By Evelyn Jock
The Diocese of Sandakan ordained her 7th priest on 16 May 2022, in the person of a 35 year old local Chinese, named Deacon Raymond Lee Seng Huat. His Lordship. Rt. Rev Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom, DD, celebrated the Ordination Mass and conferred the Holy Orders of Priesthood. The ordination of Fr Raymond is a first from the local Chinese Community since Bishop Julius shepherded the Diocese of Sandakan in 2007, and the 4th Chinese priest, after a span of more than two decades (23 years) when Archbishop John Wong was ordained priest in 1999.
The Catholic faith of the people of Sabah was inculcated by the Mill Hill Priests in 1883. They established a catholic mission, based not only on faith for the Chinese community of Sandakan, but also mission on education, social and economy. Many distinguish Chinese leaders and priests have emerged from this mission. Local Chinese priests who came from Sandakan, were the late Bishop Simon Fung, first Bishop of the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu in 1977 as well as first Sabahan to ever become a Bishop in Malaysia; the second is Monsignor Nicholas Ong of Holy Trinity Tawau (ordained in 1978) and third is Archbishop John Wong of the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
Fr. Raymond was baptised as a Catholic at 14 years of age and had his Sacrament of Confirmation at 20 years old. He was an employee before being called to enter the Catholic Diocesan Centre in Kota Kinabalu as an aspirant in 2011. His formation years as a Seminarian took 7 years, of which 5 years were spent at St. Peter’s College, Kuching. He did his pastoral immersion at numerous churches namely, Holy Trinity, Tawau, St. Martin’s, Telupid, Paitan Mission, St Theresa’s, Serian and presently assigned at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Beluran. He was later ordained as Deacon on 15 November 2021.
The priestly ordination of Deacon Raymond coincides with the Church’s ease on restrictions and control measures. St. Mary’s Cathedral hosted about 500 local parishioners including those from out of town, Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Diocese of Keningau and parishes from the Sandakan Diocese, families and friends of Fr Raymond, who came to witness this ordination. The Ordination mass was also live streamed online for parishioners who were unable to attend in person.
What a sight to behold when the mass commenced with a procession into the Cathedral by the Bishops, priests, deacons, readers, altar servers and Deacon Raymond accompanied by the beating of the traditional gongs of the local community from Beluran, a town where Deacon Raymond did his pastoral immersion. The entrance hymn, Priestly People, heralded the procession of the Bishops, priests and deacons to the sanctuary.
Procession of Bishops, Priests and Deacon into the Cathedral
By Baptism and Confirmation, all Christ’s faithful are called to be prophets to proclaim the good news. But whenever God calls, He empowers, and then he sends Christians on a mission. From the People of God, these men have been called to be set apart for the mission of priestly ministry. The sacrament of Holy Orders imparts a permanent grace, the seal or character. This gift can never be taken away because it is the work of the Holy Spirit who is forever faithful.
Laying of hands by Bishop Julius on Deacon Raymond
After the ordination rite, Fr. Raymond celebrated the Holy Eucharist for the first time, concelebrating with the Bishops and Priests. At the conclusion of the Mass, it was a moving sight as newly ordained Fr Raymond bestowed his first blessing on the Bishops, priests, deacons and his family.
Newly ordained Fr. Raymond Lee celebrated the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the first time with Bishop Julius.
Fr Raymond shared that his conversion towards vocation to the priesthood is indeed a manifestation of God’s amazing grace and love. He said that it is really a great honour and blessing to be part of the priesthood in the church. He believes that his ordination signifies a new journey ahead of him in the ministry of priest. He stated that there will be numerous challenges and obstacles in this new journey, so he asked that the people continue to pray for him, help and support him to be a good priest so that he will be able to serve the church and her people faithfully and wholeheartedly.
Bishop Julius, in his Ordination address, thanked everyone who was present that morning and the family members for their undivided support and prayers for the newly ordained, Fr. Raymond. The ordination was a blessing and full of the gift of grace for the Diocese of Sandakan. Even during the Covid pandemic, the Sandakan Diocese has been blessed with 3 priests and that we should thank the Lord for his providence. Just recently, on 3 May 2022, Bishop Julius ordained Fr. Arthur John to the Priesthood at St. Martin’s Church in Telupid. He continued that as Fr. Raymond had expressed challenges ahead of him in his new journey, Bishop Julius said that with the help of the community, he is sure that Fr Raymond’s priestly life will be easier. He said when they become priests; the faithful tend to shower them with love and may even spoil the priests. Bishop Julius reminded the people not to spoil the priests, but be generous, helpful and supportive.
What does it take to produce a priest? Bishop Julius explained that it is a gift from God to the community, and the community must respond for it is not the individual that makes a priest, but the whole community working together and only then we can produce priests. He further opined that the grace of God is sufficient for us but only when we respond to it that we are able to produce priest. Bishop Julius said that when we ask for priest to serve us, the Lord ensures that it will be given to us. He thanked God for His grace and stress that we should continue to promote priestly and religious life in our community. When we are able to produce priest, it is a sign that we are evangelising and that infact, we are bringing the good news not only to ourselves but for other people. He urged parents to pray for their own children to become priests or religious.
Newly Ordained Fr. Raymond Lee with his family members
God has been merciful to the extent that from the people of God, a Chinese priest has been called to be set apart for the mission of the priestly ministry. It is with hope and prayers that God will continue his good works and inspire local homegrown men to the priesthood in the Diocese of Sandakan.