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MISSIOCOM The Missionary Community of Corpus Christi
Priscilla’s tuktuk Priscilla, MCCC’s remaining missionary in Cambodia describes her activities during the pandemic there and the progress made with the children’s library, especially her tuktuk library (see photo opposite). Read her story on page 6.
Feeding the hungry The pandemic did not totally stop MCCC’s outreach. In spite of restrictions and curbs on movements, MCCC members in Sibu were able to respond to those in need by coordinating efforts to feed the hungry during the pandemic. Read the full story on page 16.
Back to Sabah Previously, MCCC had a unit in Kota Kinabalu from mid 2011 to mid 2013. MCCC’s attempt to reestablish herself in Sabah took a step closer to realisation when Chaistten, one of MCCCs promising seminarians, spends his time during the current pandemic at Kampong Mandahan, Papar with Fr Justin, a former Jesuit. Read the full story on page 20.
Mission Under Lockdown The word “Mission” conjures up nostalgic notions of travelling to distant lands to preach the gospel to people who have not heard about Jesus Christ. Up to recently, missionaries were still considered in such a category. They are those who have dedicated their whole lives to taking the good news to a foreign land. In the wake of the tragic worldwide coronavirus pandemic, albeit with the imposition of restrictions and curbs on individual freedom for the common good, the freedom to move unrestricted to proclaim the good news has taken a hit and stopped missionaries in their tracks. The lockdown imposed to curtail the spread of the virus has meant a sudden halt to what had been seemingly the norm for many people. Now people are longing and trying to regain that norm or some aspects of it while others are resigned to the new norm that has become the order of the day, living with the coronavirus or whichever variant it has evolved into. One unfortunate aspect of the new norm is the uncertainty, not only of the future, but in everything present. No longer can people say with certainty anything that is going to come up. It is this uncertainty that has brought about great fear among people: fear about the efficacy of the vaccines, the side-effects, the need for social distancing, wearing masks, lost of livelihood. It is this fear that has resulted in individuals reacting adversely to the measures taken by their 1
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August 2021 Volume 10 No 1 governments to stall the spread of the virus. Proponents of the individual’s right to freedom and conspiracy theories see it as their duty to challenge the lockdowns which they consider as illegal. Yes, people respond to uncertainty in different ways. Some fall into depression and despair. Others cower in fear of the impending doom. Others are more defiant and the only way for them to deal with the uncertainty is to create certainty, whether believable or not, by sticking to unfounded conspiracies.
Becoming a Missionary with MCCC MCCC welcomes Catholics from all walks of life to take up the call to mission by providing a platform for them to realise this call. MCCC will facilitate this through four categories of membership: • full-time lay missionary • unit member • missionary priest • associate priest or religious
Anyone can become a MCCC unit member by joining an existing unit. The unit will provide the necessary formation and support and will organise activities to facilitate mission work for the members. A full-time missionary will undergo training before being sent to a foreign country for mission work. A candidate for MCCC missionary priest will undergo priestly formation following the necessary requirements and any priest or religious can become an associate member with MCCC for a certain period of time. Please contact Fr Ivan for further information no how to apply to be a MCCC member.
For missionaries, defining the new norm for mission work must be an immediate concern. Waiting around for things to return to normal is a waste of time because ultimately mission work is not about working within a certain conducive environmental conditions but more to do with the missionaries responding to whatever situations they find themselves in. Many have found themselves stuck with the very people they have given up much to minister to. Some are keen to get out as soon as an opportunity presents itself but this seems to beg the question: Are we not supposed to be in solidarity with the people we are sent to, people we have worked and lived with as a missionary? In the midst of social distancing and travel curbs, it seems that missionaries are thrust into close proximity with the very people they have gone to serve. This itself presents a new opportunity. It opens up the possibility of more than a cosmetic and casual approach to mission work. It demands that serious thought and reflection should go into looking at innovative approaches to mission work during the pandemic that meets the needs of the people as well as conveying to the suffering that God is still around and continues to care for them despite the contrary. A tall order indeed! After all, are we all not in need at the moment, fearing for the future? The role of the missionary at this present moment is to give some form of certainty to the people whose lives are shrouded in darkness and fear. People want to know whether they will be able to put a meal on their table tomorrow. They want to know for certain if they have a stable job. They want to be able to know that their children will get an education. Most of all, they want to know if they are going to survive the pandemic. We are called to help people face and overcome their fears. All we can do in the end is to give God’s assurances to them: I am here with you, through it all. As with most things during the pandemic, “Missiocom” was out of circulation. Now that it is back, we hope that it will provide you with a glimpse of what is happening with MCCC. We also hope that it will inspire you to think about how you can contribute to the work of mission. Keep safe and stay healthy.
