A Continuing Journey with the Young People of Mukah, Sarawak

Facilitators and participants, together with Fr. Michael Lee, Youth Chaplain of Sibu Diocese.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Mukah – Once again, the graduates of the Institute of Formation Fondacio Asia came together to facilitate the follow-up Youth Leadership Camp Program at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Mukah, Sarawak.

Previously, on the 26th to 28thApril 2013, IFFA graduates Mag Chin (Batch 1), Nina Chan (Batch 3), Cecilia Ong (Batch 4) and Anna Teresa (Batch 5), together with Annie Yap, Country Coordinator of Fondacio Malaysia, and Br. Joseph Lim of the Congregation of The Disciples of the Lord (CDD) animated a Youth Leadership Camp in Mukah. With the theme ‘Servant Leadership in Me’, 34 youth from 5 parishes (Mukah, Dalat, Julau, Kapit and Selangau) gathered to experience God’s love through the Camp.

Held from 15th to 16th June 2013, the follow-up Camp was meant to integrate and recollect the experiences of the youth leaders from the 5 parishes, especially their one-month experience after the Camp in April. At the same time, these two days gave them the opportunity to equip themselves with leadership skills that can help them in their ministry. This follow-up program was conducted by Ezekiel Raj (Batch 2), Nina Chan (Batch 3), Cecilia Ong and Roselinah Francis (Batch 4). Nineteen youth leaders (Mukah - 10, Julau - 2, Kapit - 2, and Selangau - 5) participated in this Camp.

Integration of the previous Youth Leadership Camp, by Nina Chan.

Day 1 started in the afternoon of 15th June. The participants were led by Nina Chan to look back at their experiences after the Camp in April. Through the questions on ‘The changes in me’ and ‘The changes of my other youth leader friends’, the youth were invited to realize and to see the graces that God gave to them and to see the growth in their friends. They were also able to see their own limitations and take steps towards improving themselves.

The Dialogue on Youth Ministry was facilitated by Nina. It gave the Youth Leaders the opportunity to understand the meaning of Youth Ministry and to see the situation of the youth in their own parishes. The presence of Fr. Michael Lee, Youth Chaplain of Sibu Diocese, Ezekiel Raj, Pastoral Assistant, Campus Ministry Office and Penang Diocesan Youth Network 2008-2010, Roselinah Francis, Youth Coordinator of Keningau Diocese, and Cecilia Ong, Youth Coordinator of Mukah Parish, as panelists during the dialogue opened their minds to see the reality experienced in youth ministry. Using SWOT analysis, they learned to analyze the situation happening in the parishes.

Dialogue on Youth Ministry.

Ezekiel Raj started the evening by inviting the leaders to see that doing a program of activities for the young people require skills. Without skills, they will not be able attract the young people. The participants were then challenged to plan and facilitate games through the session on Facilitation, which was facilitated by Roselinah Francis. It was meant to equip them with skills and prepare them for their mission on the ground. They prepared Structured Learning Experiences and facilitated these themselves.

Finish the Line! - Participants encouraging teammates to reach the finish line.

Day 2 started with a recap of the previous day from Nina Chan and followed by the session ‘Introduction to Youth Clubs, a Fondacio Pedagogy’ by Cecilia Ong. In this session, she emphasized that a Club is a place where young people experience life and a place where they can feel a sense of belonging. She tackled the four principles in creating and implementing a club: Fun, Food, Sharing Time (Input) and Spiritual Time.

Group Discussion - Each group was asked to conduct a game.

The participants were then divided into four groups and assigned to plan and implement the club to the whole group. This was really a learning process so that they could actually apply the facilitation skills that they learnt the day before. With the theme “The Power of Hand” the participants worked as one community in planning and facilitating a club. It was a remarkable experience for all the young leaders to work as a team and to accept feedback from each other.

Learning to animate in small groups.

Finally, the Camp ended with a commissioning Mass by Fr. Michael Lee. In his homily, he invites each one to follow the example of the Sinful Woman, being humble before the Lord.

A message from Fr. Michael Lee, Youth Chaplain of Sibu Diocese
“Go down from the mountain to reach out…
We need to understand who we are…
We need to become the Salt and Light of the Church.
How can you serve the youth if you are not confident with yourself?
We are God-given youth. Be one.
Show to others that we are different from the world because of our Faith.
Sometimes we underestimate our life.
Go, bring joy to others. You can do it wherever you are.
But if we don’t have God’s love, we can do nothing.

L-R: IFFAsia graduates Ezekiel Raj, Cecilia Ong, Roselinah Francis, and Nina Chan

Roselinah Francis belongs to Batch 4 of the Basic Formation Program at IFFAsia. She is currently the Youth Coordinator of Keningau Diocese.

Malaysian IFFAsia Graduates Join Forces for Servant Leadership Camp

The facilitators together with the youth leaders from Julau, Dalat, Selangau, Mukah and Kapit.

Mukah, Sarawak – Four Malaysian graduates of the Institute of Formation Fondacio Asia, namely Mag Chin (Batch 1), Nina Chan (Batch 3), Cecilia Ong (Batch 4) and Anna Teresa Amandus (Batch 5) joined hands together with Annie Yap, member of Fondacio Malaysia, and Bro. Joseph Lim of the Congregation of The Disciples of the Lord (CDD) to facilitate a 3-day Youth Camp at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Mukah, Sarawak.

