Dovetale Online Articles

“Carpe Diem!”

As the Confirmation 3 students streamed in for their interview with me, my mind flashed back to scenes from a powerful thought-provoking movie, “Dead Poets Society” (1989). The movie tells of an English Professor, John Keating (Robin Williams), a graduate of Welton Academy, who returns to his alma mater after a teaching stint in London. He wants to open the eyes and minds of the latest batch of the prep school’s overachievers.

Bible Sunday was initiated by the Regional Biblical Commission (RBC) of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in May 1991. It was in response to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) that emphasised the importance and central significance of the Bible for the Church and the world. Since then Bible Sunday is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of July to remind us of the importance of God’s Word in our lives.

I was baptised at the Church of St Bernadette some 10 years ago. A decade on and having spent the last four years in the church community of Holy Spirit parish, I am beginning to view the ministries that I have joined and the people involved as gifts from God.

At the blink of an eye, two years have passed and we have finally come to the end of another exciting juncture of our RCIY journey. On 9 June, we witnessed the dedication of St Filipus Church, the church we have restored! We started this project two years ago in the hope of repairing the “hole-filled” zinc roof and providing them with adequate chairs. Never did we expect that our generous Holy Spirit parishioners would be so supportive of our mission experience.

What is the meaning of vocation? The priesthood and religious are only reserved for special people, not ordinary people like me. I am too sinful and unworthy to serve God. God is calling me? Impossible!

These are some of the sentiments and thoughts of our youth whenever the word ‘vocation’ is mentioned.

Remember the angelic voices of the Sabahan girls in our Attic on 10 December 2006? It was “Pay-it-Forward” for them. Having benefited from the hostel run by the Good Shepherd Sisters in Tenghilan, Sabah, they wanted to give the same opportunity to primary school children living in Liposo and Kelubaan. Every weekday, these children would walk two hours in each direction to and from their school in Pukak.