By Patricia Wong CK
KUCHING — On 27 June, the SALIB of the Archdiocese of Kuching reached Blessed Sacrament Parish from St Mark amidst pomp and pageantry, stirring interest and prompting the young, the youth, their parents, the elderly, the sick and the afflicted to attend many activities organised.
Under Dr Bernard Jussem, all the Liturgical ministries collaborated to organise activities that encouraged parishioners from far and near to come and have personal encounters with God in prayer, listening to each other and participating in the mission of a successful Malaysia Pastoral Convention 2026 in Sibu. Its next leg was Church of Mother Mary.
The grand elaborate entrance procession during the 10.30am Mass on the 28 June was the result of collaboration between the Altar Boys, the Lector and Commentator, the Children’s Liturgy, the Boy’s and Girl’s Brigades, the Sunday School children as dancers and their parents, Parish Counsellors, Wardens and the Choir. The Choir’s rendition of the theme song – “Bangkitlah” added to the ambience of wonder and greatness of God’s love for mankind that He died for us while we were still sinners. This was indeed a memorable faith journey experience for the young to cherish as a unique encounter with the Cross.
From then on, the Cross was taken to different places for parishioners to gather, pray and have fellowship. On Sunday evening, the Chinese Liaison Committee brought the Cross to a home at Stutong for rosary recitation bringing joy and fellowship.
Following that, Rosary and chanting of the Divine Mercy Chaplet was done in the Church on Monday evening by the Senior Choir, the Beatitudes Liturgical Team followed by Holy Hour on Tuesday. Fr Leonard Yap encouraged all the faithful to pray before the cross for whatever petitions they had as Jesus had cured the haemorrhaging woman whose faith led her to touch His garment in Matthew 9: 20-22.
The Eucharistic Ministers too came to recite the rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Divine Praises on Wednesday night while on Thursday the Chinese Emmaus held a praise and worship in FDLC hall.
On Friday, 3 July, the Lectors and Commentators with BSC rosary group led the recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries followed by the Stations of the Cross using the big Cross to move from one station to the next. Then in the night, the Emmaus Community held a Praise and Worship session in the hall. The Sunday School children, the Boys and Girls Brigades reverently honoured the Cross by reciting the Stations of the Cross and learning how to proclaim the Word of God.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cross went to the home of the retired elderly religious sisters to recite the Divine Mercy. On Monday night the Chinese Rosary Bloc again brought the Cross to a home at Kenny Hill for Rosary and fellowship. Then on Tuesday, it was the Holy Hour in Chinese.
On 9 July evening, the Chinese Liaison Committee together with the Children Liturgy and Youth Choir held a moving Praise and Worship session. On the last evening 10 July, Friday, there was Rosary, Stations of the Cross and Mass in Chinese followed by Taize Prayers by the Youth and English Choir.
Effects of the “Perjalanan Salib”
The liturgical ministries under Dr Bernard Jussem came up with programmes that encouraged all their members and the parishioners to come together hence bringing about co-operation, more interactions between ministries, camaraderie and fellowship. One new convert who took part during the Stations of the Cross realised how much pain, shame and disillusionment Jesus endured to save us. A visit to Santa Clara also open eyes to the sufferings of the elderly Religious Sisters. Homeowners whose houses were visited recounted joy and renewed hope in their faith journey. As the Cross was leaving BSC to Church of Mother Mary, a man on wheelchair held it and prayed fervently.
11 July – Handing over of the Cross to the Church of Mother Mary.
During the Sunset Mass on 11 July, representatives of the Church of Mother Mary were invited to receive the Cross from BSC in a grand sending-off gesture by Fr Leonard who presided over the Mass and concelebrated with Fr Davie Entalai. Representatives from the organising committee then officially handed over the Cross to the Parish Pastoral Council of the Church of Mother Mary.
