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Click HeRe For DoNaTe KK Archdiocese To Have New Church In Putatan
PENAMPANG (CS) - Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese will soon be having a new church in Putatan.
How did this come about?
Catholic Sabah had an interview Sept 19 with the former District Officer (DO) of Penampang, Stephen Sondoh, who is also the church building committee chairman and Dimbaan Home adviser, on this.
Sondoh said the new church, to be named St Catherine of Siena, was conceptualised by him, Stella Maris Parish Priest Fr Fundes Motiung, Dr Marcus Mojigoh, Tony Mojigoh and Gregory Juin some time ago.
"We were motivated by an urgent need to construct a church for the growing number of Catholics in Putatan and Lok Kawi which is currently around 4,000," Sondoh said.
He said the group was "initially nervous" as they didn't have anything to start with - no funds and no land - so they prayed to the Lord for help.
"After a series of meeting among the protem church building committee, a lady, Madam Catherine Moinin, approached us and unhesitatingly offered her piece of land in Kg Dimbaan for the church site. She asked for no charge. In return for her generosity, we decided to name the church St Catherine of Siena," Sondoh continued.
Regarding the church in Putatan, Sondoh related that the church started some time in 1885 when two missionaries, Fathers Prenger and Ignazio, who were then stationed in Bundu Kuala Penyu, rowed along the Putatan River and reached Stramp Port.
During their visit and subsequent visits, they stayed with one Aki Lokubal at Kg Dimbaan, Sondoh said.
Aki Lokubal, Sondoh continued, was Catherine's great grandfather. The house became a transit point for other missionaries who came after them.
Catherine's grandfather, Tuyo, was adopted and taught by one of the missionaries. He went on to propagate the faith to the people, the former DO related.
"From this piece of history, I see an interesting link of God's work that goes all the way down to Catherine. The proposed site is where her ancestral house once stood," he said.
Aside from the church building, the committee also intends to build a transit home for the needy, Sondoh told CS.
"We intend to build a transit home for young people who come from the rural areas to urban centres in search of jobs... This home will serve to prepare them to face the challenges by providing them with information, knowledge and skills. It will also serve as a transit point for those who wish to return to their villages from the cities," the chairman continued.
He said the home will also serve people from rural areas who come to the city for medical reasons but have no place to stay.
"We may provide a stay-in programme for the hardcore poor and provide training for them...the home will be called Dimbaan Home," he elaborated.
Like Aki Lokubal's house, this is a transit point in the physical and spiritual sense, Sondoh observed.
The chairman said they have secured a generous fund from an anonymous donor for this project.
He said they have also received some generous funds from another anonymous donor to develop what is to be called the Dimbaan Recreational Park that sets a beautiful and serene landscape for the church.
Sondoh said they have started the campaign by asking for donations of just "five bricks and a bag of cement."
"It's forty cents per brick and RM18.00 per bag of cement," he added.
He said in that way anyone can participate:
"The church is the people of God. By participating in the process of building this church we will experience the true meaning of being a local church in many ways," he said.
The chairman said the proposed church will be able to accommodate around 800 faithful.
The groundbreaking, fundraising programme and website launching ceremony is scheduled on December 15 at 9:30 am on site.
Further details can be obtained from Sondoh at 013-8658333. Anyone who wishes to contribute can do so by channeling donations through the appointed members or bank in to their bank account at Maybank payable to "RTDKK St Catherine of Siena Church, Putatan." The account number is 510189007514.
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2. Pembinaan Gereja St.Catherine of Sienna,Putatan
St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Putatan :
Good News ! A new Catholic church will be built at Putatan district
to cater to the growing number of Catholics in that area.
Where: Located at Kg. Dimbaan, Putatan - hill top land just
behind Survey Hypermarket Shopping Complex, Putatan
& 1/4 Kilometer from Putatan district main road.
Building Development : (a) Church with a seating capacity of 600
persons, (b) Hall with Sunday School classess, (c) Rectory,
(d) Welfare Home - for poor children from the rural area schooling in KK
Estimated cost : RM3.95 million. It will be build in stages
with priority given to the church and rectory.
Fund-raising: The steering Committee has organized
"Calls for contribution for purchasing of bricks & cement
to build a church of st. Catherine of Sienna, Putatan".
How to participate? Contribute a minimum of 5 bricks (at RM0.40 per
brick) or a minimum of 1 bag of cement (RM17.50 per bag).
For more info : Contact Stephen Sondoh (013-8658393)
or Tony Mojigoh (019-8613303).
God Bless you all for your kind contribution
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Click to Donate for St.Catherine Putatan
