Working and animation visit of the FIN provincial to Kuching

By Fr. Ding Cortez, SDB

Kuching, Malaysia, 20 February 2018 -- The FIN provincial Fr. Paul Bicoming and his delegate for missionary animation visited recently our Malaysia - Kuching mission for a brief working and animation visit, just 6 months after arrival of the first community of 3 Salesians in Malaysia. They spend the few days with the two present missionaries, with the local Church authorities and discussed the important juridical and future oriented items of our St. Joseph Vocation Training Center and College.

"Our significant accomplishment in this missionary animation visit is the affirmation and encouragement of our missionary confreres in Kuching - Fr. Ramon Borja and Fr. Andre Belo. To make them feel that the FIN Province is with them in this challenging work of pioneering our work in this country.

Secondly, the meeting and discussing with Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching about the Provisional Agreement is also significant for in this short working visit. Fr. Provincial and the Archbishop clarified and defined few items so as to have a harmonious working relationship between our confrere missionaries and the Archdiocese.

I was so impressed with the pastoral zeal and the fatherly love of the Archbishop Simon towards the spiritual and temporal growth of his Archdiocese and towards all who work with him. Fr. Mon and Fr. Andre (and soon also Bro. Manuel Ruperez) are truly loved and taken cared for by the Pastor and his flock. Different lay people took turn in bringing us and treating us in restaurants, all spoke highly about Fr. Mon and Fr. Andre.

And I am all the more impressed at the focused response of our Provincial about our presence here in Kuching, that is, 'WE WORK FOR THE POOR YOUTH THROUGH TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION'. Indeed is so tempting to go for those who can afford Catholic education and missed out the poor ones who can't afford and those who are left out by the education system.

Overall, our visit was a fruitful and meaningful time. Thanks to your prayers for us! Thanks for the warm hospitality shown to us by the Kuching people of God especially in Bau parish of St. Steven, where our two missionaries are temporarily based.

Please, accompany in prayers our three missionaries and the whole Church in Kuching, Malaysia."

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