Pilis Malim
On March 29, 2025, a group of 43 pilgrims from St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sandakan, joined by 80 from St. Dominic’s Church in Lahad Datu, embarked on a deeply moving Pilgrimage of Hope at St. Mary’s Cathedral, a pilgrimage center of Diocese of Sandakan. The journey, a 2½-mile trek starting at St. Joseph Church and culminating at St. Mary’s Cathedral, was undertaken in silence, each step a reflection of their faith and devotion.
Before the solemn procession began, the pilgrims were warmly welcomed by St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Simon Kontou. After a few brief announcements by Brother Martin Garcia, Chief of the Marian Mount Volunteers, the procession commenced promptly at 11:15 AM. The pilgrims, moving in orderly groups of ten, made their way through the church gates and out onto the bustling Labuk Road.
Behind the scenes, the Parish Pilgrimage Ministry, along with the Marian Mount Volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth and safe journey. Together, they stationed two volunteers at each of the five key junctions along the route, guiding and safeguarding the pilgrims every step of the way.
At Mile 1½, the pilgrims turned right onto Jalan Aman, where they journeyed for a three-quarter mile before entering Singapore Road. They continued for another quarter mile along Singapore Road before veering onto a narrow bypass that led them past St. Michael Church. Finally, after a serene walk through this path, they reached the gates of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Their pilgrimage did not end there. With reverence, they ascended Marian Mount via the Marian Rosary Corridor. Along the winding trail to the summit, each group paused at the Marian Spring, where the mother of Christ’s Shrine stands in quiet homage. One by one, the pilgrims offered flowers and lighted candles, each act a silent prayer of devotion and a plea for Mary’s intercession.
Their ascent continued until they reached the open-air chapel perched on the edge of the cliff, offering a breathtaking view of Sandakan Bay. After a moment of stillness and reflection, the pilgrims made their way back down the mountain, passing by the Tomb of pioneering Priest Rev. Fr. De Vette and the Franciscan Nuns who had laid the foundations of the faith in the area.
At the Cathedral, the pilgrims gathered around the Cross of Pilgrims of Hope, where they recited the Pilgrims of Hope Prayer together, united in faith and spirit.
After the prayer, they adjourned to the Parish Canteen, adjacent to the Parish Centre, for a simple but heartfelt lunch. It is where Rev. Fr. Simon Kontout presented a certificate of participation to all pilgrims. As the day drew on, the pilgrimage paused, allowing the pilgrims time to prepare for the evening Mass, the symbolic end of their journey—an offering of thanksgiving and a testament to their shared journey of hope and faith.
On that same morning, as dawn’s first light bathed the world in shades of gold and pink, ten devoted pilgrims from Our Lady of Fatima Parish began their own sacred journey. With hearts brimming with reverence, they made their way toward the Rosary Corridor, a path imbued with spiritual significance and natural beauty.
The morning air, cool and crisp, whispered through the trees as these pilgrims, young and old, gathered together, united in purpose and prayer. With hearts set on deepening their devotion to the Virgin Mary and honoring the mysteries of the Rosary, they began to walk.
Along the Rosary Corridor, the pilgrims recited the prayers of the Holy Rosary, their voices harmonizing in a steady rhythm with the movement of the beads. The prayers seemed to resonate through the trees and stones, filling the air with peace and grace. Their petitions, though personal, extended to their parish, their families, and the world in desperate need of healing and hope.
In the stillness of early morning, beneath a soft hush that blanketed the earth, the pilgrims set forth along the winding path of the Rosary Corridor. With each step, they moved not only through the landscape but deeper into the quiet sanctuary of the soul. This sacred journey was more than a walk—it was a communion, a living prayer carried on whispered Ave Marias and the silent rhythm of hope.
Guided by faith and the gentle intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, whose unseen presence seemed to linger like morning mist, the pilgrims felt the divine draw near. With hearts open and spirits lifted, they reached the 5th Station at the summit, where the rosary—always concluded at this hallowed point—became a crescendo of devotion. There, surrounded by nature and grace, prayer bloomed like a rose offered heavenward.
Their hearts full, they began the descent back toward the Cathedral, their steps lighter, as though touched by something eternal. At the Rosary Tower, where stone meets sky, the pilgrims paused once more—this time to capture the moment. Gathered together beneath the watchful gaze of the Virgin and the unfolding morning light, they took a group photo: a keepsake of a journey steeped in faith, friendship, and the quiet power of prayer.
Amid the sacred rhythm of prayer and journey, there stands a quiet force—steadfast, selfless, and deeply rooted in faith: the Pilgrimage Ministry and Marian Mount Volunteers teams. With hearts attuned to the divine and a spirit of service that flows as steady as a river, their commitment breathes life into every step of the pilgrimage. Behind every well-planned path, every moment of reflection, and every whispered prayer, is their unwavering dedication to ensuring that each pilgrim’s soul finds its way toward the sacred.
Long before the first light of dawn kisses the Rosary Corridor, the team is already at work—walking the route in prayer, tending to the smallest details with reverence, and preparing each station with care, knowing that through these simple acts, heaven meets earth. They do not seek recognition or applause; their reward lies in witnessing transformation—in the tears of peace, the smiles of grace, and the silence that speaks of hearts touched by God.
Their mission is clear: to create a space where pilgrims can encounter the divine, walk with intention, and rediscover the voice of God amid the clamor of daily life. Whether guiding footsteps up the hill, offering a gentle word of encouragement, or quietly praying in the background, the Pilgrimage Ministry team becomes the steady hand that lifts others toward their spiritual summit.
It is through their quiet faithfulness that the pilgrimage fulfills its true purpose—not simply as a physical journey, but as a sacred encounter. And though their names may not always be spoken aloud, their work echoes in every rosary prayed, every soul renewed, and every pilgrim who returns home with a heart forever changed.