At the cake-cutting. From left, Jennifer, Samuel, Teddy, Fr Terans, Wong and Catherine
By Teddy Chin
Feb 6 2023
KOTA KINABALU – The Chinese or Lunar New Year festive gathering of the Church of Mary Immaculate (CMI) at Bukit Padang near here on Sunday was a success.
The gathering was the inaugural activity of the newly-formed Senior Parishioners Ministry (SPM) organized with the co-operation of the CMI Parish Pastoral Council (PPC).
It was graced by the Sacred Heart Cathedral’s assistant parish priest, Fr Terans Thadeus who said the opening and closing prayers and led the cake-cutting ceremony.
Apart from Fr Terans, speeches were also delivered by CMI PPC chairlady, Puan Catherine Engsun and SPM chairman Datuk Teddy Chin.
Also present were former State Secretary, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun; and senior church members Datuk Wong Yun Sang and Samuel Chin and Catholic Women’s League chairperson Jennifer Jinu.
Also on hand were St Joseph Benevolent Fund (SJBF) chairman Michael Chung and his predecessor Paul Lee.
Lunch was followed by a karaoke session and dance. Among the singers was a sporting priest, Fr Terans who surprisingly sang in Chinese. Fr Terans is a Kadazan from Papar.
The senior parishioners also took to the dance floor to the tunes of Sumazau, yesteryear favourites and even Poco Poco.
Teddy sang his favourite evergreen, I Saw Her Standing There made famous by the Beatles in the 1960s. Other singers included Beatrice Ekol, wife of SPM vice-chairman Alex Yan.
