By Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak
KUCHING — On 18 January 2025, at the Chapel of the Convent of Mary Immaculate in Padungan, Novices Wivina Gelan Liek and Agnes Anak Austin Rungga made their First Religious Profession into the Congregation of Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak.
Sr Wivina Gelan Liek, a Kenyah from Long Singut, Kapit and Sr Agnes Anak Austin Rungga, an Iban from Sungai Yong, Kapit, both belonged to the Mary Immaculate Conception Parish in Kapit, Sarawak.
This one-year First Religious Profession marked the beginning of a series of yearly renewals of their temporary profession. These renewals culminate in a final year of perpetual profession, fully binding their commitment as members of the congregation.
During the rite of the First Profession, the novices freely declared their intention to embrace the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and to live the religious life of the congregation according to its rules and constitutions.
The exchange of their probationary garb for the congregation’s religious habit symbolised the profound life change and their radical response to God’s call.
Sr Rose Wong, Superior General of the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all who helped make the First Profession of the two newly professed Sisters meaningful and enjoyable for everyone.
She especially thanked Archbishop Simon Poh for presiding over the Mass, the priests who concelebrated with him, the formators who journeyed with the newly professed Sisters, and all the Sisters and friends who attended the ceremony for their unwavering support.
Special thanks were given to the parents of the two newly professed Sisters: Encik Liek Enchau and Puan Ria Lahang (parents of Sr Wivina Gelan); and Encik Austin Rungga and Puan Elizabeth Pantan (parents of Sr Agnes)—for offering their daughters to God as members of the SSFS family. Through their great sacrifice, many souls will be saved, and their daughters’ lives will be a blessing to others.
She also thanked the two newly professed Sisters for embracing consecrated life through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This, she said, is a sign of gratitude to God for His great love, and a desire to share in Christ’s mission of serving this broken society.
She encouraged them to constantly focus on the crucified Christ, to be authentic to their calling even when the path seems difficult and discouraging, to follow closely in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi, and to love like Christ. In doing so, their lives will be meaningful and fruitful as they share the experience of inner freedom they have found with others.
Finally, Sr Rose Wong announced the first postings of the two newly professed Sisters: Sr Wivina Gelan to St Bernadette’s Convent, Marudi, and Sr Agnes to St Mary’s Convent, Sibu.
