KOTA KINABALU: Calling all parishioners near and far! The St Simon Catholic Church Likas community, here, is all set for the coming Advent and Christmas through its own virtual caroling, “Advent-Christmas Carolling Together” (https://youtu.be/NtGyZS4vd20).
(Alternatively, you can also join via this weblink for Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83865665228?pwd=em1Cc2xSQ1lxTjVQdXRLYmJkdm9UUT09 at 8pm on Dec 13 and Dec 20.)
Despite the bleak situation of the current pandemic, its rector exhorts the faithful to joyfully prepare for the “greatest Christian Wonder and Mystery – the Incarnation, God-become-man, Birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas”.
Fr Cosmas Lee, in his “Advent-Christmas Message” (download full message at bottom), said among the fondest and most fruitful way to prepare for Christmas through the years is the practice of home caroling, but that norm is not possible this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Malaysia and Sabah, in particular, seeing a surge in new cases.
“But it will not stop us from ‘Preparing and Celebrating the Birth of Christ, God-with-us in the Pandemic’, quite simply because Jesus the God born for us is here and he is victorious,” Fr Cosmas said.
“In good and bad times, we will always prepare for his Coming. Of course, nothing can be as real and good as physical and actual Home Carolling, but we shall not allow our Carolling to be left out this year.”
The rector urges all families to participate in the event, which will be done via Zoom. More details on this will be published at a later date.
“Brothers and sisters, by just being dedicated in helping in the publicity for the carolling, keeping each other in prayer and support, joining in the virtual Advent-Christmas Carolling Together, we would have taken the first concrete step to prepare ourselves seriously for Christmas,” he said, adding that as members of the parish family, they owe each other “this much of basic service and support”.
“We believe the Lord will help us see through this distressful pandemic as we support and join each other to prepare for the Birth of our Saviour.”
St Simon Catholic Church Likas 