MYTC NEWS Private Circulation Only Issue #20 Vol 1 Jan - June 2019 DISTRICT SUPERIOR MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Bro. Dominic Yeo-Koh sg Dear Staff Members,Trainees, Boarders and Friends of Montfort, Brothers of Saint Gabriel, District of South East Asia Peace be with you and as the Lord says “Peace is what I leave with you, it is my own peace that I give you” John 14:27 It gives me great pleasure to greet everyone. Time flies with such tremendous pace that BOARD OF GOVERNORS half of 2019 has passed and gone by in such a short time. If we look back at Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC), it began its journey 20 years ago in 1999 in a small and humble setup in Donggongon, Penampang, Sabah with only 15 Trainees. The Chairman journey has been challenging but with perseverance, MYTC managed to grow to its Tan Sri present state where it is now hosting to more than 200 Trainees and Boarders at our (Datuk Seri Panglima) centres in Kinarut, Kiulu and Sandakan. Bernard Giluk Dompok The Province of Malaysia-Singapore-Myanmar is now known as the District of South East Asia comprising Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and the Philippines. This new Members District, which was formed on 25 March, comes under the jurisdiction of the new Province of Bengaluru in India and there are currently 22 fully professed Brothers in YBhg Datuk Margaret Fung the new District. We pray ardently for more vocations to the religious lives especially to the Brothers of St Gabriel so that the legacy of our Founder, St Louis Marie de YBhg Datuk Montfort, will continue to live on. Johnny Wong Chen Yee The theme for this year’s Graduation Ceremony was taken from Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed” and whatever we Mr. Chiang Wei Chia do, we do it for the Lord. On 25 May 2019, 54 Trainees graduated from this Institution and it was graced by Mr Ng Teck Seng, the General Manager of Kuok Foundation Mr. Roger Ling Kong Siong Berhad. Kuok Foundation has been supporting MYTC since 2001 and their study grant had benefited 662 trainees in this Institution. This year, MYTC is planning to take in 90 new Trainees and the Institution will embark on a new pilot programme in Mr. Willie Wong Chik Hing Oil Palm Plantation Field Conductorship in collaboration with the Malaysian Estate Owners’ Association, IJM Plantation and Eurostar. Mr. Joseph Tek Choon Yee As I reflect back on the past achievements of this Institution, I wish to thank the Ms. Julia Willie Jock Brothers of St Gabriel for having entrusted me, as a lay person, to continue the mission that they have started. It is through their forward visionary outlook that MYTC existed today. It is also befitting to thank all donors, benefactors and friends of Montfort Board Secretary who have continuously supported this mission to educate our Youth-in-Need. Your Mr. Frederick Mah Hon Phing contribution will be greatly rewarded and I pray earnestly that the Lord will continue Director to pour his blessings on you, your families and all your loved ones. I also wish to take Montfort Youth Training this opportunity to thank all staff in this Institution for their dedication in educating the Youth under our care. Centre THANK YOU, GOD BLESS AND HAPPY READING Frederick Mah MONTFORT YOUTH TRAINING CENTRE Jalan Lama Penampang-Papar, Kinarut, Sabah P.O. Box 612, 89507 Penampang, Sabah www.montfortsabah.org Tel: 088-755811 Fax: 088-755849 Email: [email protected] EDITORIAL MONTFORTian associates (MA) NEWS TOTAL CONSECRATION RENEWAL RETREAT Montfortian Associates had their Total Consecration Renewal Retreat from 22 to 24 March, 2019 with the theme “Healthy Tree Bears Good Fruit”. The Retreat was facilitated by Bro. John Albert sg. Shalom everyone!... Welcome to the first issue of our News Bulletin for year 2019. As always, we will present a lot of EVENING WITH MONTFORT ASSOCIATES - PRAYER SESSIONS AND FELLOWSHIP DINNER beautiful pictures of the many activities that went on in MYTC from January to June 2019. The highlight of course, was the graduation of Batch 19 trainees. Congratulations to all 54 trainees who had successfully completed their training. It was a proud moment for all and especially the parents and families who came to witness them on stage to receive their certificates. We sincerely thank everyone for your unending support; donors, benefactors and friends of Montfort for making it possible for these youths to achieve their dreams of having a certificate and be gainfully employed. May God bless you always with good health and happiness. Happy reading! Evening prayer session-23 May 2019 Fellowship dinner 28 March 2019 MA SABAH COMMITTEE FOR YEAR 2019-2022 RESTRUCTURING OF BROTHERS OF ST. President : Mdm Rita Lasimbang Vice President : Mr Edmund Wong GABRIEL ADMINISTRATION Secretary : Ms Betty Mosinoh Asst. Secretary : Mdm Winnie Wong NEWS W Treasurer : Ms