill Hill Missionaries do not serve in Sabah anymore, Elvost’s ordination brings a ray of hope and is a manifestation of the maturity of the Sabah Church, which is now ready to send missionaries to foreign lands.
Let us continue to pray for Fr Elvost as he prepares to take up his appointment among the loving Kutchi Kohli people of Pakistan.
God calls, prepares and sends
Born to Catherine Telin Lahindun and Lunchi Linjanun from Kg Sabandil, Papar, Elvost Lunchi began his priestly journey by entering the Initiation Year at the Catholic Diocesan Centre, Kota Kinabalu in 2013. The following year, he continued his studies in Philosophy at St Peter’s College Seminary, Kuching. From 2015-2017, Elvost joined the Mill Hill basic formation and studied Philosophy in Iloilo, Philippines before pursuing his Theological studies at the Tangaza University in Kenya.
During his Theological studies, Elvost underwent a two-year mission programme in Pakistan from 2017-2019. He completed his studies in Theology at Tangaza University earlier this year.
“A vocation in life is a divine gift, bestowed directly by God Himself. In essence, it is God who calls, prepares, and sends each individual on their unique journey. I wholeheartedly embraced my vocation in a quest to unravel life’s purpose and to connect with God, pondering the question, “What does God want from me in this life?”
“Throughout my journey, I have witnessed the continuous intervention of God’s guiding hands in my life. In both moments of joy and sorrow, I experienced God’s gentle warnings, profound teachings, unwavering guidance, and timely salvation
“I am the fourth of six children. Born with a birthmark on my left cheek, I grew up as a shy child. The experience of enduring interrogation, scorn, mockery, and rejection from those around me instilled a profound fear of people within me, leading me to withdraw from social interactions. This left me feeling set apart from others. I often asked God, ‘Why does this have to happen? Why did God create me this way?’
“Since young, I faced identity turmoil and alienation. Over time, I discovered this struggle was a hidden blessing, drawing me closer to God and enriching my spirituality, guiding me to find meaning and divine connection in all aspects of life.
“Growing closer to God, I developed sensitivity and compassion towards others. I became motivated to reach out to the isolated and appreciate God’s gifts. Everything in God’s creation is beautiful, our interpretations shape our perspectives, and God’s presence makes life truly beautiful.
“When I was in primary school, I remember once telling my teacher that I wanted to be a ‘father’. It was the long white robe (which symbolises holiness, but I didn’t understand it as a child) that drew my attention back then. However, as I grew up and battled other challenges in life, this desire slipped onto the back burner and was forgotten.
“Through hard work and determination, I achieved excellent results in the 1999 SPM examination and was awarded the Sabah State Excellent Scholarship.
“During my time at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor, I prayed to understand life’s meaning. God answered, transforming me from a shy student to an active GIFT (Growing In Faith Together) member. These experiences of serving with GIFT shaped my faith and character, preparing me to face the world confidently.
“Not graduating taught me valuable lessons, fostering resilience, humility, and hope. Suffering purified me. It deepened my faith and prepared me for missionary life, while my failures led to growth and readiness for my calling.
“Through diligence, I progressed from a part-time worker to a Group Leader at AEON Co. While focusing on stability and being engaged, God had different plans. I resigned in 2010 and began life anew in Sabah. “Three key lessons I learnt from the experience are to trust God’s plan, beyond our efforts, value hard work and contributions to the Church and mission’s growth, and respect the significance of marriage and remain openhearted to God’s guidance in life.
“From the end of 2010 to 2011, I seriously discerned my purpose in life and God’s will. After attending a vocation seminar in Bundu Tuhan in 2011, the following year, I was accepted into priestly formation in Kota Kinabalu and later, I embraced the call to become a missionary priest. God’s guidance prevailed, shaping my journey to serve others worldwide. Glory to the Trinity. Amen.”