Fr Ivan Fang MHM
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China Diary Part 6: 2019 Anna Ling, our veteran missionary, spent many years in China. She began her mission in 2006 in Guizhou province and since 2014 has been focusing her efforts in Hanzhong. Since her health has deteriorated and is in a fragile state, she has reduced her time in China considerably. She goes to attend to the needs of her many contacts once or twice a year.
During the end of autumn 2019, we visited some remote villages around Hanzhong to distribute bursaries to the poor students. Since 2013, we have been visiting Beiba Secondary School. This was our thirteenth visit. One of the initial students we helped entered university in September 2019. Our journey to Beiba was risky due to the recent heavy rainfall. Parts of the road was were made impassable for vehicles. On one side of the road were the steep slopes and on the other, we could not even see the bottom of the valley. By the grace of God, we were able to distribute the bursaries smoothly and returned back safely. In spite of the bad conditions, we were not deterred but was encouraged by the biblical verse: “Do not mock the life of the poor; do not keep needy eyes waiting” (Sirach 4:1).
Above: some of the students of Beiba Secondary School filling the forms for the bursary.
Right: Anna handing out the bursary to the deserving students at Beiba Secondary School.
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Group photo of the beneficiaries of the bursary programme at Beiba Secondary School. For the autumn semester of 2019, we managed to sponsor seven university students, twenty four high schoolers, twenty seven Secondary and ten Primary school students who are poor. Many thanks to all our kind donors. Due to my health situation, I was not able to reach out to as many students as I would have liked to and hope that I will be able to do so in the near future.
We helped one family in particular in 2019; a young widow with three children, a set of twin boy and girl and another girl. Her parents are Catholic but she married into a pagan family. Her husband did become a Catholic with their three children but he had a brain tumour and passed away two years previousl y. The treatment for his illness was costly and used up all their savings. They resorted to borrow from their relations to pay for the medical expenses. Now, she has a huge financial burden. The three children are very lovely. We gave them school ba gs, stationer y and other dail y necessities and also some financial assistance. Their home is the only Catholic home in the village. But in spite of that, they remain strong in faith. After her husband’s death, the poor widow relies more and more on the Lord to help her raise her three children and to look after her elderly parents-in-law. “The Lord helps the orphan and the widow” (Ps 146:98).
Our trip to Xinyue Particulars Education Centre in the beginning of winter 2019 was particularly memorable and fruitful. Timothy Tay and his friend from Singapore, together with Fr Luke and I went to visit this centre of learning for disabled children who are suffering from autism, mild cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hyperactivity and those with learning disabilities, language barrier and other multiple disabilities. Most of these children are from poor families from the surrounding villages. The Centre offers services to those children whose ages range from 3 to 18 years. Some of these children go home once every fortnight, others once a month. The sisters give their dedicated love and service to these special needs children even though they are not related. 4
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Fr Luke and I arrived a day before the others. When Fr Luke discovered that the boys could not play basketball because the balls were deflated, he quickly rectified the situation by using his tyre pump, to the students’ delight. Timothy was especially natural with the children. I was touched by his actions. He hugged and carried them like a loving father. He also provided financial assistance to these poor students to ease the burden of their families. Indeed, it was an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God (Phil 4:18c).
Fr Luke pumping up the basketballs for the kids.
Timothy Tay with one of the disabled children.
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One of the sisters supervising the children at the Centre.
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Mission in Kampong Thom Priscilla M. Carrido, one of MCCC’s missionaries in Cambodia gives a report on her mission in Kampong Thom.
It is January 2020. The New Year looked promising after my brush with the cruel immigration, the lifethreatening tremors and relief operations during my break in the Philippines last October. I am most grateful for the blessing of my new Tuktuk mobile library in December 2019, a gift from ACTS Singapore.
There were also other renovations in the main parish and another community. A lot of things were going on in our church.
Priscilla standing beside the mobile library I was also ver y excited on my part. My Catechism class in Maniw was growing. The children’s libraries were doing well. The project Books for HOPE Tuktuk Mobile Children’s Library was just beginning to visit schools and villages. On 21 and 22 January, I was in and out of the Phenom Penh airport sending off volunteers who had offered their services in our parish. It was around this time that the COVID 19 pandemic outbreak was all over the world news. We were very worried. We started taking precautions like wearing masks but the usual activities went on in the parish.
