Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kuching (Agenzia Fides) - Young people who love the Lord Jesus and do not hesitate to answer his call to follow Him in the priestly or religious life or as active lay Catholics: over 400 young people from different parishes in the archdiocese of Kuching, Malaysia - western Borneo - lived a day of faith, spirituality, communion and sharing on the theme of "Vocation”. Information collected by Fides revealed that the day, celebrated on 13 April, world Day of Prayer for Vocations, focussed on vocations and in the next World Youth Day event in July in Sydney, Australia.
Present at the day, Apostolic Delegate in Malaysia, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, who presided a solemn Mass at the end of a pilgrimage and the Stations of the Cross with the participation of all the young people. The Way of the Cross was celebrated on the way up Mount Singai where the participants were welcomed by a large local community of young people. The Singai Community is a fruit of the mission of Mill Hill missionary Fr Felix Westerwoudt, who was the first to announce Jesus Christ to these mountain peoples in 1885 and build a Catholic chapel here. The young people participated with deep devotion and joy.
In his homily the Archbishop reminded the young people that the experience of walking up the mount on pilgrimage to encounter God is the experience of daily life. He encouraged them to have hope and to “open the doors to Christ” to let Him into their lives and experience an encounter which will render them truly free. Mentioning the theme of World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Archbishop Pennacchio urged the young people to heed the call of Jesus and to follow Him with joy in the experience of the priestly or consecrated life. Recalling the imminent World Youth Day event, he encouraged the young people to bear witnesses to Christ by showing love to others and serving them.
For his part Archbishop John Ha of Kuching said the presence of the Apostolic Delegate had been of “great encouragement for young people” and reminded them of the “Holy Father's love and concern for them”. During his visit to Kuching, Archbishop Pennacchio took the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council on the theme “Family, herald of hope and the Good News in society and in the world”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/4/2008 righe 27 parole 274)
