By Borneo Post
KUCHING — 19 Oct, Over 2,000 Catholics gathered at St Joseph’s Cathedral here on Sunday to join the Eucharistic Procession in conjunction with the Archdiocese’s 50th anniversary.
The faithful gathered at the cathedral’s compound as early as 2pm to attend Holy Mass at 4pm, which was celebrated by Archbishop of Kuching, the Most Rev Dato Dr Simon Poh.
In his address prior to the mass, Poh said the event marked the celebration of the 100th World Mission Sunday, as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Kuching on May 31, 1976.
He pointed out Archbishop Emeritus Dato Sri Peter Chung was the first Archbishop in 1976, succeeded by Archbishop Emeritus Dato John Ha in 2003, before Poh took over in 2017.
“We are grateful. We remember with gratitude the Mill Hill Missionaries who laid the foundation since their arrival here on July 10, 1881.
“Today, we are blessed because of the many great missionaries, bishops, priests, sisters, catechists – the many men and women who had prepared the foundation for us today.
“Many had passed on – and so in this Mass, we pray for these great people; may they find eternal rest in the risen Lord,” he said.
Aside from English, the special Holy Mass also featured scripture readings in Malay, Mandarin, Iban, and Bidayuh to reflect the diversity of the congregation.
Parishioners from Holy Spirit Parish Lundu were seen in traditional Bidayuh costumes.
At around 5.20pm, the 3.8km procession began from the cathedral along Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg to Jalan Barrack, Jalan Pearl, Jalan McDougall, Wayang Street, Main Bazaar, and then back to the cathedral.
A monstrance, a sacred vessel displaying the consecrated Eucharistic host, was at the heart of the procession.
The procession stopped at Padang Merdeka, where Poh lifted the monstrance as a blessing.
The procession ended at around 7.10pm.
