The participants of the assembly
The parishioners especially Familty Life Ministry praised the varsity students for their active participations in church activities such as animating the mass, visiting to Orang Asli village etc. There also a testimony from Billy Sup, a senior student from Universiti Malaysia Pahang about undergraduate life in Kuantan. He shared the strengths, challanges and threats of being a university student in Kuantan.
Below was the sharing by Billy during the assembly.
Good evening Your Grace Archbishop, my dearest parish priest and all members of the hall. Praise to God because I able to stand here to share something 2 u all.
Back dated on 2 July 2005, I was landed in Kuantan after along journey from Kuching. I was accepted into KUKTEM 4 my 1st degree. Many things playing inside my mind. There were 2 questions need to be answered:
1. Where was the Catholic Church???
2.Where was the KUKTEM???
According to the address showed : Church of St. Thomas, Jalan Gambut, Kuantan. Aiya, where was Jalan Gambut??? I was so shy to ask the taxi driver where was the church coz the taxi driver wear kopiah ba... So, while searching for hotel, suddenly my eyes catch a blue light cross (late evening already) Luckily... the bell tower was quite high. I can see the cross from far. So I found my church oredi. Hepi sakan... :-) Yeah... That a story of me. From there we can see when a foreigner set foot on a foreign land eg; Burkina Faso, Timbuktu; Pakistan, Afghanistan or Tanjung Rambutan, sure 1st thing to find is CHURCH... Same goes to me. Church is the place for people like me to seek help when I'm in trouble. Church act as our umbrella.
Since I was here, I received lots of support from parishioners of St. Thomas, Kuantan. I met Father Eugene, who was very friendly and supportive. Thats why he won the title, THE BEST CATHOLIC PRIEST IN KUANTAN. During my years in Kuantan, all of you give us, the varsity students full support in many ways. We were given chance involved in mass animation, visit to the Orang Asli village which some of these activities were new to us. We also manage to organize activities which promote our culture here in Kuantan. Thanks to the parish leaders who gave us this chance to learn and improve our relationship with church.
We came far from our home. We left our loves one to obtain our scroll. So, as we far from home, we need your support in our journey of faith in Kuantan. Varsity students like me quite easy to surrender if there is a temptetion comes especially about faith and believes. We heard so many stories about lost sheperd among the varsity students. We need to struggle to survive in journey of faith. I think with the help from you all, we can survive here in Kuantan. We can overcome all the temptations with help from all of you here.
As I standing here, I urged all of you to continue your full support to the varsity students especially to the new generations. I'm sure I will leave Kuantan one day leaving my juniors, my sweet memories and stories behind. I will always remenber all your kindness and hospitality. I will never forget St. Thomas Parish, Kuantan.
I'm sure my juniors will happy to see this kind of relationship. Share to them your ideas, knowledges, experiences and skills. May this relationship will continue forever and enrich the unity among all of us here. Do give us some advises. We have "big ears" to listen to your advises.
Lastly, thanks again for your support and do continue to support us. God bless. AMEN...
During his remarks, Archbishop Murphy happy to see parishioners in Kuantan under Father Eugene's leadership had grew stronger. The sense of family life was began to live among the parishioners in Kuantan. He also loves to hear that varsity students and East Malaysian were very strong in faith and taking part actively in pastoral activities.
(L-R): Dexter, Wednna, Archbishop Murphy, Mosses.
Lastly, all the assembly participants had their dinner at breakfast corner. Thanks for Ismail Cathering for the nice dinner.
before makan
after makan
After that, we have our own post assembly chit-chat at Red Cafe together with Aunty Katerine Boon. Later, Aunty Katerine sent the core teams back to campus.
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