Forgiveness of God is to give us strength

The annual Gawai & Kaamatan festival was celebrated on July 20 after the morning Mass at the Church of St Louis. This year’s celebration saw a crowd of about 800, and was celebrated together with our Sabahan and Sarawakian communities from the various parishes in Perak.

Aug 07, 2014

By Valerie Angus
The annual Gawai & Kaamatan festival was celebrated on July 20 after the morning Mass at the Church of St Louis. This year’s celebration saw a crowd of about 800, and was celebrated together with our Sabahan and Sarawakian communities from the various parishes in Perak. We thank the two bishops, Rt Rev Sebastian Francis, and Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong of Keningau for their support in our celebration. Bishop Cornelius, sent his Vicar General Msgr. Gilbertus J. Engan to grace the occasion in his stead.

In his homily, Msgr Gilbertus said that the day’s reading was very appropriate for the harvest celebration – Matt 13:24-43 where the wheat cannot be separated from the darnel; the good and the bad will always be there but then, after the harvest only can we separate the darnel from the wheat. He was referring to our community and also to God who will always forgive and allow us to repent. The forgiveness of God is to give us strength. His advice to the Sabahans and the Sarawakians was not to be afraid to take up challenges in serving God through the church ministries. He further affirmed that it is shown in the first Reading from the Book of Wisdom that “our God is one who is just and it is the same God who will strengthen you.” He reminded them that, “The second Reading from St. Paul to the Romans 8:26-27 gives you the assurance of the Holy Spirit who comes in to help you in your weakness. And it is the Spirit who will lead you to God who knows everything in your hearts.”

“We have put Christ into our culture and this is integrated into the Mass. Our Catholic Church is universal, gathering all races together. So we should be proud to be Catholic.” he said. Hence, the theme for this year Eucharist, the Source of Life; Culture, the realisation of Christ’s Mission is indeed very appropriate.

Parish Priest, Rev Fr Jude Miranda thanked all Sabahans and Sarawakians for coming together and working together to make this year’s celebration a success. The organizing Chairman, Mr Donald Gabriel Guakin thanked all who had rendered help and support in giving prizes for the events of the day. After Mass, lunch was served and all present stayed back for the various events, eg traditional songs, fashion shows by the children and adults besides the Karaoke competition. A weekend earlier, the Taiping Community had a family day with tele-match for the children in the Taiping Lake Gardens.

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