By 18th Kuching Company
KUCHING — Sacred Heart Church witnessed a joyful milestone on 25 July 2026 as the 18th Kuching Company of The Boys’ Brigade in Malaysia was formally commissioned and its new members enrolled during a Commissioning Mass and Enrolment Service, marking the establishment of the fourth Catholic Boys’ Brigade company in Sarawak.
The Mass was celebrated by Rev Fr Felix Au, Rector of Sacred Heart Church, who also served as Chaplain for the commissioning rite. Addressing the congregation, Fr Felix recalled that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His Church the task of going into all the world to make disciples of all nations, and that the Boys’ Brigade exists to assist in that work by advancing Christ’s Kingdom among its members.
During the rite, Fr Felix invited the parish community to support the officers in their ministry before calling them forward. The officers commissioned were Captain Mr Simon Siah; Lieutenants Mr Griffin Gelengan, Mr Joseph Hon and Mr Earl Elister; and Warrant Officers Ms Adryana Nathalia and Mr Shane Sabbastian.
The enrolment of new members followed, drawing boys across the Pre-Junior, Junior and Senior sections into the worldwide family of the Church. The new members likewise promised to be loyal to the Boys’ Brigade and to support the activities of their Church and Company. The congregation then pledged its support and prayers that the officers and members would be kept “Sure and Stedfast” in their faith, echoing the Brigade’s motto, before Fr Felix pronounced a blessing over the company.
The Mass was also attended by the pioneer and founder of Boys’ Brigade in East Malaysia, Mr Albert Rumpang Kedit, the Sarawak State Commissioner, Honorary Captain Sim Tze Sian, Captain of 16th Kuching Company, Captain Desmond Chan, Chaplain of 16th Kuching Company, Chaplain Valentine Teng, Officer of 11th Kuching Company, Lieutenant Raymond Sii and Officer of 16th Kuching Company, Warrant Officer Herbert James.
Award Night celebrates growth in Faith and Character
The celebration continued in the evening with the Boys’ Brigade Awards Night and Fellowship, which brought together officers, members, parents and guests for dinner, praise and worship, and the presentation of achievement awards.
In his welcoming address, Captain Simon Siah thanked God and the families who had walked alongside the company through its first year. He appealed to parents to journey together with their sons, sharing the company’s vision of a “family centred in Christ” in which officers, parents and members belong to one another.
Captain Siah also recorded his gratitude to Fr Felix Au together with the Parish Pastoral Council of Sacred Heart Church for their financial and moral support. He paid special tribute to his fellow officers, who, he said, had become like fathers and mothers to the boys, sacrificing their Saturdays week after week in stedfast commitment.
Guests were also addressed by Mr Albert Rumpang Kedit, a co-founder of the Boys’ Brigade in Sarawak, and by Honorary Captain Sim Tze Sian, the Sarawak State Commissioner, both of whom offered words of inspiration.
A highlight of the evening was the Presentation of Achievement Awards, for which parents were invited on stage to present the awards to their own children. Pre-Junior members received the Pink Award, while Junior members received the White Award. Senior members were recognised with proficiency badges — including Target, First Aid, Martial Art, Arts, Fire and Rescue, and Recruitment badges.
The evening closed with a closing prayer and the Boys’ Brigade Prayer, a group photograph, and words of congratulation to the award recipients, with the hope that they would continue to grow in discipline, faith, leadership and service on their journey with the Boys’ Brigade — Sure and Stedfast.
