Kota Bharu, Wed 8 Dec 2021
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The final
profession of a Franciscan Missionary of Mary is a very significant moment in
the life of a Religious Sister. It is here that she is totally consecrated to
God for the purpose of building up His Kingdom.
In the availability of Jesus, Mary and St. Francis of Assisi, she is
ready to be sent anywhere in the world to proclaim the Good News, even to
places where Christ is least known.
On this feast of the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Sr. Winnie Vun, fmm
made her definitive “YES to the Lord and received from her Provincial,
Sr. Susan Thomas, her specific mission.
As Sr. Susan Thomas handed Sr. Winnie a lighted
candle, her words were significant:
“Receive the light
of Christ. In the name of the Superior General of the Franciscan Missionaries
of Mary, and according to our Constitution, I send you forth, Winnie, to
mission Christ in Ghana/Liberia, where you will proclaim Jesus, announce the
Good news among the people and love your sisters in community.”
Next, Sr, Winnie received her missionary crucifix from
Sr. Susan who reminded her:
“May this Missionary Crucifix remind you of your
promise to follow Christ in His mission of salvation. May you bring to all
people the light which now shines in your life, so that all may one day share
with you in the glory of the Risen Christ.”
The mass for the Perpetual Profession of Sr. Winnie
Vun was held at Fatima Hall, Church of Our Lady of Fatima of the Holy Rosary in
the evening of Wednesday, 8 December 2021. It was concelebrated by His
Lordship, Rt. Rev. Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang Diocese, Parish Priest,
Rev. Fr. Francis Andrew and Rev. Fr. Konstend Gnanapragasam. The mass was
live-streamed for the benefit of the family of Sr. Winnie Vun in Sabah and her
fellow FMM sisters in Malaysia and Singapore who could not be physically
present due to the Pandemic.
At the end of the mass, Sr. Susan Thomas in her speech
thanked the concelebrants and the parish for making it possible to celebrate
the Final Profession of Sr. Winnie Vun. She noted that this was 2nd
time a perpetual profession of an FMM sister was held in Kota Bharu.
Sr. Winnie then shared her Vocation Story and she
ended her speech in Kadazan and in Mandarin for her family and friends who were
following the mass on-line back home in Sabah.
Bishop Sebastian Francis then blessed the congregation
and announced the official closing of the ‘Year of St. Joseph’ from Kota Bharu
for the whole Diocese of Penang.
By Joseph Wang
Concelebrants Fr. Francis Andrew, Bishop Sebastian Francis, Fr. Konstend Gnanapragasam
Sr. Mary Anne Fletcher : 1st Reading
Sr Enid Lopez leading the Responsorial Psalm
Fr. Konstend Gnanapragasam proclaiming the Gospel
Sr, Winnie Vun sharing her Vocation Story
Fr. Francis Andrew giving his speech at the end of mass
Group photo with the Bishop
L> R : Sr. Regina Ho, Provincial Sr. Susan Thomas, Bishop Sebastian Francis, Sr. Winnie Vun, Sr. Enid Lopez and Sr. Angeline Poh.
A Jubilant Sr. Winnie with her fellow FMM Sisters in Kota Bharu after the mass.
Sr. Winnie Vun signing the documents of
profession with the Celebrant, Bishop Sebastian Francis and the Provincial
Superior, Sr. Susan Thomas as witnesses
Sr. Winnie with members of the Choir the mass
(L-R: David Pereira, Sr. Angeline Poh, Elizabeth Lee, Agnes Lee, Sr. Winnie, Rosalind Wong, Sr, Enid Lopez and Isaac
Logo of her Perpetual profession designed by Sr. Winnie herself with her theme: "Here I am Lord"
