By Evelyn Jock
The life of a priest is never confined in a single parish. Priest transfers are necessary and a part of a priest’s ministry of the Catholic Church. His missionary and pastoral work will take him to wherever the Bishop needs him to be.
On 20 February 2023, Monday, a celebration was held in the parish hall, to bid farewell and expressing gratitude to Rev. Fr. David Aloysius Garaman. The Potluck fellowship brought together all parishioners of the St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Mark’s Church as well as St. Peter’s chapel of Sungai Manila. Ministries and the various BECs, families and individuals came with home cooked food and other delicacies which were shared with everyone.
The community of the Sandakan parish thanked Fr. David for his service as a Parish Priest and friendship over the last five years. Fr. David leaves Sandakan parish for The Holy Trinity Church, Tawau as its new Parish Priest effective 23 February 2023. He has been stationed in Tawau parish before as an Assistant Parish Priest in February 2011 after his priestly ordination on 31 December 2010.
Fr David was the first person to be ordained as priest in 2010 after the Diocese of Sandakan was established in 2007 under the stewardship of Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom. Fr. David came to the Sandakan parish as its Parish Priest on 1 Jan 2018. Under his leadership, he has been in the forefront of the Synodal process, at the Diocesan and Parish Level 2021; strengthening the Diocese in its mission goals, leading and keeping the church and its parishioners safe throughout the pandemic years.
During the pandemic, Fr. David and his dedicated team of clergies have been there for the faithful by having masses online, giving spiritual talks and spiritual church activities updates through the Marian FM radio and the telegram channel. His team in the Property Management and Building Committee was successful in the restoration of St. Joseph’s Church, which was rededicated on 19 December 2021. As parish rector, he guided a few seminarians and deacons in their faith formation. He was instrumental in having the Security and Safety detail set up. Fr. David also pushed the implementation of the new Catholic Hymnal and the chanting of hymns at mass.
God bless you, Fr. David. Thank you for your love and care. We wish you a prosperous ministry in the coming years and may God lead and guide you on the next leg of your life’s journey.
Welcome back Fr. Simon Kontou, Parish Priest of Sandakan 2023
Fr Simon Kontou was transferred to Sandakan after a span of 14 years of administering mission and pastoral work in St. Dominic, Church, Lahad Datu as its Parish Priest. Fr. Simon recently celebrated his 25th Priestly Ordination on 31 August 2022. He became the Parish Priest of Sandakan in December 2004 and upon the establishment of the Diocese of Sandakan in 2007, he was transferred to Lahad Datu. The Sandakan Parish accords a warm welcome to Fr. Simon and congratulates him on his new appointment as Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral. May the Holy Spirit guide him in his priestly mission and endeavours.
Having formed a camaraderieship, we are saddened to hear of the transfers of our priests from one parish to another parish. It is a sad time for many priests and their parishioners. On the other hand, it is also an exciting time for them and their new parishes, a new beginning!