In the first week of January, there were lots of excitement in the Catholic Church in Kampong Thom, Cambodia. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new church at St. Therese’s Community in Kampong Ko was going to take place. I was tasked with preparing the information board which included the church history during the Pre Khmer Rouge period and the succeeding years. Many came for the ceremony. The Jesuit North Community also had their meeting with their superior and Bishop Kike joined them. 6
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delayed. God is good. He expedited everything. I was so thankful for the many prayers, cheers, care and unexpected support. God bless all of you generously.
In the last week of February, I underwent the 9-day Ignatian silent retreat at Metta Karuna Reflection Center in Siem Reap. It was sponsored. Little did I know it was a preparation for worst thing to happen. In mid March, while joining our volunteer nurse from Singapore to accompany a parishioner to the Caritas Eye Hospital in Takeo, I was the one diagnosed for immediate operation. It was a retinal detachment. The first thing my parish priest, Fr. Mark Lopez SJ, asked me was if I wanted to go home to the Philippines for the operation. I sensed the urgency, so I said that I would stay. We talked about it in the Je s u i t ’s h o u s e l a t e r a n d Fr. B o n g b o n g a l s o recommended me to stay. We prayed and entrusted my operation in God’s hands. I was operated after three days and three days later the lockdown worldwide started. If I went home, I would have been stranded and the operation would have been
I stayed most of the earlier lockdown months with the generous SME missionaries in Phnom Penh and in the parish house in Kampong Thom. During those months my movements were restricted. I got to teach English to some of the boys stranded at our student centre. I also worked on the catechesis modules for children. We also had a tree planting activity and carried out simple works of mercy. I help organised prayer meetings via Zoom every Saturday, intercessory chat rooms, and mobilised the Anawim apostolate in Digos, Philippines for the needy with my community, family and friends back home and from the different parts of the world.
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Above: Enjoying the beautifully illustrated books in one of the children’s library
By September 2020, the Government started to lift some restrictions. The churches opened and Holy Masses were allowed. Little by little, church activities were back. I started to open the main library in the parish. I am also studying the Khmer language with a local public teacher. Most of all, I missed going to the villages, especially when I heard that the children in Maniw watched out for us every Sunday morning. I pray that they are still waiting for the catechism classes.
eased a little, we started opening the library in Kampong Rothe again. I have a new assistant since January, so I was able to train her before my contract ends in September. Until now we still have missionaries stranded in their countries or in different places, like Amor who is stuck at home in the Philippines. Let us continue to pray that God will continue to bless and keep us and our families safe.
Since last September, we have already opened the children's library in Kampong Rothe. As usual, the children from nearby were our regulars in the librar y. On 28 December 2020, our usual Christmas Party was held but only a few came, unlike the previous years. I was also able to prepare Christmas gift packs for the children, the garbage collectors in the market, some elderlies and others. I spent the New Year with Agatha, Fr. Totet and other friends in Siem Reap. Between January and April, the libraries in Kampong Ko and Phung Phang were also opened. The children excitedly started coming to the libraries until another national lockdown was implemented by the government. No Church Masses and other activities were held again. I was in Kampong Ko village when the lockdown was announced and our parish priest asked me to go back immediately to the Centre for fear of a lockdown at the village. When the lockdown
One of the many food distribution programmes organised by the parish
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Farewell to Cambodia Agatha, MCCC’s full-time missionary from Kuching, bids farewell to Siem Reap. M C C C ’ s missionary from Kuching had been at St Jo h n’s Church in Siem Reap in the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang since 2017 before she called it quits and left for home on 21 May 2021. Her family has been overtly concerned for her health and well-being in a foreign country at her age. Agatha had been a regular visitor to Battambang as a volunteer to teach English before she joined MCCC. After her training at St Joseph’s Mission Animation Centre in Sibu, she took up residence at St John’s Church in Siem Reap where her main focus was to set up the religious article and gift shop. She excelled in running the store and was able to raise a sizeable income for the parish especially from the tourists that visited the church. She was also able to teach some English to the staff members of the parish. Apart from the gift shop, Agatha busied herself with a number of activities including the various chores that she had around the parish house. She was like the housekeeper. She cooked dinner for the priests and staff members and tended to the garden in the church compound. She also took upon the task of cleaning and taking care of the Shrine of Our Lady. She was also the sacristan and therefore responsible for the preparations for Mass including the flower arrangements for Sunday.
