(From right to left) Wong, Zaluski, Dompok and Piong at the launching of the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre in Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU: The opening of the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre (CAC) here will provide a better service to Sabah’s Catholic community, particularly those around the state capital.
Describing the CAC as the nerve centre of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, Archbishop Datuk John Wong said the complex adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral here is a symbol of the Catholic community’s growth and unity as a local church.
“At the same time, it should remind us to double our efforts in carrying out the mission of the church,” said the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu during the blessing and opening of the CAC on Saturday (Nov 12).
Besides Wong, Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) to Malaysia also officiated the launching.
Also present was Bishop of Keningau Datuk Cornelius Piong, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and former Malaysian Ambassador to the Vatican Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
Serving as the administrative centre of the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese, the CAC houses the offices of the Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, the various commissions within the Archdiocese as well as its archives.
Built at a cost of some RM9.5mil, the three-storey CAC is also equipped with a hall and a chapel.
The CAC is not the Archdiocese per se as the Archdiocese is the sum of the 21 parishes and outstations as well as the clergy, catechists and all Catholics - both active and lapsed - within its jurisdiction.
Wong added that the Archdiocese is also made up of all the human, physical and financial resources as well as the pastoral structures, systems, styles and policies within it.
“Together, under the pastoral leadership of the Archbishop, they form the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu,” he said.
He added that it is his hope that the CAC will facilitate the process of harnessing the potentials of all pastoral agents and strengthen the various pastoral structures as well as streamline resources in the Archdiocese.
In this regard, Wong hoped that the vision and mission of the Archdiocese would be further promoted and enhanced through the various pastoral and administrative offices at the CAC.
“It is our desire to be a synodal Church that aims to walk forward in communion, carrying out our mission through the participation of the baptised. Let us do this with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the intercession of St Joseph, the Patron Saint of our Archdiocese,” he said.
Impressed with the design and architecture of the CAC, Zaluski expressed hope that the centre would inspire and motivate the Catholic community here to carry out the mission of the church even more enthusiastically.
“Let this be a place to come to meet, work, discuss and motivate in the service of our faith,” he said.
He was also heartened after being informed that much of the funds for the construction of the CAC came from the Catholic community.
He said while the Catholic community has been generous in the development of the church here, they should also continue to lend a helping hand to Catholics in poorer countries.
In this regard, Zaluski said, on a recent visit to Timor Leste, Catholic church officials there proudly showed them facilities built with aid from Catholic community in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
The CAC replaces the Catholic Diocesan Centre (CDC) at Taman Hiburan in Penampang near that had been in use since 1988 which will now be utilised as a centre for priestly formation.
The new centre has also gained the attention of building professionals and it was named as a recipient of Malaysian Architect Association Sabah chapter Commendation award in Oct 22 this year.
