By Rose Lau
KUCHING — Responding to the call for this year’s 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, Holy Trinity Church, Kuching (HTC) actively organised pilgrimages covering all five Pilgrimage Sites designated by our Kuching Archdiocese.
The eagerness for celebrating Mass at St Peter’s Church, Kuching on 3 May 2025, marked our first step towards more pilgrimage journeys, approved by our rector, Father Eugene Maglasang and led by our spiritual leader, Father Andre Delimarto, assisted by Sunday morning wardens Navis and Rose, sunset wardens Benedict and Geoffrey, and also Rachel, our Chinese Mass communion minister.
With all committee members of different Masses, we finally met for the first time on 20 May 2025, trashing all ideas and marked the birth of Bunan Gega Pilgrimage (BGP) scheduled for 12 July 2025. Having new additions to the team, Joan and Monica who joined in the next two months of preparations, allowed us to have five buses with 201 pilgrims, including some from other local and outstation churches, to touch the grounds of the Gethsemane Pilgrimage Centre in Bunan Gega.
The wonderful weather, amazing lunch by the locals there, allowed everyone to experience the spiritual bonding with the Mass presided by Father Andre. We managed to stop by St Jude Church and met the parish priest Father Prince Cornelius. As we journeyed back, the next destination had already crept up and Hossana here we come!!
At the next meeting for Mount Hosanna Pilgrimage (MHP) on 20 July 2025, we had the privilege of having a new addition, Father Delphin Ndungu who had just arrived in HTC to join us. With the overwhelming response, we had to add in bus no. 7 to accommodate the participation of the parishioners.
And here we have our Audrey to save the day. With God’s grace, almost 300 pilgrims in seven buses reached the magnificent Mount Hosanna Chapel located at Sri Aman. The Mass celebrated by Father Delphin on the true meaning of pilgrimage, was filled with more angelic voices as we had the presence and participation of most of HTC’s very own Sunday morning choir members, not to mention the “lead” singer, Father Andre, in the choir.
A more challenging pilgrimage, Mount Singai Pilgrimage (MSP) was next and we targeted only two buses. 87 pilgrims in two buses safely faced all challenges and risks, completing all the 14 stations on 8 November 2025 at the Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre Mount Singai. Nevertheless, the real challenges surfaced as we walked down with the heavy afternoon downpour, but God’s grace had been with us throughout.
In completing the final pilgrimage site for Year 2025, we went to the Mother Catholic Church of Kuching, yes, our very own St Joseph’s Cathedral on 5 December. Starting with Holy Mass celebrated by Father Andre, followed by a walk from the Cathedral heading towards ACCPC with Benedict assisting Father Andre in carrying the Holy Cross, all pilgrims recited the rosary whilst holding lighted candles.
The walk was intense and fulfilling, a magical evening which ended with a fellowship dinner at the ACCPC, with endless food and drinks that everyone no doubt enjoyed.
We thank those who were with us throughout the pilgrimages especially to all the five sites, and to our beloved priests especially Father Andre. Thank you for the sacrifice of your time and constant guidance in ensuring that all details are being looked into, ensuring the success which definitely brought everyone spiritually closer to God.
God bless everyone
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