Keningau Diocese celebrates its 21st anniversary

May 16, 2014

TAMBUNAN (Herald Malaysia): “Thank you, Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, because it was through your efforts, that the Diocese of Keningau was born 21 years ago,” said Bishop Cornelius Piong. The diocese was celebrating its 21st anniversary, the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Piong himself, as well as the Harvest Festival at the Church of St Theresa, Tambunan on May 3. The celebration was more meaningful with the presence of His Excellency, Archbishop Joseph Marino, Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia.

By choosing the theme “The family built around Christ, fosters family worship, and strengthens its faith and social responsibility,” Bishop Piong urged the faithful to keep the theme in mind and to show it every day within the family and the community, because “without this, our faith will not survive and our testimony about Jesus will not be effective.”

In his homily, Bishop Piong said, “We should be happy to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Diocese. We should be thankful to Almighty God for His blessings, guidance from the Holy Spirit for the priests, religious and the faithful. If we combine this celebration together with the Harvest Festival, it is appropriate that we give thanks to God.” He reminded the congregation to dedicate themselves to thankfulness for all that they have received and what had been achieved for the past 21 years.

The Prelate went on to say that the Diocese of Keningau has chosen only one theme, which is the family. He emphasized that the family must be centred in Christ in worship and reminded the faithful of their social responsibility. We are required to be firmly grounded and steadfast in our faith and unshaken in our hope beginning with our families.

Bishop Piong stressed that we have to return to the basic premise given to us by Jesus Christ. We have to strive to be one with Him and to put Him as the centre of our lives, because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus said, “Stay united in me as I am with you because without me, you can do nothing.” And St Paul reminds us in his letter to the Colossians, “You have accepted Jesus Christ as God, therefore be one with Him, rooted in Him and build upon Him.”

He also touched on the importance of BECs. He told the faithful not to look down on the BECs in their parishes, because they are established for the common good of the people and the community. He said as community, there is togetherness and in shared activities, as in the Bible readings and attending Mass, this will not only strengthen our faith but it also enables us to help each other. “Unity is strength, and nothing can be gained without it,” he said.

He again reminded the faithful to remain strong in their faith because God has sent the Holy Spirit to guide, teach and remind us of the teaching of Jesus Christ. He asked the faithful to pray to the Holy Spirit and to ask Him to give them strength, wisdom and renewed faith to be witnesses of Christ, especially in these present times when there are many obstacles and temptations making it difficult to follow Jesus.

“Finally, I would like to thank everyone, on behalf of the priests and religious so that we will continue to work together and our focus is not to lose sight of the face of Jesus.”

About 4,000 of the faithful from all the parishes in Keningau came together to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Diocese of Keningau. Also present was Archbishop John Wong, Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, as well as Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom, priests, religious and invited guests including a representative for Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, and Datuk Radin Malleh, representing the Deputy Chief Minister.