Eveline Eduwardo Committee members : Mdm Philomina Tamin (Outreach) eginning 25 March 2019, the Province of Malaysia, Singapore, The newly elected office bearers for the Year 2019- Myanmar will be restructured to be a District of South East Asia 2022 with Bro. Thomas Paul (Spiritual Director). Mdm Jovinia Pualin (Social) covering Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Philippines. The restructuring was necessary due to the dwindling numbers of vocation and the aging of existing Brothers. The process of MYTC PAYS LAST RESPECT TO MADAM HELENA KWAN restructuring started about three years ago and was finalized this year. At the same time in India, re-organization was taking place for NEWS two Provinces (Trichy and Yercaud). Madam Helena Kwan was called to the Lord in the early morning of 12 March 2019. Her Requiem Mass which was held on 14 March 2019 at Sacred Heart After much deliberation, the Central Administration in Rome came to its Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu was attended by all Montfort Staff and 135 trainees final decision that out of the two Provinces in India, a new Province of of Batch 19 & 20. Many ex-staff who had the priviledge of working with her also Bengaluru was born. Hence, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and the came to pay their respect. Brothers of St. Gabriel from near and far, donors and Philippines became the District of South East Asia which comes under benefactors who had known her were also present at the Mass. the Province of Bengaluru. (The Philippines was once a mission of It was a mixed feeling of somber-joyous occasion with many bitter sweet Trichy Province). Bro. George PJ was appointed as the first Provincial memories of the late Madam Helena Kwan. Both staff and trainees felt privileged Superior of the Province of Bengaluru and Bro. Dominic Yeo-Koh was to have known her and deeply moved by her sincere, and dedicated service to appointed as the first District Superior of South East Asia. Montfort throughout her life. The hymns and readings were all coordinated by the family of the late Madam Helena Kwan. Her legacy will definitely stay with the Montfort family forever. 2 3 PREFECTS LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAMP BATCH 20 PREFECTS INSTALLATION EVENTS W EVENTS he weekend of 29 – 31 he Prefects Installation of Batch 20 was held on 6 May 2019. Julius Jongngis, the HQ Prefect in charge March this year will always of Discipline, led the pledge of twenty-five (25) Prefects to take up the responsibilities as new Prefects be remembered by 65 of MYTC. The Director, in his message to the new Prefects, encouraged them to move forward, and participants, 55 from Montfort to exercise their duties in line with the 5R’s Values; to be responsible, reliable, respectable, responsive Kinarut and 10 Boarders from and building good relationship. The installation commenced with passing of the Paschal light followed by San Damiano Boys Hostel a pledge taking ceremony led by Julius Jongngis. The Director also urged the Staff and other Trainees to Kiulu who attended the Prefect support the new Prefects so that they can execute their tasks well. Leadership Training camp organized by Montfort Youth Training Centre. The 3 days and 2 nights camp was held at Kondis Point, Kiulu some 56 km away from Kinarut. The objectives of the camp were to identify leaders and also to instil leadership qualities among the participants. During the camp, several activities were arranged for the participants and most of the activities were conducted by Mr. Johnny Suti, together with the Staff from Montfort Youth Training Centre. The Team building activities such as Blind Square, were also exposed to the values of Servant Leadership Spider Web, Helium Stick, Nightline, Mud Crawling, and and Spiritual Conduct presented by Mr. Frederick Mah, Jungle Trekking were specially prepared to enhance the Director of MYTC. He explained that in a Christian point A&E (FIELD TRIP & DECOUPAGE) participants physical and mental abilities. Each activity of view, a leader should be like Christ, who comes not to VISIT ends with group discussion and sharing from the groups be served but to serve, offering Himself for the service which provided learning experience. These activities of others. He also stressed on the importance of having also allowed the participants to have fun in a positive way strong spiritual conduct as a leader. This would enable leven talented artistic senior trainees were chosen as they interact with each other. The interaction created the person to lead with good manner and good morality. to join in the Arts & Entrepreneurship activity, to opportunity for the participants to increase collaboration, learn about the possibilities of career in the arts build trust, teamwork, encourage creativity and problem The Prefects Leadership Training Camp ended with and crafts industry.