Ref.  :    SHC 15.0/1279
Date :    12^th August 2009
 

Coordinators and Leaders,
SHC Groups & Ministries
Sacred Heart Cathedral,
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
 

Dear  Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

PARISH DISCERNMENT WEEKEND (PDW) 2009

May the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Once again the Parish will be holding its annual Parish Discernment Weekend and this year it will be from 15^th to 17^th October 2009 at the Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre.

This PDW 2009 shall focus mainly on how best to effectively and efficiently implement all the recommendations from PDW 2008 (some have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented) as approved by the Rector/PPC after detail and in-depth studies by the PDW main Steering Committee to address the three (3) identified Parish Pastoral Priorities (or 3 PPPs).

This PDW 2009 shall focus mainly on how best to effectively and efficiently implement all the recommendations from PDW 2008 (some have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented) as approved by the Rector/PPC after detail and in-depth studies by the PDW main Steering Committee to address the three (3) identified Parish Pastoral Priorities (or 3 PPPs).

For your recollection, the following important resolutions and conclusions are among those we made at the end of PDW 2008:

• Form an Advisory Committee to study in-depth how the Faith Formation and Family (Issue) proposals can be implemented;
• (Form) another committee to look into the implementation of the PFPN;
• We will be Committed to support and be the prime agents of implementation/ change;
• We will make consistent and diligent efforts to impart this to our brothers and sisters in our respective groups / communities;
• Let us not just ‘feel good’ up here but begin to respond to the promptings & leadings of the Holy Spirit;
• Now, as the energy moves from discernment to action, the voices of discernment & consultation must become the hands and hearts of action and transformation; and
• More committed Individuals would be asked to serve as implementers in service to the Parish, as we make the recommendations for the proposed plan, a living plan.
  

Following up on the above resolutions and conclusions, a Steering Committee was set up to look into the setting up of Task Forces to address the three identified issues, namely,

1. Faith Formation,
2. Family Issue, and
3. Reaching out to SHC Parishioners (now known as Parish Family Pastoral Network or PFPN)
   

Three advisory committees were appointed to do in-depth study on the 3 PPPs. Among the measures implemented were the launching of PFPN on 29th November 2008, the appointment of full time Parish Youth Pastoral Coordinator, full time PFPN Coordinator, and Pastoral body to oversee Parish Catholic Faith Formation. We are now in the process of reviewing and focusing on the Parish Catholic Faith Formation initiatives in terms of restructuring, redefining and updating the approaches and processes so that all 3 PPP s can and will be interlinked and will work together as a family.

We feel the best forum for this will be the forth coming Parish Discernment Weekend 2009 where all our Parish Leaders will come together once again to discern and to address this crucial issue consensually.

It is very important for all Parish leaders to take part in the above process and take ownership of the resulting decision. Your presence and solid support is therefore very much required.

For planning purpose, we need confirmations of your attendance as well as the attendances of at least five (5) additional members from your group as soon as possible, but not later than 31st August 2009. Please contact the Parish Office to confirm.

As your Rector, I invite all of you as Parish Leaders and urged you all to turn up in full force for the success of our PDW 2009 thus ensure the success of our Parish Pastoral Priorities (Plans) - God’s plan for SHC Parish.

May God bless you.

“ONENESS IN HEART, FAMILY & PARISH”

Yours in Christ,



MSGR. PRIMUS JOUIL
RECTOR