Agatha in St John’s gift shop. But Agatha was not totally confined to the church compound. Sometimes she took the opportunity to accompany the priests when they travelled to the floating village as well as to the village churches to celebrate the Eucharist. During the pandemic, she also helped to deliver foodstuff from overseas donors for the poor. We thank Agatha for her service to the community at St John’s Church, Siem Reap as she takes on a more subdued pace as she settles back into life in Kuching. No doubt she is being missed in Cambodia as she has proven to be a great asset there. It also goes to show that no matter how old you are, there is always a place for you in mission work, wherever and whenever, as long as your heart is in it.
Agatha stopped in Kampong Thom on her way to Phnom Penh airport, pictured here with Priscilla and Fr Glen Diaz MHM. 9
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Missionary Outreach in Turda, Coron, Palawan
Since leaving Cambodia, Reynald has been working in in the parish of St Joseph Freinademetz in barangay Turda, Coron, Palawan under Fr Sleevaraj MHM and later, Fr John Paul Bangsi MHM. When Francis arrived in Turda, Fr Sleevaraj Francis, while waiting to start his philosophical studies in was still in charge but before he left for India August 2020 in Iloilo, decided to join Reynald in Turda. a few weeks later, he assigned Francis to the He had been there since last October 2019 and was due BEC ministry as Francis had experience to enter St Vincent’s in August 2020 but because of the working with BECs in Bugo, Antique before COVID-19 pandemic, was forced to extend his stay and he arrived in Turda. Francis was given the ministry in Turda. responsibility to help maintain the BECs in Turda which have been going on for the last Norbert, a trainee with MCCC joined Reynald and ten years. There are nine BECs in Turda and Francis in Turda in January 2020 and was under probation Francis’ main activities until June 2020. He has returned home since then. with them were to facilitate the Bible Sharing once a week and help organise t h e B E C Ma s s e s once a month. Overall, Francis had to make sure that all the BECs were functioning wel l. Fr a n c i s w a s a l s o involved in training the servant leaders on how to facilitate well and how to Francis and Reynald with some youth enjoying ‘meryenda” carry out the various after Bible sharing at Sitio Buyot. steps of Bible Sharing. 10
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One of Francis’ most memorable experiences was his mission work in the barangays and mission stations of Malawig, Buyot and Bayang where he had the opportunity to be part of the community building exercise and involved teaching catechism and the liturgy. In Malawig, he organised Bible Sharing for the youth and met them once a month. He did the same in Buyot. In Bucatan, a fairly new community, his monthly visits involved home visiting to interact with the people and to give them spiritual support. In Bayang, he also spent time with the youth and gave instructions on liturgy and the preparation for the Mass. With the youth, he renovated the Chapel. Francis also organised six BECs in Bayang which are now functioning well.
Reynald chairing the catechists’ meeting Apart from organising the BEC gatherings, Reynald and Francis were actively occupied with organising the other ministries within the parish. Reynald led the Sunday service of the liturgy of the Word in the village chapels. He was also involved in the catechetical ministry, leading the Catechists meeting and also conducted sessions with the First Holy Communion and Confirmation candidates. Both Reynald and Francis were also actively involved in the youth apostolate.
Above: Reynald packing rice for the indigenous people of the Bayuco community, contributed by 9 BECs in the parish, to be distributed on 15 October 2020.
Both Reynald and Francis left C o r o n i n Ma r c h t h i s y e a r : Reynald for his long delayed home lea ve because of the pandemic and Francis to await his entry into the seminary for his philosophical studies.
