By Herald Malaysia
SANDAKAN — “You are the miracle in the Church. Through your ministry, God’s miraculous work continues to live on, to grow and to touch the lives of His people.”
Those words from Msgr Gilbert D Lasius captured the spirit of the Third Sabah Catechetical Assembly (PKS 3), where more than 1,000 catechists from across Sabah gathered in Sandakan to renew their calling as witnesses, teachers and servants of the Gospel.
Held over three days at Wisma Tay Chee Ming, the biennial assembly brought together 1,048 delegates from the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu and the Dioceses of Sandakan and Keningau, together with five invited delegates from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. Organised by the Sabah Catechetical Commission and hosted by the Diocese of Sandakan, the gathering carried the theme Be Christ to One Another (Mt 25:40).
The assembly opened with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom of Sandakan, setting the spiritual tone for three days of prayer, formation and fellowship as participants renewed their commitment to proclaiming and handing on the Catholic faith.
Preaching at the Mass, Msgr Gilbert reflected on Jesus’ miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish, drawing a parallel with the vocation of catechists. Just as the disciples placed their seemingly inadequate gifts into Jesus’ hands, catechists, too, are invited to offer what they have in faith, trusting that God will multiply their efforts for the good of His people.
Acknowledging that many catechists may sometimes feel inadequate, he reminded them that God does not ask for extraordinary talents, but for willing hearts.
“What we have to offer is a spirit of service, love, humility, patience, perseverance and de-dication. Even with our weaknesses and limitations, God takes what we place in His hands and uses it to accomplish His mission.”
He encouraged every catechist to continue placing their gifts in God’s hands, confident that even the smallest offering can become a source of abundant blessings for the Church.
The assembly’s formation programme centred on helping catechists deepen both their faith and their ministry.
In the opening session, Catechists: Living the Person of Christ, Msgr David A. Garaman reminded participants that Christ remains the perfect model for every catechist — one who teaches by example, serves with humility, shows compassion, remains faithful to the Father’s mission and willingly embraces sacrifice. He challenged delegates to become authentic witnesses whose lives themselves proclaim the Gospel.
The second day focused on evangelisation and synodality through bilingual sessions conducted in Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. Archbishop John Wong and Fr Boniface Kimsin encouraged catechists to proclaim the joy of the Gospel in ways that remain relevant and meaningful in today’s world. This was followed by presentations from Msgr Nicholas Stephen and Fr Mitchelly Kiun on Catechists and Synodality, highlighting the call to walk together, listen deeply to one another and foster greater participation within parish communities.
Delegates also journeyed through the history of the Catholic Church in Sabah, tracing its growth from the arrival of the first Catholic missionaries in 1855 to the present day. Small-group faith sharing, spiritual conversations, discernment sessions and Eucharistic Adoration provided further opportunities for prayer, reflection and renewal throughout the assembly.
The gathering was marked not only by learning but also by a deep spirit of communion. Catechists from Sabah’s three dioceses strengthened friendships, shared pastoral experiences and renewed their common commitment to forming disciples of Christ within their respective parishes and communities.
Before the assembly concluded, it was announced that the Diocese of Keningau will host the Fourth Sabah Catechetical Assembly, continuing the biennial tradition of strengthening catechetical formation, collaboration and communion among Sabah’s three dioceses as they continue their shared mission of proclaiming the Gospel.
