KUANTAN : More than a hundred parishioners, comprising all language groups, armed forces personnel and university students from Sabah and Sarawak attended the Parish Pastoral Assembly of the Church of St Thomas.

Held after the morning Mass on Oct 18 at the parish community centre, it began with the opening prayer by the Parish Priest Fr Danny Matthews. This was followed by a review of the past year by Sheila Fernandez, the PPC Chairperson with reports by Anne Flora and Joyce Aw, the PCC Chairperson and Secretary respectively.

The session was then opened to those present to share their ideas, suggestions and comments. A good number took the floor to give constructive proposals for the spiritual development of the parish as well as the maintenance and utilization of the community centre.

In his speech, Archbishop Murphy Pakiam said he was happy to see many coming forward to offer suggestions for the improvement of the parish. As a participatory church we need the greater involvement of the laity and pastoral concerns are not just the responsibility of the parish priest. Pastoral planning should be a normal feature of all parishes. He stressed on the need to be “apostolic” with efforts to reach out to others such as visits to old folks' homes and hospices. Pastoral witnessing should also be extended to foreign workers, refugees as well as students from Sabah and Sarawak.

The Assembly concluded with the Closing Prayer by Fr Danny followed by lunch. — By Francis Leong