Basil Cardinal Hume, Archbishop of Westminster, London, said once, "God in His wisdom and goodness pays man the compliment of being His collaborator" - of letting him also feel and experience the frustrations, difficulties and joys of the continued making and shaping of the world.

Jesus acted likewise. He asked His followers to be His witnesses and to continue His work among all nations. We are to be responsible for the welfare both spiritual and material of our fellowmen.

Understanding and accepting this, made the early followers of Jesus leave their country, leave Asia, and bring the Good News to the people of Europe. In this same understanding and feeling of responsibility, the followers of Jesus in Europe have come to Asia to bring the Good News to people and countries which had not yet heard of Jeus Christ. That explains arrival of the first band of missionaries on the shores of Sabah in 1881. (We are not allowed to forget the almost singlehanded and heroic efforts of Mgr. Quarteron in the years 1858 - 1878).

The first years in Sabah were undoubtedly years of great hardships, of privations and poverty and of many frustrations. We can only admire the faith and the power of endurance of these first missionaries.