My name is Allen Airel, and I am a student.
I grew up in a Christian family, but it wasn’t until Form 4 that I truly began searching for God personally. I visited different churches and joined various programs, but for a long time, I still felt unsure.
Eventually, I joined the RCIA class in the Catholic Church, where I began to understand more about who God is—especially the love of Jesus and the meaning of the Trinity. Through the friendships I formed and the lessons I learned, I finally experienced a deep peace and assurance that I had found the faith I was seeking.
I am happy to have received my Baptism at St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish, Sandakan. I am now a member of the Catholic Church.
Thanks be to God, and God bless us all.
My name is Mjay Mc Calvin, and I am 19 years old.
Before truly joining the Catholic family, I often felt lost and lonely, as if there was no one I could share my problems with. When I joined the RCIA to learn more deeply about the faith and about Jesus Christ, I found the courage to open up and share my struggles through prayer.
As I became involved with the Altar Boys services and began serving in the Church, I also gained a deeper understanding of the process and meaning behind each part of the Mass. Through this, I was able to witness the true beauty of Catholicism.
During my baptism, I felt nervous yet excited. However, after receiving the Sacrament, I felt cleansed and reborn—it was a truly beautiful and unforgettable experience.
May God bless us all!
I’m Lindsey Ling Martinus, 16 years old.
I was raised in a Christian home and was always surrounded by God and the Church. Growing up, I simply followed my parents’ actions by doing the “Christian stuff” that I thought we were obligated to do. However, I didn’t fully understand who God or Jesus Christ was, or why we went to church every Sunday to pray. Despite my upbringing, I was not baptized then.
I was quite clueless and didn’t even realize that there were other Christian denominations besides the Catholic Church. I had always assumed that all Christians were Catholics. It wasn’t until I joined the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) that I learned so much more — such as the rich history and traditions of the Catholic Church, the meaning behind the procedures during Mass, how to read the Bible, and the significance of important celebrations like Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, the grand day that I was baptized into the Catholic big family.
Since joining RCIA, I have gained a deeper understanding that being a Christian is not just about doing good works. I may not be perfect, but I now know that God loves me despite my flaws and imperfections. When I feel anxious or fall into a depressive state, I know that God is watching over me as I pray to Him. One Bible verse that continually reminds me to have hope in Christ is Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This verse encourages me to keep moving forward.
I am very happy and thankful to God that I have now received full initiation into the Catholic Church on 19 April 2025. Praise the Lord — I am now a member of the Catholic community!
My name is Christina Chang, and I am 31 years old.
I was an Anglican before my baptism into the Catholic Church on 19 April 2025.
Becoming Catholic has changed my life in ways I never imagined.
I have learned to always be grateful, even for the small things—something I never really considered before. Now, I pray before meals, before I sleep, and before I begin any work. These small habits have brought great peace to my heart.
The first time I went to confession, I felt like a newly born baby—so clean, so light. It is a feeling I will never forget.
I am truly thankful for this journey through the RCIA program, which I joined on 1 June 2024.
My name is Bryan Cham Vui Jien, I’m 17 years old and I come from Keningau, Sabah. I am so thankful to be part of the RCIA
Community, where I have learned so much about God and my faith. One of the biggest things I learned through RCIA is that God loves me deeply and unconditionally. Even when I make mistakes, He is always ready to forgive me when I turn back to Him. I also learned about the beautiful stories and teachings in the Bible, like David and Goliath, which taught me that with God’s help, I can have courage even when life feels challenging. Through the RCIA Community, I learned how important prayer is not just asking God for help, but also giving thanks and praising Him daily. Most importantly, I learned about Jesus’ incredible love for us through His sacrifice on the cross. This understanding has helped me desire to live a life that reflects His love by being kind, forgiving, and honest. I’m truly grateful for the RCIA Community because it gave me a strong foundation in my faith. It showed me that I am never alone. God is always with me, and I have brothers and sisters in Christ who journey alongside me. Thank you to my RCIA facilitators, sponsors, and friends who made this experience so meaningful.
A Journey of Grace
My name is Aaron Chan, and I am 33 years old. I am a newly baptized neophyte from the RCIA journey of 2024/2025 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sandakan.
It is with a heart full of gratitude and joy that I share my journey into the Catholic faith.
I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, in a traditional Malaysian Chinese family rooted in Chinese folk beliefs. As a child, I first heard the name of Jesus when I was seven years old—a distant story I did not yet understand. But even then, God had already begun planting His seeds in my heart.
A turning point came when I was about ten, when my father had a profound encounter with Christ. That experience slowly began to transform our family and marked the beginning of my own journey towards learning about Christianity.
During my secondary school years, I followed my peers to church on Sundays, attending services in a Protestant community. I longed to be baptized, to be fully part of the Christian family, yet I never took the step. Looking back, I realize it may have been because certain practices and beliefs within the community left me with doubts and uncertainties—or perhaps because God had a better plan for me.
For years, the yearning remained buried under the busyness of life, until God, in His perfect timing, led me to Sabah. There, I met the woman who would become not only my wife but also God’s faithful instrument in my life.
Through the most beautiful gift God has given me—my wife, Darcy, a woman of unwavering Catholic faith whose life radiates the love of Christ—I was guided ever closer to Him. I am forever grateful to the Lord for sending her into my life, leading me, a wretched sinner, into His Kingdom of everlasting life.
With her encouragement, I enrolled in the RCIA program, beginning a ten-month journey that would change me forever.
The journey through RCIA was not a short one. Over the past ten months, we gathered weekly to deepen our understanding of the Catholic faith and the Word of God. I had once thought I knew enough about Christianity from my years as a churchgoer, but I was humbled and amazed by how much I still had to learn. I discovered the richness of the Catholic faith—the order of the Mass, the Apostles’ Creed, the beauty of the seven sacraments, and so much more.
I was particularly moved by the solemnity of the Catholic Mass and the profound mystery of the Eucharist, the true source and summit of our Christian life.
After completing the Rites of Acceptance, interviews with the sisters, the Rite of Election, and the three Scrutinies, my fellow elects and I finally received the Sacrament of Baptism during the Easter Vigil! It was at that moment I realized that God always has the best plan for us. I believe it was truly His will that I be baptized in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I regard my baptism as the greatest gift of my life—the moment I was reborn, my sins forgiven, and my soul forever sealed for Christ.
I am deeply touched by the immense love of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, who died for my salvation, and who has risen to bring us eternal life. At the same time, I am filled with great excitement to live this new life, illuminated by the Light of Christ and embraced by the Holy Spirit.
It is my heartfelt prayer that I may become the salt of the earth and the light of the world, faithfully serving, just as His servants have before me.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved wife, Darcy Jamih, for her unwavering support throughout my RCIA journey. I am also thankful for my family, my sponsor, and our dedicated RCIA facilitators who selflessly journeyed alongside us week after week.
Above all, to my Lord and my God—all praise and glory to You alone. Thank You for finding me, for loving me, and for saving me.
Wishing everyone a blessed and joyful Easter!
May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always.