Reynald conducting a First Holy Communion class
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Youth Mission Experience Programme 4 - 2020 Seven participants took part in YMEP 4 - 2020 which was held from 1 February until 18 April 2020 at St Joseph’s Mission Animation Centre in Sibu. Five were from Sabah while the other two were from Sibu. The number of participants was kept to a minimum because of the r i s i n g co s t . T h e m i s s i o n t r i p to Cambodia, the highlight of the programme, had to be cancelled as well. After three consecutive programmes inclusive of a mission trip to Cambodia, the organisers decided to replace it with a mission trip to Kapit within the Diocese instead. Even though it is not ideal and considered a local destination, it is still remote and culturally different for the participants. However, before the trip was due to take place, it was upended by the pandemic. The lockdown began on 18 March 2020 which scuttled the schedule of the programme. The participants ended up staying on for another two months at the Centre before they could depart for home. The lockdown took away many of the planned outdoor activities, restricting the participants to an extended programme without many of the highlights. The lockdown dragged on and the uncertainties surrounding it caused lots of stress and anxiety, not only among the participants but also for the organisers. The food situation was getting desperate but after a few SOSs were sent out, the situation was averted. But somehow or rather, despite the limitations, the programme continued on its own pace with everyone resigned to the situation. The Youth Animation Team Training Programme scheduled as a oneweek programme following the YMEP was extended into a threeweek programme to fill the time for the participants during the lockdown. Six of the youth were commissioned as youth animators at the end of the programme on 30 April 2020. The participants from Sabah remained until the middle of June before they departed for home.
The newly commissioned Youth animators with their facilitators and the organising team
Time to celebrate 18th March and the beginning of the lockdown
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Fund Raising during the pandemic The Covid-19 pandemic has cause immense disruptions in the lives of countless of people all over the world since March of 2020 and there does not seem to be an end to the sufferings and stress of those who were already struggling before the pandemic struck both rich and poor, the weak and powerful, and friend and foe alike. Economies around the world have also taken a nose-dive and many businesses have already gone into administration because the restrictions imposed on movement and socialising have been firmly set in place for most part of the year. Many people have lost their jobs and livelihood and governments are faced with the huge task of providing relief to these individuals. Against this backdrop, MCCC is facing the prospect of a massive reduction in her fundings as MCCC relies solely on generous donors to sustain her missionary efforts. Once a year, MCCC organises a huge fund-raising event in October, the Mission Fair, whereby a substantial portion of the annual budget is raised. During the pandemic year, it may seem rather selfish on the part of MCCC to collect funds while others are struggling to feed their families. We may justify it by claiming that we need funds to keep our work going. Our missionaries need to survive as well. But is this more important than feeding the homeless or the poor? This is the dilemma that we are confronted with. Faced with restrictions on movement, missionary work is also being restrained to a certain extent. How do we justify our fund raising efforts? Needless to say, we can only rely on the providence of the Lord and appeal to the generosity of those who are able to provide, to steer a way forward for us during this unprecedented time. We can only do with what we have and that means we have to rethink our strategies and come up with innovations to maintain a semblance of what we are as a missionary community.
Making and selling snacks as part of the Mission Fair from August to October 2020
Consequently, to avoid gathering people together for the Mission Fair, we have resorted to having the event spread out over a period time. Instead of a one day event to which people come together to purchase food and other items, we were able to advertise online and orders were taken from interested parties and they were able to collect their purchases or have them delivered. We would not have been able to raise well over RM50,000 if not for the support and generosity of so many people over the two months period of the sale. In addition to a few who were able to conduct their own sales from home, there were also those who made monetar y donations and also those who donated various other items for sale. 13
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We are also fortunate to have a few benefactors whose contributions have sustained us over the years. As an independent group, MCCC does not receive any financial assistance from the Church and therefore depends solely on the generosity of those who believe in what we are doing. A substantial part of our annual budget is covered by a few people who have made monthly or annual monetary pledges. They are well below the numbers we would like to have and we could do with a few more pledgers.
SUPPORT MCCC’s Mission Your
GENEROSITY counts
HELP fund our work
MISSION FAIR 2021 From 5 September until 31 October 2021, SJMAC will be conducting a sale every weekend. Log in to the “Daily Offerings by MCCC” page on Facebook or join the WhatsApp group “Daily Offerings by MCCC” to see what is on offer.
The money raised is used to fund our missionar y operations in China, Cambodia, Philippines and Malaysia. We cover the personal allowances of our full-time missionaries, their food, medical and travelling expenses. We run a Mission Animation Centre in Sibu with high running costs, which often includes covering expenses of live-in programmes for youth. We also run a formation house for our seminarians, having to pay the rent and running costs as well as the fees for their studies at the seminary. Our annual budget averages RM250,000.00. How we even manage to cover our expenses sometimes amazes us, and we are often in the red. We believe that if it is really the Lord’s work that we are doing, then the Lord will do his part in assuring that we will be taken care of.
