KUCHING — At long last, after five years of planning and fund raising, Fr Dato Lawrence Chua once again lived up to his nickname as ‘The Lord’s builder’ with the opening of the new 4-storey Blessed Sacrament Church Sunday School blocks on Sunday, 19 June.
The combined Chinese and English Mass were presided over by His Grace Archbishop John Ha with Auxiliary Bishop Simon Poh and Fr Lawrence Chua concelebrating.
The two new Sunday School blocks comprised 24 classrooms, of which 17 classrooms were sponsored by the Chinese congregation. Each room has been named after the Saints.
Due to the increasing number of children attending Sunday School at Blessed Sacrament Parish, the existing Sunday School classrooms were inadequate. Classes for Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation had to be held in three different sessions. Though an additional floor has been added to the Parish hall, the ever increasing number of students made it impossible to accommodate all. As a result, the need for building two new blocks came about.
Currently, there are a total of 567 students in the English and Chinese Sunday School classes, not including those attending the RCIA sessions. With the two new blocks of classrooms, the classes can now be held concurrently.
Some of the rooms would be set aside for use by the different lay organisations in the Parish including the Emmaus Lay Apostolate, Legion of Mary and Youth Ministry group.
Fundraising is still ongoing; the purchase of other facilities such as air-conditioners, computers, projectors and cabinets to provide the classrooms the conducive and comfortable environment, and to pay off the sum still not settled.
The Rector and the members of the Parish Council would like to take this opportunity to put on record their appreciation and gratitude to all donors and contributors to include those from Sabah, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand.
Blessed Sacrament Parish is still appealing for continuous support and contribution from all parishioners and well-wishers, particularly from families for whom the new building was meant for.
Isabel Fong Lim
Today’s Catholic Vol.28 No.4 July 2016
