By Evelyn Jock
February 2025 sees some reshuffling of the clergy in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Assistant Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Raymond Lee Seng Huat has been assigned to the Holy Trinity Church in Tawau to shepherd a large Chinese Community there. Rev. Fr. Mitchelly Kiun from the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu is the new Assistant Parish Priest while Deacon Ricki Boy Hasim, ordained on 24 November 2024 continues with his spiritual works to assists the priests of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Rev. Fr. Simon in delivering his speech.
Rev. Fr. Raymond Lee Seng Huat who has been with St. Mary’s Cathedral since his ordination to the priesthood on 16 May 2022 has been transferred to assist in the parish of the Holy Trinity Church, Tawau. A humble and jovial Chinese priest who speaks fluent Bahasa Malaysia and English, has help the Chinese Community of Sandakan have a sense of belonging. He has also help the aged come together every Sunday to sing, read, play games and puzzles. He has contributed much to the parish through pastoral care, community outreach and guiding the parishioners spiritually. He thanked Bishop Julius, the priests, religious and the people of Sandakan for all their support, encouragement and love during his assignment in Sandakan. He asked the people to continue to pray for him and for each other.
On temporary assignment, Rev. Fr. Mitchelly Kiun, a 45-year old priest, second in his family, with 1 brother and 2 sisters, joins the parish in Sandakan Diocese. He comes from a non-Catholic family from Kg. Kopungit, Kota Kinabalu and received his sacrament of Baptism at the age of 6 years (1986) and Sacrament of Confirmation in Sacred Heart Cathedral. He studied in SRJK Chung Hwa, Kg. Air, Kota Kinabalu High School, took up Accounts in the Yayasan Sabah Community College and worked for 2 years as a fish ball seller and also a part time driver.
Fr. Mitchelly was ordained a priest on 26 February 2014 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral by Archbishop John Wong, after undergoing his seminarian years from 2004 to 2011 and pastoral training in St. John, Tuaran, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Catherine in Inanam and Holy Family in Telipok. He has also served in other parishes such as St. Theresa in Kota Marudu and St. Peter in Kudat. Fr. Mitchelly also speaks Chinese (Hakka, Cantonese and Mandarin) besides Bahasa Malaysia, English and Dusun, his native tongue. He was in Fu Jen University, Taipei for a year in 2017 where he speaks more Mandarin. As of 26 February 2025, Fr. Mitchelly has served 11 years in the vineyard of the Lord. His last visit to Sandakan was 10 years ago and this would be his first experience serving as a priest in the Diocese of Sandakan. He comes to Sandakan with mix feeling but having being reminded of Abraham who was obedient to the Lord “leave, there is something awaiting you”, Fr. Mitchelly thanked the Lord for the opportunity and with transfer during the Jubilee Year and rested his hope and trust in the Lord.
After his ordination as Deacon on 24 November 2024, Deacon Ricki was posted to Lahad Datu to serve in St. Dominic Church. He has come to understand more about the Diocese of Sandakan and the mission of the clergies which made him deeply embrace his vocation. His responsibility has grown and during his assignment in Lahad Datu, he found that no matter how small the community is, it uplifted his spirit to serve them. Coming back to serve in Sandakan, is an opportunity of a lifetime for he gets to experience his ministry to the fullest assisting the Bishop and Priests.
During a potluck fellowship on 23 February 2025, the St. Mary’s Cathedral parish community acknowledges Fr. Raymond’s positive impact on the people of Sandakan, and wish him success in his future and happiness in his new role. The community also warmly welcomes Rev. Fr. Mitchelly Kiun and Deacon Ricki Boy Hasim and look forward to working in faith with them.