We invite you to be one of our supporters and to help us further our cause by praying for us and our mission, promoting us as a mission group and by contributing generously so that we are able to continue with the Lord’s mission. 14
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Christmas Carolling 2019
Group picture with Philip Tong and family MCCC was able to organise the annual Christmas carolling before Christmas. Over four evenings, the carolling team was able to call on 14 homes to bring Christmas cheers to the families that had gathered for the short service in their homes. The carollers consisted of some youths who had volunteered to form the team. Some were members of the Youth Mission Camp which was held from 2 December to 7 December 2019. Snacks and refreshments were provided as a gesture of gratitude to the carollers at each home visited. Donations amounting to a total of RM 5,890.00 were received for MCCC. MCCC would like to convey her gratitude to all those who received the carollers into their homes and for their generosity in sharing the joy of giving.
Above: Fr Ivan leading the prayers at one of the homes Below: At William Pang’s residence
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Outreach during lockdown
The coronavirus outbreak has a paralysing effect on many of our activities. With the daily disclosure of infections and deaths, the fear of the risks of failing to observe the many precautionary measures imposed took hold. The many lockdowns that followed from the virus outbreak prevented the MCCC units from functioning as usual. Movements were restricted and plans and activities were put on hold. When the restrictions were slightly relaxed at the end of June 2020, certain activities resumed but with some restrictions.
At St Joseph’s Mission Animation Centre, Sunday Mass for the Sentosa folks resumed with a limited number of people allowed. This continued for nearly six months before a major outbreak at the beginning of January 2021 forced the reimposition of the strict lockdowns that were constantly extended until the end of July 2021. Mass was again suspended and major events and activities at the Centre came to a halt. Those residing at St Joseph’s then took steps to continue the project that was part of the Sibu MCCC unit’s outreach programme. The distribution of the monthly food baskets to 16 families in the Sentosa area who have no income continued as usual despite the lockdown. However, since only two persons are allowed in each vehicle, the number of people handling the distribution was considerably reduced to only those staying at SJMAC. Five families in Sekuau also continue to receive their food baskets despite the lockdown. Sibu unit and MCCC Council member, David Lau arranges with various agencies and donors for the food supplies every month for these recipients. They include rice from Stephen Gan, noodles from Peter Wong, eggs from Philip Tong, biscuits from the manufacturer and cooking oil.
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Distributing food baskets to the needy in the Sentosa area, Sibu
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Feeding the less fortunate
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Meanwhile, MCCC missionary in Sibu, Anthony Yong continues to cook for the 14 individuals who are either disabled with no source of income or relatively poor. Peter Lau packs and delivers the cooked meals to these individuals or families. Anthony’s contacts and friends continue to provide vegetables and other essentials needed for the meals. During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Anthony also provided meals to four homeless individuals during lunch time. They would normally receive their meals from a Centre catering to the homeless which was closed during the fasting month.
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Clothing those in need During the lockdown, some members of the Sibu MCCC unit gathered to sort out the huge pile of used clothing that had been donated over the years. Over the months, a trickle of people came to pick out the clothes they liked. Most of them who took some items of clothing gave a small donation. Those who came to the food bank were also offered the clothing.
Running a food bank In the midst of the prolonged lockdown in Sibu and inspired by the white flag movement in Sarawak, a food bank was launched on Sunday, 11 July 2021. Members of the Sibu MCCC unit gave their assistance in running the food bank. It was a modest start but nevertheless, inspired many others to give generously to fill the bank with ample supply of rice, sugar, cooking oil, canned food, noodles, biscuits, tea, coffee, and even powdered milk for infants for those who requested for them. Cash donations were also received, even from as far as Kuching. The recipients came from around the Sentosa area with many of them out of work due to the lockdown. A majority of them were daily paid workers. The more than 25 people who came to receive some food aid during the first week were told to return to collect a food basket a week later. Two weeks later, at least 18 of them were requested to come back again to collect another food basket to help them through for another two weeks before they were due to collect for the last time on 21 August. MCCC is very grateful to all those who have been very generous in giving to those who have been finding it difficult to feed their families during the lockdown.
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Daily Offerings by MCCC
Efforts to raise some funds for MCCC were carried out quietly using various means especially through online sales which replaced the annual Mission Fa i r. A Fa c e b o o k p a g e “ D a i l y Offerings by MCCC” and WhatsApp group was initiated to allow photos of items for sale to be uploaded for potential buyers to browse through. Other church groups also conducted their own sales and gave their proceeds to MCCC. The annual Christmas Carolling could not take place in December. Fortunately, in January and February 2021, the sale of durians donated by a benefactor, more than easily made up for the shortfall in donation and income during 2020.
