Kota Kinabalu: Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, Datuk John Wong attributed his stint as a Catholic Archbishop to God’s blessings and graces.
“Without God at my side, I think I might not have been able to shoulder the burden that a bishop has to go through,” he stated.
The Archbishop was speaking at a dinner to mark his 12th Anniversary of Episcopal Ordination at Bukit Padang here Sunday.
The dinner at the Putera Theatre was organised jointly by the Sacred Heart Cathedral (SHC), Church of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and St Paul Dontozidon with the cooperation of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Kobusak and St John Kopungit.
Present were SHC Rector Rev Fr Paul Lo and the Chairmen of the organising churches led by CMI chairperson Catherine Engsun.
Also on hand were the Archbishop’s two newly-appointed “lieutenants”, Mgsr Nicholas Stephen and Chancellor Fr Wilfred Ating and senior priest Fr Sham.
The prelate said as 2022 is coming to an end, all eyes are on 2023 when the Synod of Bishops will be held, 2024 for the PAX Assembly, 2025 for the Jubilee Year of the Universal Church and 2026 for the Pan-Malaysia Pastoral Convention.
He thanked all those who had “crossed his path” during the past 12 years that he was Archbishop either to help him or remind him of the things that he might have overlooked, or even “to accommodate” his journey as a Bishop.
He also extended his appreciation to all those who subscribed to the paid-dinner, saying, “not just for me but also for the entire Archdiocese”.
He also expressed happiness that his family from Sandakan came all the way to Kota Kinabalu for the dinner, adding “although the organisers tried to hide it from me at first”.
On a lighter note, he said he was not sure whether he had actually grown spiritually or if there had been changes for the past 12 years, but “when I look into the mirror, I can certainly see some changes,” he said, drawing a chorus of laughter from those present.
The gathering was entertained by representatives from the organising churches and the clergy including priests and religious sisters. One of the priests, a Korean, sang in Kadazan.
