By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — On 14 December 2025, St Joseph’s Cathedral held the Archdiocese of Kuching’s second sacerdotal ordination in three months.
Rev Fr Casimir Henrry Anak Umar was ordained a priest on 1 September. On 14 December, his seminary mate Deacon Dannie Luis Anak Romanus was ordained a priest. He has been serving at St Theresa’s Parish, Serian since his diaconate ordination on 7 June 2025 at Holy Spirit Church, Lundu.
The second of five siblings, Dannie Luis joined College General Penang to study English in 2014. He returned to Kuching in 2016 for pastoral exposure at St Joseph’s Cathedral and St Theresa’s Church, Serian.
Dannie began his Initiation Year in 2017 at St Peter’s College in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. He then moved back to College General Penang in 2018 for his Philosophy Year. From 2020 to 2024, he studied Theology at St Peter’s College Major Seminary in Kuching.
After 11 years of preparation, Deacon Dannie was ordained a priest by Archbishop Simon Poh, witnessed by his family, the Selako community from his home Kampung Sebiris, the Catholic community and clergy and religious from the Kuching Archdiocese.
Calling by the good Shepherd himself
Archbishop Simon in his address to both the congregation and the newly ordained Fr Dannie, thanked him for his “patience and perseverance” of “11 years” when he “walked in faith” in his journey to the priesthood.
Reflecting on Fr Dannie’s ordination theme: “Let everything you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14), Archbishop Simon described Fr Dannie’s vocation journey as a “calling by the good Shepherd himself” and reminded him to “always be a blessing to the people you serve” and to be a “humble servant after the heart of our Lord and Master and always do everything with great love and compassion.”
Vocation is not about Intelligence but about Perseverance
In his thanksgiving speech, the newly ordained Fr Dannie Luis bowed before God in gratitude, admitting his surreal “feel a little unreal” feeling. “Today is God’s gift and I receive it with gratitude and humility,” he said.
Reflecting on Archbishop Simon’s “Are you ready?” question, he said his response was clear… “Vocation is not about intelligence but about perseverance.” God had called him, formed him, guided him through his struggles and showered him with “unexpected blessings and joy.” He vowed to stay true to his chosen theme that “Nothing is obtained from God except by love.”
Fr Dannie thanked everyone who had helped and accompanied him on his vocation journey, including emotional words of gratitude to his supportive parents and family.
Fr Dannie Luis received his Certificate of Ordination and the keys to a car from Archbishop Simon Poh, who also presented a gift to his parents and siblings. He remains to serve at St Theresa’s Parish as the new assistant priest.
Testimony of Peace and Grace
Speaking to Today’s Catholic after his ordination, the newly ordained priest admitted feeling apprehensive before his ordination. He said:
“Adil ka talino, bacuramin ka saruga, basengat ka Jubata. Justice to all people, reflecting heaven, breathing the life of God.
Before my ordination, my heart was restless. God’s call did not arrive with certainty, but with a quiet persistence that followed me into prayer and silence. It asked gently, “Are you willing? Are you ready?” I felt small before the mystery—aware of my fears, my weaknesses, and my unpreparedness. Yet even in hesitation, grace invited trust.
After ordination, what filled me first was not excitement, but peace—and a sense of something unreal, as though time had slowed down and I was suspended in a moment of sacred wonder. The questions did not vanish, they softened. “Am I enough?” quietly became “Here I am, Lord.” I felt embraced—by the Church, by the people, and most of all, by God’s faithful and tender presence.
At the heart of this journey is a simple desire … I want to be what He wants me to be. From this, flows my guiding call … Let everything you do be done in love.
Ordination did not remove my fragility; it gave it meaning, where trust grows and grace quietly breathes.”
