By Aline Lim
KOTA KINABALU — On 11 June 2021, on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, around one thousand plus Malaysians gathered virtually to participate in the recitation of the Holy Rosary to pray for our priests, which was held at the Sacred Heart Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Kota Kinabalu.
For the second year in a row, Sacred Heart Cathedral Kota Kinabalu has become the only participating prayer location in Malaysia for the Global Rosary Relay organized by the Worldpriest movement, whose founder and CEO is Marion Mulhall.
Initially, this event was supposed to be held in the main Cathedral and open for parishioners to come together physically to participate in this meaningful event. However, with the change of SOPs and stringent roadblocks in Sabah, the event was limited only to the presence of the parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Fr Paul Lo and his assistants, Fr Russell Lawrine, Fr Sunny Chung, Fr Saimon William and Fr Joshua Liew.
The evening began by Fr Paul greeting the viewers online, and thanking the previous prayer location, St Pius X on Dudley Road in Edgewood, Kentucky, USA, who passed on the prayer “baton” to our parish. Then the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament took place. Fr Joshua led the vespers, followed by the proclamation of the Gospel and reflection by Fr Paul.
In his reflection, he shared the Gospel of John, narrating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, saying that the self-giving sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is a reflection of what priests are called to do.
He further shared on how we are all called to be like the two figures at the foot of the Cross, Mary and John, who contemplated the Cross of Christ.
He also emphasized on the importance of coming together to pray for the sanctification of our priests, so that they may always come out of themselves and their comfort zones, having more compassion and giving themselves to the people as Jesus Christ did.
This was then followed by the recitation of the Holy Rosary, as Fr Sunny led everyone to meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries.
After the Benediction, Fr Paul thanked all who participated in the virtual event, and announced that next year’s Global Rosary Relay will be held on 24 June 2022, on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. He then passed on the prayer “baton” to St Dominic’s Church, Pakistan.
It was unfortunate that no parishioners were able to be present physically at the Church to pray for our priests. But thankfully we could still come together virtually from near and far, and be united as Catholics in this nation to encircle the world with prayers for the ones whom our Lord loves – His priests. May all priests, especially those in the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, be shepherds after the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for the Church.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place all our trust in You!