This is one of a few team-ups carried out by graduates of IFFAsia and members of Fondacio in organizing programs with and for the youth. This was previously done in the Diocese of Handan, China, where Mandarin-speaking graduates from both Malaysia and China came together to organize a camp for the youth.

In the Diocese of Sandakan, Sabah, IFFAsia graduates Roselinah Francis and Cecillia Ong (both from Batch 4), together with Patrick Sta. Maria, member of Fondacio Malaysia, were invited by Anna Teresa and Sharon Tan (Batch 6) to help out in giving sessions during the recent Youth Leader’s Camp II in Holy Trinity, Tawau. It was a very positive approach to continuously be in formation and at the same time journey as one community, especially for the IFFAsia graduates from China and Malaysia.

The camp was held from the 26th to 28th April 2013 and participated in by 34 youth leaders from 5 parishes—Mukah, Dalat, Julau, Kapit and Selangau. The theme was 'SERVANT LEADERSHIP IN ME' and the objectives were: (i) to become aware of their own attitude towards themselves, the people around them, and their own life; and (ii) to experience God’s love.

Expectation Check!

Day 1: The participants were drawn into discovering themselves through sessions like ‘Who Am I?’ and ‘My Strengths and Struggles’. This allowed them to look, to discover and to acknowledge the beauty in themselves, from the inside to the outside. They were also invited to accept and embrace the good and bad in themselves, because in the end, the good and the bad are all THEM, created by God. The day ended with night prayer - praise and worship led by Anna Teresa.

My Strengths - The participants were invited to list down the positive characters of the persons whom they like and admire, and pasted these on the human form drawing.

Day 2: The participants experienced prayer with nature led by Cecilia Ong, followed by an outdoor activity ‘Treasure Hunt’. It was really a challenging event as it required them to work and walk as a team. Their communication and attitudes towards one another were also essential towards making the whole hunting a success.

Teamwork during Treasure Hunt.

This then led to a related session ‘My Attitudes in Life with Different People’ facilitated by Nina Chan. In this session, Nina helped the youth to identify different attitudes and characters in them that always appear, either consciously or unconsciously while they are in community, from as small as the family, school, working place or Church. She also shared about attitudes that help to build or destroy a Christian community. It was a very enriching moment for each one because as youth leaders it is very important to first change themselves before changing others.

In the evening, Annie Yap invited everyone to experience God’s love, especially after they had gone through the first two days in the camp. Day 2 ended with a peaceful Taize prayer led by Mag Chin.

Taize Prayer - Offering the participants' letters to God.

Day 3: Finally, the participants arrived at the peak of the camp, the Servant Leadership of Jesus—'Washing of the Feet' facilitated by Mag Chin. It was a very touching moment for everyone because they really felt Jesus' presence during the process. Washing one another's feet is an act of humility, a criterion necessary for servant leadership.

Washing of the feet, an act of humility.

Participants were given the chance to share their own experiences. They were requested to make their commitments in areas of their life that they want to change. The final day ended with a short movie ‘I Am Special’. It was a good way to end the day as the movie showed how great our God, who created humans completely, is and that uniquely and above all He does not make mistakes. He loves us so much that He made us just the way He wants us to be.

It was a fruitful camp for both the participants and the facilitators. For the youth, they experienced friendship and God’s love. For the facilitators, they learned to let go and be docile to the Holy Spirit. It has always been God’s work and He alone has made it happen.

What am I committed to change?

The camp did not end there; some of the facilitators continued their journey to Mary Immaculate Concepcion Church in Kapit, a 3-hour boat ride from Sibu, on the 30th April 2013. Nina, Cecilia and Anna took the chance to share with the youth about the Personal Development Plan (PDP). As for Bro. Joseph Lim of the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD) and Janet, a volunteer from Kuala Lumpur, they spent their time experiencing life in the Iban Community at a long house in Julau.

After PDP session with the youth of Mary Immaculate Concepcion Parish.

On 2nd May 2013, both teams met up and headed back to Mukah. The next day, the teams had their recollection, to collect and integrate the fruits from the past days in Mukah. Each one shared about their fruits, what was awakened in them and God’s invitations for them when they return to their respective places.

"What a wonderful way to end the Sarawak Journey! The beautiful sunset, as though God is saying 'thank you' for our hearts and efforts. Simply relieved and happy - our mission accomplished!" - Nina Chan.

“REDISCOVER, RENEW and RECONNECT WITH CHRIST, being open to God, letting go of myself and letting God lead me. This made my faith journey in Mukah a refreshing and energizing experience with my teammates and the youth, with myself and God. I thank Jesus for knocking on me at the right place and at the right time. It has always been His plan...” – Anna Teresa

L-R: Cecilia Ong, Mag Chin, Bro. Joseph Lim, Anna Teresa, Annie Yap, and Nina Chan.

Anna Teresa Amandus belongs to Batch 5 of the Basic Formation Program at IFFAsia. She is currently the Director of the Diocesan Youth Office of Sandakan.