By Evelyn Jock/Soccom
On 15 July 2026, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom appointed Rev. Fr. David Aloysius Garaman as the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sandakan, entrusting him with one of the most significant leadership roles with the local Church. This position had remained vacant for some time after Rev. Fr. Nicholas Ong, who was appointed as the first Vicar General of the Diocese of Sandakan in 2007, stepped down from the office about two years ago due to health reasons.
The Vicar General is the highest-ranking official in the Diocese after the Bishop. As the Bishop’s principal deputy, he exercises executive and administrative authority to assist in the governance of the Diocese and oversees the day-to-day administration on the Bishop’s behalf. He also serves as the Bishop’s trusted adviser and is a key member of the Diocesan Curia and the College of Consultors.
Rev. Fr. David Aloysius Garaman, who is currently the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sandakan, hails from Kg. Tempenau, Lahad Datu. He was ordained to the priesthood on 31 December 2010 at St. Dominic’s Church, Lahad Datu, in a historic celebration that marked the first priestly ordination in the Diocese of Sandakan since its establishment on 16 July 2007. From mid 2014 until 2017, he pursued advanced studies in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Liturgy in Rome, one of the Church’s leading institutions for liturgical formation.
Reflecting on his appointment during the July gathering of priests, Fr. David said, “It came as a complete surprise”. With humility and trust in God’s providence, Fr. David accepted the new responsibility as a call to serve the Church more deeply. Looking back on his 16 years of priesthood, he believes that every parish assignment, encounter with parishioners, joy, challenge and difficulty has prepared him for this new role. These experiences have taught him patience, attentive listening, discernment and deep trust in God’s providence.
As he prepares for his new responsibilities, Fr. David emphasised that his first priority is to gain a deeper understanding of the role through close collaboration with Bishop Julius and to assist him in both the pastoral and administrative life of the Diocese.
As with every ministry in the Church, Fr. David recognises that this appointment will bring challenges and opportunities. Nevertheless, he is ready to embrace the unknown with faith, prayerful discernment, humility, and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He believes that whether serving as Parish Priest, Vicar General or in any other capacity, his commitment remains unchanged, for the priesthood is ultimately about availability and obedience to God’s call.
Speaking with humility and heartfelt sincerity, Fr. David stated, that the greatest influence on his priestly journey had been the faithful whom he had the privilege to serve. Their love for God, commitment to the Church and perseverance in difficult circumstances continued to inspire him. Their witness reminds him daily of the beauty of living the Gospel with sincerity and hope.
Fr. David hopes that his appointment will not be viewed as a personal achievement or recognition, but rather as a response to God’s call to serve the Church.
As he begins this new chapter of ministry, he remains committed to walking alongside Bishop Julius, the priests, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Sandakan in strengthening the Church’s mission of evangelisation, communion, and service. He recognises that he cannot fulfil this ministry alone. Therefore, he asks the faithful to accompany him with their prayers. “Please pray that I may always remain faithful to Christ, serve with humility, and have the wisdom and courage to make good decisions for the good of the Church.”
He also appealed for the continued support, cooperation and encouragement of the entire diocesan community. He expressed the hope that the entire diocesan community continue walking together as one family in Christ, supporting one another with faith, hope, and charity to build a vibrant diocesan community which can only flourish when the Bishop, priests, religious and each person, according to his or her vocation, contributes to the mission of proclaiming the Gospel.
The Diocese of Sandakan gives thanks to God for this appointment and the faithful are invited to pray that Rev. Fr. David Aloysius Garaman, in his new role as Vicar General, may be blessed with wisdom, humility, courage and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as he faithfully serves the Bishop, the clergy, the religious, and the people of God.