Sandakan : St Mary’s Hostel, sited within the Catholic Education Complex of two secondary schools and 3 primary schools some 4 kilometers from the town center had begun its first term for the academic year 2011. Established and became operational in 2006 with just 10 boarders, it has now 17 registered boarders studying at the St Mary’s Secondary School.
Over a period of 5 years in operation, some 20 boys, having benefited from staying in the hostel had left either after completing Form 5 or Upper Six. This year around three new boarders from Kg. Lubang Buaya of the Paitan Missionary Area and one from Pamol had joined the hostel. Most of the boarders are from the rural areas within the St Mary’s Cathedral Parish.
On Friday 21st January 2011, The feast of St Agnes, the newly ordained diocesan priest, Rev. David Aloysius Garaman presided the Eucharistic celebration at the hostel. Rev David will be transferred to Holy Trinity Parish, Tawau as the assistant parish priest effective February 2011. Sr. Lillian and other members of the Hostel Management Committee were also present at the celebration.
Apart from the monthly Eucharistic celebration, formation talks are also conducted from time to time to enable the boys to be properly grounded in their faith.
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