A Call to Mission(ACtM) Training Session in Kuching
Fr Ivan conducting a training session for the Kuching unit on 27 and 28 November 2019 at the home of Theresa Ping, a Council member. The training introduced the participants to the programme “A Call to Mission” and prepared them to carry out mission animation. The participants also looked at the contents of the programme and had an opportunity to make presentations based on the contents. The participants celebrated Fr Ivan’s 34th Anniversary with a festive meal. 19
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Establishing a new MCCC unit in Sabah
Fr Justin’s residence and farm at Kg Mandahan, Papar, Sabah.
Celebrating the Sunday Eucharist
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MCCC has been trying to revive her presence in Sabah in the last few years ever since the last unit in Kota Kinabalu folded with the departure of Fr Ivan in 2013. An opportunity arose when Chaistten, a Sabahan member who is currently waiting to begin his theological studies in Iloilo, Philippines returned to Sabah after spending some time in Sibu. Due to the travel restrictions, Chaistten decided to find some pastoral work while waiting for the situation to become better. He hooked up with Fr Justin Joannis, a former Jesuit at his farm in Kampong Mandahan, Papar. After a year, the stirring of a new MCCC unit began to appear a s Chaistten introduced MCCC to a few people through Fr Justin. Assisted by the local catechist, Helena, Fr Justin is now tasked with forming a MCCC unit as an initial challenge during his probational period before taking up full membership as a MCCC priest. Since June 2021, the unit members have been coming together at Fr Justin’s place for Mass on Sundays but the plan is to have the unit meeting on a Thursday at least twice a month once it is well established.
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In the Philippines, MCCC Missionaries remain grounded The coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult period for our full-time missionaries working in Malaysia, Cambodia and in the Philippines. As the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is imposed in most of these countries, the freedom to move around has been seriously restricted.
Reynald Bueron Pascua
In the Philippines where the pandemic situation remains critical, Francis and Reynald were able to get out of Coron, Palawan to return to Iloilo last March during a small break in the situation. Reynald is waiting out his time at home while Francis is waiting for words from the St Vincent Ferrer ’s Seminary on when it will begin its scholastic year.
Francis Cuarte Vuelga
Lorna, who took an extended leave in December 2019 to go to Iceland for a few months for personal reasons, got stuck there and only managed to leave the country on 10 December 2020 to return to Davao, almost a year later. She is waiting at home for the situation to improve.
Amor, back on leave since end of January 2020, remains at home up to now. Her plans to return to Cambodia in April 2020 was upended by the pandemic as flights were cancelled. She remains optimistic while reflecting on the options available to her locally. Dulce Amor Ibanez Jed has been in Cebu with the Sacred Heart Brothers at the Iconhope Foundation since June 2020 after he completed his time with t h e m a t t h e Ic o n h o m e Project in Bogo City which he joined in January 2017. In June 2021, he renewed his m i s s i o n a t Ic o n h o p e Foundation for another year. Medel (Jed) Laurito
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Lorna Obeja
Please pray for our missionaries
For Private Circulation only
August 2021 Volume 10 No 1
News on Formation Fr Julius has been tasked with setting up the MCCC Formation House in Cubay, Jaro and also given the Rectorship of the MCCC Formation House. The pandemic has kind of slowed things down a fair bit. Unfortunately, the present location is no longer suitable for MCCC’s needs and besides, the owners have indicated that they want it back by April. As a response to MCCC’s situation, the Knights of the Holy Cross of Jesus are offering MCCC the use of their premises while a more permanent place is being sought. Fr Julius has been celebrating Mass for the Knights at least once a month. It has been offered for MCCC’s use free of charge and is presently undergoing renovation works. In the mean time, Fr Julius and the others are putting up in a house in Oton. As for the permanent location for the Formation House, the Archdiocese is offering MCCC a usufruct whereby MCCC can use the property as long as needed. However, it is up to MCCC to build on the property and this will take time to materialise, taking into account the cost involved. In addition, one of the Knights has also offered a plot of land near the Regional Seminary.
