Proud moment for four Sabahan Friars called to the priesthood – The Star Newspaper
KOTA KINABALU: A group of Kadazan Dusun men made their community proud when all four were ordained as priests at the same time on Saturday.
Cosmas Francis, Gerald Terence Saimel, Crispus Mosinoh and Sixtus Pitah Amit – all Friars from the Catholic Church’s Franciscan order – took their vocations as priests in front of their proud family members and the faithful at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here.
The ceremony was celebrated by the Most Reverend Datuk John Wong Soo Kau, the Archbishop of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese.
The men had promising careers before joining the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), a mendicant religious order.
Cosmas, 47, was previously in the hospitality line while Gerald, 35, who has a Masters degree in counselling psychology, had worked as a tutor in Universiti Malaysia Sabah and also served as a professional counsellor at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Crispus, 36, and Sixtus, 35, were both English teachers, having taught in Sabah’s east coast Beluran and Sandakan districts respectively before they answered their vocation.
All four had gone through their formation for eight years in Singapore, attending the St Francis Xavier Major Seminary there.
“Yes, it’s a historical moment for us because it’s not often that four Sabahans are ordained as priests simultaneously and all are from the OFM,” said Gerald.
“I am excited but also a bit nervous,” he said, adding he had journeyed with the order since he was 19 years old but only decided to join the Franciscan Order of the Custody of St Anthony in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in 2014 when he was 27.
He and Cosmas took their final vows as Friars, known in the church as a Solemn Profession, in Singapore last year which afforded them the title as religious brothers. Crispus and Sixtus took theirs in 2020.
After their priestly ordination, which now makes them Friar Priests, all four will continue serving in the respective parishes within Sabah and other parts of Malaysia they were earlier assigned to, at least until the end of the year.
But because the Franciscans are an international order, Gerald said they could be sent anywhere in Malaysia or around the world to serve, adding that there were only 11 Friars from Sabah, with only five ordained as priests before the four of them.
Four Friars Ordained Priests by KK Prelate at Sacred Heart Cathedral – Catholic Sabah News
The Ministry of the Deacon
Our five deacons have immersed themselves in their new mission. Cosmas Francis is serving in Keningau Diocese (St Theresa Church, Tambunan), Crispus Mosinoh in Penang Diocese (Risen Christ Church, Air Itam), Gerald Saimel in Sandakan Diocese (St Dominic Church, Lahad Datu), Sixtus Pitah in Malacca-Johore Diocese (St Joseph Church, Plentong), and Robin Toha in Singapore Archdiocese (St Joseph Church, Bukit Timah).
The ministry of the deacon has three dimensions – liturgy, word and service.
During the liturgy, the deacon assists the bishop and priests. At the Mass, he proclaims the Gospel, and may be invited to preach the homily. He reads the petitions of the General Intercessions, receives the gifts, prepares the altar, assists with incensing, gives instructions regarding posture and movement, distributes Holy Communion, and dismisses the Assembly.
in Church of St Henri, Batu Pahat, Johor
in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang.
Outside of the Mass, the deacon assists the priest when he administers the Sacrament of Baptism, brings Viaticum to the dying, presides over prayer services, officiates at wakes, funerals, and burial services, and acts as a witness for marriages and engagements. The deacon is also able to bless religious articles.
in St. Dominic’s Church, Lahad Datu, Sabah.
in Tambunan, Sabah.
However, deacons do not hear confession or preside at Mass.
As ministers of service, there are many options for deacons to perform charitable works. They do outreach to the poor, visit the sick at home, in nursing homes, or in hospitals, care for inmates in prisons and jails. They teach sacramental preparation and religious education classes, and have various administrative duties.
Our deacons are conducting Catechism classes, visiting the poor and the marginalised, making pastoral visits to Basic Ecclesial Communities, and organising recollections for various groups and ministries. They are also helping out at the diocesan level. Friar Gerald provides counselling services, and has been meeting clients for marriage and individual counselling in Sandakan Diocese. Friar Sixtus has been working with the Media Production Office of the Malacca- Johore Diocese. His first assignment is to produce posters and a video for the 50th anniversary celebration of the diocese. Up in the north of Malaya, Friar Crispus is providing spiritual direction to some of the seminarians of the College General (Inter-diocesan Seminary) in Penang Diocese.
All five deacons will be ordained priests soon – Friar Robin Toha on 21 June at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, and Friars Cosmas Francis, Crispus Mosinoh, Gerald Saimel and Sixtus Pitah on 2 July at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
First Profession of Three Friars
On 9 April 2022, family and friends gathered with the friars at the Church of St Mary of the Angels to witness the First Profession of vows by our brothers Sylvester Singh, Julian Chua and Timothy Fong.
with Custos and Provincial Minister
The Provincial Minister Phillip Miscamble came to Singapore to receive their vows. In his homily, he encouraged the three newly professed friars to continue to deepen their desire to serve the people of God as Friars Minor, and discover the joys of following in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi.
The ceremony was live-streamed so that family and friars, especially those in Malaysia who were unable to attend in person because of Covid travel restrictions, could witness this happy occasion.
for another year.
and Provincial Minister
Friars Nelson Evarinus and Marvin Voo renewed their simple vows in the same ceremony. Following the liturgy, the Greccio community hosted family members to a celebratory lunch at the friary.
Friar Nelson Makes His Solemn Profession
With joy and thanksgiving to God, the Franciscan Friars of the Custody of St Anthony (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) are glad to announce and share another good news!
Friar Nelson Evarinus Sipalan will be making his Solemn Profession of Religious Vows at 10 am on the 9th of July at St Aloysius Church, Limbanak, Penampang ,Sabah.
He shared in a post recently that for the past 7 years of his Initial Formation, he “have had great insights, and experienced moments of frustration and fear…a sense of hope, and the certainty that Christ is with me, and inviting me to live and be a herald of the Gospel.”
Let us continue to support and pray for him as he prepares to make his lifelong commitment to God in the Religious Life as a Franciscan Friar.
To RSVP, kindly email nelsonevarinus@franciscans.sg or contact +65 8383 6681.
