KOTA KINABALU: The head of the Catholic Archdiocese here urged the faithful to comply with the third phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in the Government’s effort to fight Covid-19.
Archbishop John Wong said the people’s compliance towards the restricted movement period is a “small but critical contribution we can offer to fight the pandemic”.
“The worst has happened!” the prelate said in a statement (bottom) on April 15.
“In the history of the Catholic Church in Sabah, this is the first time our people have not been able to take part physically in the Liturgy of Holy Week and Easter.”
He said while the people thanked God for the various forms of modern communication tools to bring the liturgy to the homes of the faithful, “there is no substitute for the actual yearly celebration of the Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord”.
“The Lord has not left us suffering without a blessing,” he said. “Strangely, deprived of the actual celebrations, we have been made much more keenly aware, have prayed more, and more actively taken part in the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord.”
Meanwhile, the prelate acknowledged that the crisis does not come without some suffering or setbacks at the home front as “every family is put to the test”.
“Most of us are stuck with each other in the same house all the time. Without praying sincerely and constantly for each other, it will be difficult to be more patient, accepting and appreciating of each other,” he said, praying for God’s grace on every family to come out of the test not lapsing but blooming with the Catholic faith.
Download Archbishop John Wong’s full message below:
St Simon Catholic Church Likas 