KuchingKuching
Brief History
I) HISTORY OF OCDS KUCHING
As the Church celebrates Grand Jubilee AD 2000, Kuching celebrates the birth of a Religious Lay Order – OCDS Kuching. OCDS Kuching was born on Wednesday, 10th May 2000 in the season of Eastertide. In a humble beginning, only four sisters (Jacqueline Sammy, Catherine Sim, Phyllis Chung & Joan Choong) met at Phyllis’ house for their very 1st Meeting. Founding members (Jacqueline Sammy, Catherine Sim & Rosaline Liu) have now taken their 1st Promise.
1. How the group started
OCDS was first introduced by Fr Henry Muscat OCD to some parishioners of Carmelite Chapel and one of them was Phyllis Chung. Phyllis then mentioned it to Jacqueline Sammy who searched the website introduced by Fr Henry.
On Fr Henry’s advice, a Protem Committee was formed on 12th July 2000. The committee elected Jacqueline Sammy as the Chairperson, Catherine Sim as treasurer & Rosaline Liu the Secretary.
Our initial group met faithfully every month at members’ houses until we were offered to meet at the Carmelite Guest house on 12th November 2000. As the number of members increased, we moved to the Pastoral Council Room at the Archbishop’s House where we currently meet.
Permission from the then Archbishop, Dato Sri Peter Chung for the Formation of OCDS was granted on 10th November 2000, following the advice and help of Fr Thomas Curren OCD. His Grace continues to support our group.
Fr Henry Muscat and Fr Thomas Curren were guiding our group in whatever way they could. Jacqueline Sammy spent a lot of time on the internet, went to OCDS Yahoo News Group for help. Later, we also received help from Sr Mary John OCD, the then Mother Prioress, Fr Dominic Vas OCD, Fr Charles Serrao OCD and Teresa Ee Chu, the then OCDS of KL. Teresa Ee Chu was very helpful to our group. It was through her and with our fervent prayers that we were finally blessed with the visit of our beloved General Delegate, Fr Aloysius Deeney of Rome.
Fr Aloysius Deeney came on 14th February 2003 (Valentine’s Day). During his visit, he gave us the Profile and asked the first founders to form the council. After his visit, the Protem Council was formed on 1st March until we had our first Official Election of Council on 16th August 2003. The Council was made up of:
President: Catherine Sim
Director of Formation: Stephen Tai
1st Council: Cynthia Tan
2nd Council: Christopher Tan
3rd Council: Jacqueline Sammy (Resigned)
To date, we have 14 members & 8 guests. (9 members who have taken their 1st Promise, 2 members admitted to Novitiate & 3 Aspirants).
2. Apostolate:
a) Individual
- our personal involvement in the parish which we are still serving e.g.
Sunday School Teachers,
Extraordinary Eucharist Minister,
Lectors, Choir Members,
REACH (Reaching Evangelising And Caring for the Hearing impaired) &
CHOICE (Christ Heals One In CHOICE Experience).
- outside the parish, Stephen Tai is involved in the Ecumenical Christian Prayer Group.
b) Group
- Lectio Divina: This project started off in January 2004 with only 20 books among our group and the Carmelite nuns. Today, it has a volume of almost 1000 books distributed throughout Sarawak, KL & KK.
- Intercessory Prayer: We started on 8th April 2001 with only a few intentions. Today, we circulate a Private & Confidential Prayer List every month among our members to pray for those who ask for our prayers.
-
Alpha: We were appointed Official Intercessors for Alpha in our Archdiocese in
July 2005. Stephen & Catherine are in the Committee while some of us help in the
Courses.
II) HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS
1. a) How do we want this community to be?
· Be caring & loving Community
· Be effective witness to the world (We are the Church)
“Salt of the Earth & Light of the World.” Matt 5: 13 – 14
“Have salt in yourself & be at peace with one another.” Mark 9: 50
· Truly brothers & sisters in Christ
“By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn 13: 35
We invite people to ‘come & see”. When they actually come, what do they see in us as a community?
· Commit to God & to one another
Start from individuals:
- Strong individuals make strong communities.
- Strong communities make a strong church.
- A strong church transforms the world.
b) How to achieve?
· Be committed to come together regularly to relate with one another e.g. recreation and fellowship.
· Pray together regularly, as a community in one mind, one heart & one spirit.
· Create bonding by supporting one another in community activities.
· Strive for unity (United we stand, divided we fall!)
We need to redeem each other in the community. Go beyond self to forgive, to share, to feel for one another, to accept & love one another. Let go of our own interest to the interest of others. We need to have better human formation & community input to build & sustain the community.
2. Community Activities
· Liturgy of the Hour – Presently, some of us pray the Morning Prayer (Lauds) together daily after mass. Sometimes, a few parishioners join us. We hope that one day, with the permission of our Superior & Archbishop. We will lead the whole congregation to pray the Morning Prayer before daily mass at Carmelite Chapel and maybe even Evening Prayer (Vespers) at other parishes.
· Promote Lectio Divina
· Promote vocation drive
· Give input of Carmelite spirituality
· Give more public awareness of OCDS through flyers, informal gatherings, etc.
· To have our own premise – OCDS House
· To branch out to other dioceses
· Promote inter-dialogue among Malaysian communities by friendly visits or tele/video conferencing
3. Apostolate:
As OCDS we want to spread this message:
a) Through our striving to live the Promise and Beatitudes, God will be better known and loved.
b) That holiness is real and is possible for lay people who thirst for it.
In the evening of life we will be judged by love and love alone.- John of the Cross -
