By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — Catholic lawyers in the Archdiocese of Kuching gathered for their annual Red Mass celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Church on 25 January 2025.
Since 2015, the legal fraternity has organised the Votive Mass to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and blessings from the Lord.
Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh presided over the Mass, concelebrated by parish priest Fr Leonard Yap and Holy Trinity parish priest Fr Eugene Maglasang.
Among the congregation of lawyers, judges, law students and other individuals involved in the administration of justice, were Datuk Seri JC Fong the State Legal Counsel, Datuk Stephen Chung a retired Court of Appeal Judge, and Gabriel Gumis, former Registrar of the High Court of Sabah & Sarawak who currently serves in the Native Court of Sarawak.
According to the organising committee, their presence reflected the strong faith and unity within the legal community.
Jubilee Year – a time of Grace, Mercy and Reconciliation
In his homily, Archbishop Simon Poh referred to the Reading on the conversion and transformation of St Paul, reflecting that the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 is about God’s love and understanding the need for “justice” and the need for “redemption”.
He said the Jubilee Year is a time of “grace, mercy and reconciliation” so “celebrate, give thanks to God, look at our relationship with God; encounter Jesus and bring his love and mercy to our family, to society, and to change society because we are Christians.”
Shaping the destiny of Sarawak and Malaysia
Archbishop Simon Poh said the Mass was to pray for “preservation of peace and justice” and “for the grace and development of people.” He asked the congregation to give thanks to the Lord for his blessings, and for “the Lord to use you powerfully for shaping the destiny of Sarawak and Malaysia as we look for justice and peace.”
As a token of appreciation, Datuk Seri JC Fong representing the legal congregation, presented mementos to the Altar Servers, Sacristan, Choir, Fr Leonard Yap, Fr Eugene Maglasang and Archbishop Simon Poh, for their dedication and service in making the Red Mass a meaningful and spiritually enriching occasion.
There was light refreshment at the Fr Dato Lawrence Chua Hall to cap the gathering.