MCCC Formation House
Missionary Training 2022 Since the beginning of 2020, at least thirteen applications were received for the MCCC missionary training programme. So far, two applicants have withdrawn their application due to unforeseen circumstances. As it stands at the moment, two applicants are from Sabah, five from the Philippines, one from Pakistan and three from Kenya. Eight of the eleven applicants intend to pursue the missionary priesthood with MCCC. Some of them have already completed their theological studies while others are in various stages of formation. The rest of the applicants intend to become full time lay missionaries with MCCC. These applicants have been kept waiting all these months and it is still uncertain when the training will begin. MCCC’s missionary training programme is mandated for all those intending to become full time MCCC missionaries, either as a lay missionary or a missionary priest. This programme lays the groundwork and establishes the foundation for all MCCC full-time missionaries. It includes an exposure period of three months which can be extended to six months or even up to a year. This period of time allows the trainees to discern if the missionary life is suitable for them or whether they can adapt to a missionary way of life. An evaluation is then carried out and recommendations are given to the trainees on whether they should pursue the missionary priesthood or remain as a lay missionary. Those who are seriously thinking of becoming a missionary can still apply to join the training programme by writing to the MCCC Director stating their intentions and the reasons for wanting to become a missionary.
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For Private Circulation only
August 2021 Volume 10 No 1
Melendres’ Graduation
Melendres, MCCC’s former full-time missionary in Cambodia, completed his theological studies in April 2021. The graduation ceremony took place on 1 May 2021 at St Joseph’s Regional Seminary in Cubay, Jaro, Iloilo. It began with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose de Antique, Bishop Marvyn Maceda. After that, Mel vacated the place where he had spent the last few years as a student of theology and returned home to Culasi. There he had been spending time assisting the new parish priest in his hometown with the liturgy while improving the church grounds. In August, Mel started his pastoral exposure at St Francis Xavier’s parish in Patria Pandan under Fr Melchor Orquejo, who is the elder brother of Mark Orquejo, one of our former missionaries. Eventually, Mel will be installed an acolyte prior to his ordination to the diaconate which will take place sometime next year. We congratulate Mel on finishing his studies and ask the Lord to continue to bless him as he begins his final step towards ordination.
Meeting on Formation Issues
Fr Julius chairing a meeting on formation issues at Culasi on 8 August 2021. In attendance were Francis, Melendres and Marlon, an applicant for the MCCC missionary priest programme. Among the issues discussed were Francis’ programme of studies and Mel’s installation as an acolyte. 23
Fr Julius took Melendres to St Francis Xavier’s at Patria Pandan to meet Fr Melchor Orquejo. Mel will be spending the next few months there to familiarise himself and gain experience in parish ministries.
For Private Circulation only
August 2021 Volume 10 No 1
MCCC ACCOUNTS SUMMARY for 2019 Income
Expenses
Donations
42,050.00
Allowances
10,550.00
Pledges
71,858.40
Philippines
50,250.83
Stipends, etc.
17,521.40
Cambodia
38,661.60
Mission Fair
83,400.20
SJMAC
71,868.65
Carolling
5,890.00
Promotion
4,271.80
AGA
4,500.00
Transport
10,358.02
Sales
10,103.40
Airfares
19,462.37
Others
8,225.00
TOTAL
243,548.40
AGA
9,242.80
Misc.
5,640.10
TOTAL
220,306.17
MCCC ACCOUNTS SUMMARY for 2020 Income
Expenses 46,695.00
Allowances
13,900.00
Pledges
51,303.50
Philippines
59,216.00
Stipends, etc.
24,025.40
Cambodia
28,288.33
Daily Offerings
50,525.25
SJMAC
61,047.77
Promotion
468.74
Sales
9,069.24
Transport
2,399.00
Others
5,567.25
Airfares
7,717.24
Misc.
1,400.00
187,185.64
TOTAL
St Joseph’s Mission Animation Centre, Lot 1389, Lorong Sentosa Utara 4A, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. email address: sjmac.sibu@gmail.com House phone: +6084220236 For all general enquiries, please contact any of the following: Lydia Chin teoipeng@yahoo.com Carmen Bersuela mingmber@yahoo.com
Donations
TOTAL
CONTACT DETAILS
Director of MCCC Fr Ivan Fang MHM Handphone: +60143529585 email address: navifang@hotmail.com
174,437.08
BANK ACCOUNTS
Area Coordinators
Donations can be banked into the following bank accounts under the name of Ivan Fang Yau Hong:
Philippines
Brunei Account:
Arturo Ang Malaysia
Standard Chartered Bank 0150141739100 Malaysian Accounts:
Rose Bong Brunei
Standard Chartered Bank 324-194919-437 AmBank 012-201-200676-9 24
Bridget Newn