KUCHING — The Kuching Archdiocese Pastoral Council organised a conference on the Social teaching of the Church at the Ecumenical Centre on 1-2 May. It was attended by some 390 parish councillors and church leaders from all the parishes in the diocese.
During the opening Mass on 1 May, which was the same day the late Pope John Paul II would be beatified in Rome, His Grace Archbishop John Ha recalled his meeting with His Holiness during the final days of his life. He was then very sick and down with Parkinson’s disease but he braved through and carried on his duties as usual and told His Grace and the others, “if anyone of you is thinking of giving up, look at me.” That was a display of great strength and encouragement to all who face problems and injustice.
Referring to the Gospel of the day where doubting Thomas was invited to put his fingers into the wounds of Jesus, His Grace reminded everyone that wounds, pains and sufferings in life may not be all bad. There are numerous examples of God working through these pains and sufferings for the good of those who love him. “More important for us,” he said, “is to make sure that we keep our faith which is more precious than gold, rise to the occasion and fight our course.”
There were all together five speakers, namely His Grace Archbishop John Ha, Rosalind Tan, Rev Fr Michael Chua, Leonard Teo and Joy Appukuttan.
Familiar with the local situation, Rosalind Tan, a lawyer presented a few case studies during the conference. Leonard Teo, an advocate and solicitor from Kuala Lumpur spoke on the national ideology, Rukun Negara in multiracial Malaysia focusing on the third principle “creating a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared.” He also showed clearly the rights of the people enshrined in the constitution, the supreme law of the country. Freedom of religion is also guaranteed by the constitution, which also provides “no discrimination against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, descent or place of birth.”
The climax of the conference was the concluding Mass con-celebrated by His Grace and his many parish priests. He reminded all present to strengthen their efforts at the faith formation of their children.
Peter Wong
