KUCHING — “I am encouraged by the interest, zeal and participative spirit of all – each one playing their part as the Church” said Archbishop John Ha in his keynote address at the 19th Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) held on the 4 September. Together with priests, Chairman of the APC Francis Sia, office bearers and chairmen of the four commissions and many parishioners from throughout the Archdiocese, this annual gathering once again demonstrated the reality of a participatory church. 

In highlighting a few events of the past year, Archbishop Ha mentioned the following; the priestly ordination of Fr Adrian Kho, the Asia-Pacific Alpha Conference, the Mill Hill General Chapter, the Family Life Conference and the Joint National Day Prayer Service as those activities which “pertain to our Pastoral Focus on the Family and those outside the normal run of the Archdiocese”. Reflecting on the themes of this year and the next year of the 5 year Pastoral plan to focus on the Family, namely “Family modelled on the Trinity” and “Family Sent on Mission”, His Grace said that ‘the family modelled on the Trinity must necessarily be involved in mission”. Therefore “All Christian families, to be authentic, ought to be communion of members taking after the Trinity and also exercise mission by reaching out to others (individuals and families).”

Reports on activities by the four Commissions consisting of the Commission for Bible and Faith Formation, the Commission for Mission and Evangelisation, the Commission for Youth, the Commission for Christian Family Life and the Committees for Social Communications and Vocation respectively was followed by the Treasurer’s Report.

A fellowship lunch capped this year’s annual general meeting of the APC.

Stella Chin