By Darren ak Luke
LIMBANG — More than a hundred young Catholic professionals from across the Diocese of Miri gathered in Limbang from Friday, 27 June to Sunday, 29 June for a spiritually enriching Working Youth Conference, a three-day event organized by FIAT (Faith in Action Together) of St Edmund’s Limbang Parish. The conference brought together young adults navigating their early careers and adult lives, united by a common desire: to grow in faith and to learn how to live out their Catholic identity in today’s ever-changing world.
The conference featured Rev Fr Sylvester Ngau and Bro Jude Antoine as keynote speakers, both of whom offered powerful insights and pastoral guidance. Their sessions focused on helping participants reflect on the current cultural, spiritual, and social landscape faced by working youth, and how one can remain grounded in Christ amid modern pressures.
In his opening message, Fr Sylvester Ngau urged the young adults to “not just survive, but witness” in their workplaces and communities. “Your jobs, your relationships, your decisions—they are not separate from your faith. They are the very ground on which your faith is lived,” he said.
Bro Jude, with his characteristic passion and clarity, challenged the youth to reframe their understanding of vocation. “You are not waiting to be called—you have been called. Right where you are. God is not asking for perfection, but for your willingness to let Him be present in your ordinary life.”
Workshops, small group sharings, praise and worship sessions, and community-building activities at the longhouses rounded out the program, creating a space for participants to form connections, share struggles, and support one another in their faith journeys.
One participant, Stephanie, 32, from Limbang, shared: “It was a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with the working youths from all around Miri Diocese. The gathering brought together young people who are balancing their faith and work, sharing their experiences and supporting one another. It’s encouraging to see how they live out their Catholic faith in everyday life.”
The conference culminated in a commissioning Mass on Sunday morning, where participants were reminded that the journey doesn’t end when the event concludes. Instead, they were now sent forth—to live intentionally, to serve faithfully, and to carry Christ into every corner of their lives.
