By Martina Juan
KUCHING — Blessed Sacrament Church (BSC) celebrated Catechetical Sunday on 10 August 2025. The theme for this year to be celebrated for the whole month of August was, “We can make the World a Better Place.” (Phil 2:4)
Among the congregation at the 10.30 am Sunday English Mass were Sunday School teachers, RCIA facilitators, and seminarians.
In his homily, BSC rector Rev Fr Leonard Yap talked about four main points regarding Catechetical Sunday:
1. Faith formation is the responsibility of all — not only catechists, but also parents and the entire parish community.
Faith formation is not a task left solely to Sunday School teachers or catechists. While catechists play a vital role in guiding and teaching, the seeds of faith are best nurtured in the home and within the wider parish family. Parents are the first and most influential catechists to their children; the children observe and emulate the parents’ actions. Therefore, parents teach not only through words, but more importantly through the example of daily Christian living, because children learnt from their parents. The parish community also shares in this mission — by creating a welcoming, Christ-centred environment where children and youth can grow spiritually, see faith in action, and know that they are part of a larger family of believers.
2. Do not let children’s faith formation lapse.
Faith is like a muscle — it must be exercised regularly to grow stronger. When we neglect it, it weakens. In the same way, children’s faith formation should never be placed on hold, even when life gets busy. Missing out on regular learning, prayer, and participation in parish life can leave spiritual gaps that are hard to fill later on. Just as we would never delay a child’s education in reading and writing, we should never delay or compromise their education in the ways of God.
3. Encourage active participation in parish faith formation events and programs.
Faith grows in community. That is why children and their parents are encouraged to take part in the events and programmes the parish offers — from catechism classes and Bible studies to retreats, mission activities, and parish feasts. These are opportunities to deepen one’s understanding of God, to live out the Gospel in practical ways, and to build relationships that inspire and sustain a life of faith. By showing up, families are not only receiving but also giving — their presence encourages others and strengthens the parish as a whole.
4. Living the 2025 Catechetical Sunday theme: “We Can Make the World a Better Place.” (Phil 2:4)
St Paul’s advice in Philippians 2:4 — “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” — calls us to a faith that moves beyond ourselves. We make the world better when we live out the values of Christ in our daily actions: showing kindness instead of judgment, helping instead of ignoring, and forgiving instead of holding grudges. For children and youth, this may mean being a friend to the lonely, helping classmates, or being respectful to teachers and elders. For adults, it could mean volunteering in parish ministries, supporting those in need, and speaking up for justice. Together, as families and as a parish, we can transform our homes, our Church, and our community into places where God’s love is visible and active.
Fr Leonard performed the commissioning and blessing after the Liturgy of the Eucharist. BSC Chairman of Bible and Faith Formation (BFFC), James Bilong, then gave a brief speech inviting parishioners to volunteer to help in the Sunday School and Children’s Liturgy, resulting in some parents coming forward to enquire after Mass.
 celebrated Catechetical Sunday on 10 August 2025. The theme for this year to be celebrated for the whole...){kind=link}