Pastoral Visit to St Francis Xavier Parish, Belaga 5th - 7th July 2019

The pastoral team drove 295.2 km distance Miri to Uma Nyaving, Kaki Menjawah, Belaga on Friday 5th July 2019 where Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng and Fr. John Mcaulay celebrated 7.30pm Mass at Uma Nyaving a 54-door Kayan longhouse with some 100 parishioners.  The wooden longhouse built in 1986 majority are Catholics (95%).

Prior to the evening Mass, Maren Uma Edward Lingok and the community invited Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng to bless the new site currently under construction plan to build a new longhouse and a new chapel Gereja St Thomas.  Edward Lusang a Cathecist in 1974 mentioned the names of two Mill Hill priests Fr. John Oostdijck from Holland and Fr. Joseph Strawberry from Ireland who served and brought the Catholic Faith to the community in Belaga.

On Saturday 6th July 2019 the journey continued travel by express boat sailing downstream Rejang River from Belaga jetty to Punan Bah a 300-door Punan Kampung 40% Catholic.  The express boat ride took 2 hours 20 minutes to reach Punan Bah situated at the border between Belaga and Kapit.

Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng,  Fr. John Mcaulay and Fr. Elvis Mbangsi celebrated morning Mass at Punan Bah longhouse with some 120 parishioners where His Lordship Bishop administered Sacrament of Confirmation to 47 candidates (29 ladies, 18 men).

After the Mass, Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng blessed the new project site plan to build a new Catholic church for Punan Bah.

On Sunday 7th July 2019 Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng and Fr. John Mcaulay celebrated morning Mass Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time at St Francis Xavier Church, Belaga with some 300 parishioners.

St Francis Xavier Church, Belaga was built by Right Reverend Emeritus Bishop Dominic Su and his brother in the 80s at the time when the parish was under Sibu Diocese. The church full capacity can sit 400 pax inside.  St Francis Xavier Parish, Belaga came under Miri Diocese after the roads were constructed Bintulu to Bakun Dam.  The distance Miri to St Francis Xavier Parish, Belaga registered 339.2 km one way.