St Teresa Oratory welcomes first pilgrims on their sacred journey

Mar 07, 2025

SIBU: St Teresa Oratory welcomed its first group of pilgrims on February 22. Leading the 70 plus pilgrims was Fr Raphael Samosir, OFM Cap, from the St Francis Friary in Sibu.

Established in 1960, St Teresa Oratory is one of the three designated pilgrimage centres in the Diocese of Sibu. The other two are St Anthony’s Heritage Centre in Sarikei (est.1940) and Sacred Heart Chapel in Bawan Kanowit (est.1899).

Before entering the ‘Door of Hope’ at St Teresa Oratory, Fr Raphael led the group in reciting the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This was followed by the Enthronement of the Bible. Richard Lim of the Neocatechumenal Way community then provided a brief history of St Teresa Oratory, along with a catechesis on the Oratory’s Icon painting of the Crucifixion.

In his prayers, Fr Raphael blessed all those in attendance and expressed gratitude to St Teresa Oratory for opening the Door of Hope to welcome all. “The Holy Door is called ‘Holy’ because it invites all who enter through it to walk in holiness,” Fr Raphael explained. “In the spirit of the Pope’s pilgrimage, during the singing of the Jubilee hymn, representatives of the entire People of God crossed its threshold, as a prelude to the countless pilgrims of hope from every country who will visit St Peter’s Basilica and celebrate the mysteries of salvation during the Holy Year.”

He also noted, “For pilgrims who cannot visit St Peter’s Basilica, they can choose to make their pilgrimage to local designated pilgrimage centres.”

Fr Raphael concluded by blessing the pilgrims with a special prayer for their continued journey to their next pilgrimage stop, St Anthony’s Heritage Centre in Sarikei, with a brief stopover at the Church of Christ the King in Bintangor.