Living a Servant Leadership Lifestyle

May 19, 2017

By Darren Damian
A total of 23 student leaders from public universities (UniKL Pasir Gudang, UTM, UTeM) who were on their mid-semester break, joined the first Leaders- In-Training (LIT) camp organised by MJCC (Malacca Johor Catholics on Campus) at Majodi Centre, Johor Bahru on April 5-8.

What’s so special about the camp? Other than preparing leaders to serve more effectively in their respective Catholic Student Societies (CSSes), it equips them with longterm post-graduation leadership skills.

In terms of spirituality, Sr Shanti FdCC, the assistant MJD Assistant Director to the Campus Ministry, prepared the morning devotion prayer, teaching leaders what prayer is all about and the various forms of prayer, such as Centring Prayer and Adoration.

After an introduction to Bible Study and Worship, the campers were asked to sign up for one of the two workshops. In their Bible Study workshop, Student leader Sheila Mae Su and Youth Minister Matthew Wee taught the student leaders how to read and unlock the Bible, breaking the passages into parts and understanding key words. This session was offered in line with Pope Francis’ exhortation in the Joy of the Gospel 175, “the study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer” But it was also our joy to see the interest that the participants showed as they probed the Word of God.

Christopher Luke, John Paul and Jahaziel Daniel from Faith, Integrity, Truth (FIT) Ministry of the Servants of Yahweh (SOY) Covenant Community offered profound insights in their Praise and Worship workshop, demonstrating and polishing skills practically and spiritually on how to be a Praise & Worship leader. This workshop had been requested by the student leaders and the engaging way in which the team delivered the session greatly inspired the students.

The camp also enhanced leaders’ skills in a practical way through the leadership session by Daryl Tan, the past president of CSS USM Penang. Speaking on differentiating worldly leaders and Catholic leaders, Daryl made references to Church documents and saints. The outgoing President of UTeM CSS, Kennedy Bradley, shared on assertiveness, how to balance passive and aggressive in a practical communication skill.

The most challenging session was M.A.D (Make A Difference) Catholic, another session inspired by the Joy of the Gospel where Pope Francis bemoans the lack of penetration of Christian values in, among others, the economic sector (EG 102). In this session, Campus Ministry Officer Jameson Tan gave the participants three days to think critically and come up with an idea for a product that can bring social impact. The ideas were presented to a panel of judges which included Pamela Yap, Henry Tan, and Sr Shanti. Pamela Yap shared how, as a Christian, she had struggled in many challenging entrepreneurship fields such as Astro on the Go project and The Star. Giving a second perspective was Henry Tan, previously a full time Catholic Campus Minister and thereafter a businessman, including as a franchisee of McDonalds.

The camp ended with a meaningful celebration of Palm Sunday Mass together with Bishop Bernard Paul. Since Palm Sunday is also the World Youth Day, other campus students were invited. UiTM Pasir Gudang joined us for the Mass. At the end of the Mass, His Lordship prayed over each of the participants and commissioned them.

The participants said that this camp was an essential eye opener where they learnt critical thinking and equipped themselves with skills. They hope that in the next LIT camp, more participants will come from the the 1st and 2nd years.