Diocese of Miri: Pastoral visit to Good Shepherd Parish, Marudi and Rumah Hillary Tawen, Sungei Engkala, Poyut, Marudi 7th

In response to Pope Francis' invitation, the Extraordinary Missionary Month - October 2019, An Extraordinary celebration of Global Mission "Baptised and Sent" is to be an opportunity for reflection, prayer and support for the missionary efforts of individuals, communities and whole church.

On Saturday 7th September 2019, some 500 pilgrims from St Joseph Parish, Miri, St Michael Parish, Batu Niah and local parishioners visited Marudi Mission Parish where Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng, Fr. Sylvester Ngau, Fr. Anup Hemant and Fr. Anthony Livin celebrated morning Mass in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin at Good Shepherd's Church, Marudi. After the Mass, the pilgrims visited Marudi Mission Parish Exhibition at St James Rectory Hall next to the church.

The history of Marudi Mission Parish was first established in 1911 by two Missionary Mill Hill priests Fr. John Unterberger and Fr. Henry Jansen. The first Catholic Mission to the Baram area was in Marudi in 1911. Good Shepherd's Church, Marudi was built in 1912 and pulled down in the 90s to build the new Good Shepherd's Church declared open and blessed on the 25th November 1990 by Right Reverend Bishop Anthony Lee Kok Hin.

From 1911 till 2019 today, 37 priests Missionary Mill Hill (25) and local (12) have served in Marudi Mission Parish.

The pastoral visit also reached out to Rumah Hillary Tawan, Sungei Engkala, Poyut, Marudi a 17-door Iban longhouse situated 18 km away from Good Shepherd's Church where Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng and Fr. Michael Sia celebrated sunset Mass in Iban with some 180 parishioners.

Next morning 8th September 2019, His Lordship Bishop Richard Ng administered Sacrament of Confirmation to 69 candidates (66 students) at Good Shepherd's Church, Marudi where Bishop and Fr. Michael Sia celebrated 8am Mass 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. There were some 600 parishioners seated inside the church and outside the shaded front entrance.

The road trip Miri to Good Shepherd's Church crossing the Baram River by ferry into Marudi town registered 65 km one way.

500 pilgrims visited Marudi Mission Parish

Right Reverend Bishop Richard Ng, Fr. Sylvester Ngau, Fr. Anup Hemant and Fr. Anthony Livin celebrating mission pilgrimage Mass at Good Shepherd's Church, Marudi