MCYMC members meet in KK

Nov 03, 2016

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Catholic Youth Ministry Committee (MCYMC) met September 23-29 to discuss and highlight issues that are being confronted by Catholic youth in the country. The host for this meeting was the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and the attendees were representatives from the nine Arch/Dioceses, ie: Malacca-Johore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Keningau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.

The event commenced with a meeting of campus leaders at Pace Bene Papar, Sept 23-25 and focused on the Malaysian Catholic Campus Students’ Day (MCCSD) programme. The Archdiocese of Kuching first held the programme July 14-21, 2015. The MCCSD programme is a way for Catholic College students to meet, to update themselves on the latest information and to become spiritually renewed by meeting Jesus through the various sessions that were provided.

The meeting proceeded, Sept 26-29, with youth leaders who serve full-time in their respective dioceses at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre.

The final meeting on Sept 29 was held at the Sacred Heart Hall, Kota Kinabalu.

The youth leaders began their meeting with recollection, led by Fr Joshua Liew. They were also invited to reflect on what it means to serve the ‘Tree of Life.’ It was an opportunity for them to share the bitter and the sweet of what it means to serve in the Lord’s vineyard. The recollection ended with Adoration.

Apart from meetings and recollections, the youth leaders also had the opportunity to meet with the youth from the Catholic parish of St Pius X. There was an activity called mimpanau, meaning ‘walking’ where the youth could get to know and share information with each other as they walked along. This activity ended with an evening Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Wong from the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu.

During the Annual Meeting, various reports were discussed, including the Asian Youth Day (AYD 7), sharings from those who attended the World Youth Day in Poland and the 4th Sabah Youth Day. Various issues and challenges faced by those serving and the Catholic youth were also discussed.

The meeting on the final day was held at the Sacred Heart Hall with Archbishop Julian Leow, who is the President for the Regional Episcopal Commission for Youth/Campus Ministry. Meetings, such as these, demonstrate the unity among Malaysia’s Catholic Youth Services Committee. Apart from giving encouragement to each other, this committee also provides an opportunity to strengthen the network in terms of delivery of information, communication and friendship.

Sibu diocese will host the next MCYMC in 2017 and the Archdiocese of Kuching will be the new Coordinating Office for MCYMC (2017 - 2019). It replaces the Diocese of Sandakan who served for the period 2014- 2016. Bishop Simon Poh will take over from Archbishop Leow as President for the Regional Episcopal Commission for Youth/ Campus Ministry in 2017. -- newsupdatedospo