By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 31: On Easter Sunday, the air in churches across Sarawak was filled with music, prayer, and worship as faithful congregants gathered in large numbers to celebrate the resurrection of Christ together.
In Kuching, Easter Sunday services at St Joseph’s Cathedral were streamed live via its Facebook page with almost 10,000 viewers.
St Thomas’ Cathedral also hosted their Palm Sunday/Easter Sunday service online via its Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia president Archbishop of Kuching Dr Simon Poh in wishing Christians a blessed Easter Sunday in a statement, said Easter is a time to share hope and common purpose in life.
He said for Christians, faith in Christ the risen Lord and Master has to be expressed concretely in loving God and being at the service of neighbours by contributing to the common good of society and nation building.
He disclosed he was invited by Islamic Information Centre (IIC) at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, Kuching for Iftar–Buka Puasa with Muslim, Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist and other Christian leaders during Good Friday.
“During conversation at table, we talked about fasting, the various religious celebrations around this time—Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter for Christians, Bahai Naw-Rúz New Year, Ching Ming Tomb Festival, and Taoist temple processions.
“It was a time of fellowship, friendship and building up of mutual understanding and respect for each other,” he added.
He said that as the breaking-of-fast was held on the evening of Good Friday, he also shared that Catholics are also into fasting and abstaining from meat that day.
“I had also fasted in solidarity with Muslims that whole day. As I was keeping abstinence, IIC CEO Dr Hajah Asmah (Asmah Othman) kindly indicated to me the non-meat dishes on the table. Together, various faiths shared the Buka Puasa fellowship meal as friends,” said Poh.
At the event, Poh also presented to IIC an extract from Message to Muslims from Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, entitled: “Message for the Month of Ramadan and Id Al-Fitr 1445 H./ 2024 A.D. Christian and Muslims: Extinguish the Fire of War and Light the Candle of Peace”, on behalf of Vatican City Rome.
The extract read: “We look to the Almighty as God of peace, the source of peace, who in a special way loves all those who devote their lives to the service of peace. Let us join in extinguishing the fires of hatred, violence and war, and instead light the gentle candle of peace, drawing upon resources for peace that are present in our rich human and religious traditions.”
“On behalf of my brother Bishops, I wish every Christian the Blessed Joy of Easter. And to our brothers and sisters of neighbouring religions and friends of goodwill, peace, joy and hope as we work together to make our nation and our world a better place for everyone,” Poh said. — DayakDaily
