KK Catholic Archdiocesan Centre blessed

At the opening ceremony of the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre (CAC) on November 12, Archbishop John Wong described the archdiocese as the nerve centre. He said the complex, adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, is a symbol of the Catholic community’s growth and unity as a local Church.

Nov 25, 2022

Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, opening the CAC on November 12, 2022. With him are Archbishop John Wong of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese (right) and Bishop Cornelius Piong of Keningau Diocese (left)


KOTA KINABALU: At the opening ceremony of the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre (CAC) on November 12, Archbishop John Wong described the archdiocese as the nerve centre. He said the complex, adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, is a symbol of the Catholic community’s growth and unity as a local Church.

“At the same time, it should remind us to double our efforts in carrying out the mission of the Church,” said the prelate.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski and Archbishop John jointly blessed and opened the CAC. Also present were the Bishop of Keningau, Rt Rev Cornelius Piong, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, and former Malaysian Ambassador to the Vatican, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Serving as the administrative centre of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, the CAC houses the offices of the Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, various archdiocesan commissions and its archives. The three-story CAC costing approximately RM9.5 million, includes a hall and a chapel.

Archbishop John pointed out that the CAC will serve the archdiocese, which includes 21 parishes and outstations, as well as the clergy, catechists, and all Catholics — both active and lapsed, within its jurisdiction, the physical and financial resources, and pastoral structures, systems, styles and policies that lie within it.

“Together, under the pastoral leadership of the archbishop, CAC forms the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu,” he said.

“I hope CAC will harness the charism and potentials of all pastoral agents, strengthening the various pastoral structures, streamlining resources, and mobilising the baptised in carrying out our mission as ‘a caring communion of Christ-centred communities’ in this archdiocese,” said the prelate.

Archbishop John hoped the Vision and Mission of the archdiocese would be further promoted and enhanced through the various pastoral and administrative offices at the CAC.

“We desire to be a synodal Church that aims to walk forward in communion, carrying out our mission through the participation of the baptised. Let us do this with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the intercession of St Joseph, the Patron Saint of our Archdiocese.”

Archbishop Wojciech said he was impressed with the design and architecture of the CAC. He hoped the centre would inspire and motivate the local Catholic community here to carry out the Church’s mission even more enthusiastically.

“Let this be a place to meet, work, discuss and motivate in the service of our faith,” he said. Archbishop Wojciech was heartened to learn that most of the funds to build the CAC came from the Catholic community.

He said the Catholic community had been generous in developing the Church here, and they should continue to lend a helping hand to Catholics in poorer countries.

Archbishop Wojciech added that on a recent visit to Timor Leste, Catholic Church officials proudly showed them facilities built with aid from the Catholic community in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

The CAC replaces the Catholic Diocesan Centre (CDC) built in 1988 at Taman Hiburan, Penampang. CDC will now be used as a centre for priestly formation.

The new centre also gained the attention of building professionals and received the Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (Sabah) Commendation award in October this year.

Total Comments:0

Name
Email
Comments