Over 1,000 attend Sarawak Day Ecumenical Prayer Service 2024

The congregation at the Sarawak Day Ecumenical Prayer Service 2024 singing a hymn.

By Christopher Lidom

KUCHING, July 18: More than 1,000 participants attended the Sarawak Day Ecumenical Prayer Service 2024 held at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre (CEWC) on Jalan Stampin today. The event was organized by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) and hosted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

Themed ‘May They All Be One’, the event saw participation from leaders of various interfaith groups, including Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Baha’i representatives.

The program began with a welcoming speech by Rev Fr Davie Entalai, followed by an opening prayer performed by the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jude, Bishop of Kuching and Negara Brunei Darussalam and chairman of ACS.

Bishop of Kuching and Negara Brunei Darussalam and chairman of ACS, the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jude performing the opening prayer.

Readings of Holy Scriptures were conducted in multiple languages: Bahasa Malaysia, Iban, Mandarin, Bidayuh Jagoi, and English, by respective Reverends and Pastors. The Most Rev Dr Simon Poh of the Roman Catholic Church provided a reflection on the program’s theme.

The intercessions included a prayer in Mandarin by Pastor GT Lim, a prayer in Tamil by Captain Kokilavani from the Salvation Army, a prayer in Kenyah by Sr Emelda Yan from the Roman Catholic Church, and a prayer in Bidayuh-Bukar Sadong by Archdeacon Philip Tauk of the Anglican Church.

Datuk Danald Jude (left) together with all head of churches imparting the blessing prayer before the end of the programme. Photo credit: St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching/Facebook

The event concluded with a blessing imparted by Datuk Danald Jude and all heads of churches to the congregants.

Among those present at the programme were Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala, Deputy State Secretary Datu Buckland Bangik, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap and other distinguished guests. — DayakDaily