Good response to annual Roman Catholic Church Youth Rally
MIRI: The annual Youth Rally organised by the Roman Catholic Church of Miri which entered its 11th series this year, continued to receive good response from youths within the diocese (covering Limbang, Miri, Bintulu and Kapit divisions).
A spokesperson for the organiser said 1,300 teenagers have registered for the rally this year to be held at Imperial Hotel, here from June 15 –17. Registration for the rally howver is now closed.
“This year’s rally theme ‘Rooted’ is based on Colossians 2:7 “Keep your roots deep in Him, build your lives on Him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.
“A tree that wants to touch the sky must extend its roots into the earth. The more it wants to rise upwards, the more it has to grow downwards,” said the spokesperson to The Borneo Post yesterday.
He added through the rally, it is hoped that the teenagers will grow deep roots to stand firmly in Christ.
Among the rally activities are praise and worship, an opening Mass, religious talk, counselling and confession. There will also be a concert night for rally participants on June 17 at 7pm.
“This year we are honoured to have three of our home- grown speakers — Rev. Fr John Chia, Rev. Fr Andy Lee and Rev. Fr Sylvester Ngau — to help us to be rooted in our faith as Christians,” the spokesman added.
Fr Chia, a Chinese and Bisaya descent from Limbang is among the first fruits of the Miri Diocesan Seminary. He was ordained on May 1, 1997 and is blessed with a great talent and passion for music and singing, vital to reach out to the youths ( both teenagers and working youths) of the diocese and those of other dioceses in the country. He is currently the parish priest of Church of the Holy Cross Sungai Asap, Belaga.
Fr. Sylvester, ordained to the priesthood on May 1 2015 was also a young and energetic priest who is talented in music. He has a heart for youth ministry and throughout his years in the seminary, he had been reaching out to secondary school students. As such, he would bring to this rally a new flavour and energy.
Meanwhile Fr. Lee a Mirian ordained on June 17, 2001 at the age of 25, is the youngest priest ever to be ordained in Miri Diocese.
He too is a passionate preacher of the Word of God and this passion drives him to give powerful and Spirit- filled talks especially to the young people during youth gatherings, seminars and camps all around the diocese. He is currently the parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family, Lapok.