Daily Meditation The star . . . stopped over the place where the child was. (Matthew 2:9) Imagine how difficult the Magi’s journey was. If they came from Persia, as most scholars believe, they would have had to travel nearly one thousand miles. That’s four months on the road. Travelling all that time with treasures like gold, frankincense, and myrrh would have made them ripe targets for brigands and highway robbers. And then there were the general conditions, “the ways deep and the weather sharp,” as the poet T. S. Eliot put it. How many times do you think they were tempted to turn around and return home? To add insult to injury, when they came to Jerusalem, they discovered there was no “newborn king of the Jews” to be found (Matthew 2:2). They had to go to Bethlehem and “search diligently” for him there (2:8). What a model of faithfulness and perseverance! And these were pagans who didn’t even worship the God of Israel! On this day, when we celebrate the first Gentiles to worship the Lord Jesus, let’s follow their example on our own journey toward Jesus. When the way of discipleship seems too deep and the weather too sharp, picture the Magi trudging over miles and miles, determined to get to Jesus. When the lies of the devil or the allure of the world tries to rob you of your faith, picture the Magi guarding their treasures. When the road to holiness turns out to be longer than you thought it would be, or when it takes an unexpected turn, picture the Magi pressing on to Bethlehem to seek the Christ child. The Magi were “overjoyed” when they found the Lord (Matthew 2:10). Similarly, your perseverance will be rewarded with the deep-down joy that comes from knowing the overflowing love of Jesus. Surely this is a journey worth taking! “Jesus, help me to persevere so that I can behold your glory!” For more NOTICES & EVENTS , kindly refer to our E-Bulletin at www.shckk.org or www.facebook.com/shckk SACERDOTAL ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY Most Rev. John Wong will celebrate his 24 th Sacerdotal Ordination Anniversary on Saturday, 21 st January 2023 . Let us pray for God’s choicest blessings on him in his priestly ministry. Happy Anniversary! NO INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION No individual confession on 16 th - 19 th January 2023 (Mon-Thu) as our priests will be attending the Clergy Meeting at Nulu Sosopon, Keningau. NO MORNING MASS AT SHC & CMI Please take note that there will be NO morning mass from 17 th - 19 th January 2023 (Tue-Thu) as our priests will be attending the Clergy Meeting at Nulu Sosopon, Keningau. DEVOTION ON FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH DATE DEVOTION TO TIME & VENUE 1 Feb 23 (Wednesday) St. Joseph 7.30PM, SHC 3 Feb 23 (Friday) Sacred Heart of Jesus 7.30PM, SHC 4 Feb 23 (Saturday) Immaculate Heart of Mary 11.00AM, Chapel INFANT BAPTISM AT SHC (ENGLISH) Date: 15 th January 2023 (Sunday) Time: 3.00 pm Venue: Sacred Heart Cathedral (Limited to 50 PAX only) Registration will open on 12 th December - 11 th January 2023 during office hours. Parents and Godparents to attend the briefing on Thursday, 12 th J anuary 2023 at 8.00pm in Room F7 . Attendance of parents & godparent are COMPULSORY Application Form for Baptism (Child): https://bit.ly/31R9mbg VOCATION SEMINAR Date: 13 th – 15 th January 2023 Venue: Nulu Sosopon, Keningau If you want to discover more about the Diocesan Priesthood or feel you are called by God to be a Diocesan priest, come to this seminar. For information and registration, please refer to Parish Priest or Fr. Isidore Gilbert 0168194961 & Fr. Mattheus Luta 0138877835. SUNDAY FAITH FORMATION The SHC Sunday Faith Formation classes will start on Sunday, 15th January 2023. PASTORAL IMMERSION Seminarians Pastoral Immersion at Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish : 1. Jeremia Duminggu Afenius (5 th January to 5 th February 2023) 2. Adrian Linus Lojikip (5 th January to 20 th May 2023) 3. Scany Polycarp (5 th January to 10 th May 2023) PONTIFICAL SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILDHOOD COLLECTION BOX Parents are to remind their children to return the love-offering boxes to the SHC Parish Office before Saturday, 14 th January 2023 . All monies collected will be sent to Rome. Thank you for your co-operation. REGISTRATION FOR THE YEAR 2023 KIDS OF THE KINGDOM (ENGLISH) Ages from 4 years old - 6 years old. Link to register: https://forms.gle/fmTiBNVVoMrTvQ2z7 Class will start on 15 th January 2023 Venue: Shan Tao Kindergarten classroom Time : 9.00 am - 10.00 am We are a faith formation class for kindergarten kids to know Jesus through prayer songs, bible stories and activities. And we are looking for volunteers to serve together in this ministry. Any enquiries please call Jane 016-8323710 or email kotk.shc@gmail.com. SHC/CMI BAZAAR 2022 COLLECTION Total Sales Bazaar Coupon: RM 285,427.00 [ RM 70,220.00 (2020) & RM 215, 207.00 (2022) ] Total Sales during Bazaar RM 223,986.00 Thank you for your support and generosity. SACRED HEART CHINESE ELDERLY GROUP MINI-BAZAAR The Parish Chinese Elderly Group will be having a mini -bazaar at the Right Wing of Parish Hall on Sunday, 8 th January 2023 after the 7.00am Mass, in aid of the group funding, selling second hand items, dry foods, biscuit and potted plants. Please give them your support. PRE-MARRIAGE COURSE IN BM DATE TIME VENUE 16 Feb 2023 Thu 5.45PM SHPC Room F6 17 Feb 2023 Fri 7.00PM SHPC Room F6 18 Feb 2023 Sat 8.00AM-4.00PM SHPC Room F6 Deadline: 11 th February 2023 (Sat) Fee: RM50.00 Please register at the Parish Office during office hours. VACANCIES AT ST. JOSEPH BENEVOLENT FUND OFFICE The St. Joseph Benevolent Fund (SJBF), which administer and maintain all burial grounds or cemetery under the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu invites suitably qualified candidates for the following posts: 1. TECHNICAL OFFICER – 1 POST 2. ACCOUNTS & ADMIN CLERK – 1 POST For more details, kindly contact St. Joseph Benevolent Fund Office (088-216321) or the website, www.shckk.org 3RD COLLECTION FOR CHURCH OF ST. PAUL’S BUILDING FUND There will be a 3rd Collection w.e.f. 7th & 8th January, 2023 in aid of the building fund for building of a new church at NAGASIBA, penampang. This will be a monthly collection in the first weekend of the month. Parishioners are encouraged to donate generously to support them. PARISH DONATIONS (31 ST DEC 2022 & 1 ST JAN 2023) Black RM 14,448.80 Red RM 12,485.05