History

Brief History of St. Mary's Cathedral Parish, Sandakan

It is assumed that as early as the 14th Century, Sabah then called Borneo was visited by the Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries. It was only until the 19th Century that a Prefecture was established with its headquarter based in Labuan, and island on the North-West Coast of Borneo.

It was a gracious moment for Sabah when the Mill Hill fathers were assigned the Prefecture of North Borneo by Rome in 1881. One of the first places they came to was Sandakan. It was founded by Rev. T. Jackson, who was appointed Prefect Apostolate, came to Sandakan in May 1882. In 1883, he bought five acres of land in Sandakan.

During the year 1883, Rev. Prengeer was sent to Sandakan and in July 24th, 1883 he opened St. Mary's School. Due to the shortage of personnel, St. Mary's Mission was closed in 1884 but was reopened two years later by Rev. Byon.

In 1891, St. Mary's Convent opened with a staff of four Sisters.

By 1900, Sandakan was an established mission with a Presbytery, boy's school, Convent and Church. In 1904, Rev. De Vette built a permanent Church for the Parish. In 1929, Rev. Stotter built a three-storey building and with Rev. Davies running it, it become the best school in North Borneo.

The mission continued to progress until the Second World War when the European priests were arrested and sent to war camps. During the war, the Church and school buildings were destroyed. An attap roof (wooden hut) was put over the pillars and concrete walls of what remnants of the school after the war and reopened in 1947. The reconstructed structures doubles as a Church and School.

From a humble attap ( a wooden hut) this mission station was later transformed into one of the most beautiful landmarks. In 1952 after the post war years, Rev. Fr. A. Mulders arrived in Sandakan and wasted no time in getting down to business with a bulldozer. He changed the entire mission compound beyond recognition and made it one of the finest site in Sandakan. In 1961, initiated by Fr Mulders got the “Most Beautiful church”. Over 700 parishioners from all walks of life witnessed the consecration in a long but beautiful ceremony solemnized by his Lordship Bishop Buis, CBE, the Vicar Apostolic of Jesselton. Afier the opening ceremony Rev. Fr. Mulders celebrated the first Mass on the newly consecrated High Altar. St. Mary's Church continues to stand today as a place of worship for the community of Sandakan. Since then, many outstation missions have been established both in the urban and rural areas of Sandakan.

Photograph of Late Rev. Fr. Anthony Mulders, the builder of St. Mary's Church who passed away in Vrijland, Oosterbeck, the Netherlands, on Nov 1,1994 at the age of 84.
Borned : Jan 14, 1910
Ordained: July 14, 1935
appointed to North Borneo where he served for 35 years November 1970 given 3 weeks to leave.
1971 served in Sydney, Australia
1976 returned to his country of birth.

St. Mary’s Church was elevated to thet of Cathedral when on Oct. 15, 2007 Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia solemnly proclaimed Sandakan a New Diocese and ordained Rt. Rev Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom as its first Bishop. The erection of the diocese of Sandakan and the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Julius marked an important milestone to the humble development of St. Mary’s church to a Cathedral.


PARISH'S CHURCHES


ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL



St. Mary’s Cathedral is the mother church of the parish with a seating capacity of 1000 and also the main administration center of the parish. The rectory and the administration office is just behind the church building. A parish hall with two badminton courts with kitchen and accommodation facilities is just about 300 meters away. Two primary schools, one for boys and the other for girls is within walking distance from the church. Also a convent for the nuns is within the area. A kindergarten school under the supervision of the nuns is also located within the vicinity.

Parishioners are made up of local Chinese, Kadazan, Filipinos and Timorese. Kadazan is the local native of the states. Filipinos originated from Philippines and the Timorese from Indonesia. Masses are celebrated in English, Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia.


ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, MILE 2, LABUK ROAD



Built in 1971 with a seating capacity of around 500, it is located along the main road leading to the airport at Mile 2. Masses are celebrated in English and Bahasa Malaysia. A Kadazan mass is celebrated once a month for the benefit of the Kadazan speaking parishioners. Across the road is the St. Joseph Multi purpose hall which houses 3 badminton courts. It is used as the assembly hall for the students of the St.Cecilia Convent Secondary School which is just behind the hall. Further up about 300m away is the St. Mary's Secondary Boys School.

St Mark is on the outskirts of town and is about 13 miles from the town centre. It has a seating capacity of 400 and was opened in January 22, 1993.It caters for parishioners from the surrounding areas who are farmers. Masses are celebrated in Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia as people around the vicinity are mostly Chinese, Kadazan and Timorese.

ST. PETER'S CHAPEL

It is a small chapel built within the village site in a land development scheme. Parishioners are usually from the land scheme planted with oil palm. Mass is celebrated once a month by the visiting parish priest or his assistant. On normal Sundays, communion services will be conducted by the catechists.recognition and made it one of the finest sites in Sandakan.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, ULU DUSUN



It is along the main trunk road to the state capital about 30 miles from Sandakan. Situated on top of a small hill on the right side of the road, it has a seating capacity of 600. It was open in 1995 and caters for people within the surrounding area consisting of agriculture land. Parishioners are of mainly of Kadazan and Timorese speaking the Bahasa Malaysia language. The parish priest or his assistant will make a visit once a month to celebrate mass on Sunday. Communion service is held on other Sundays when the priest is not available.


ST. EMMANUEL'S CHAPEL, JAYA BAKTI
 
A small chapel off the main road leading to Beluran and built with timber. Whenever the priest visits St. Paul's Church, he will also make a trip to this chapel and celebrate mass with the small group of faithful living here.


CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA, BELURAN



It is within the township of Beluran which is the administration centre for the Labuk/Sugut District 70 km from Sandakan. The church has a seating capacity of 400 and was built in 1992. It has a three rooms rectory and a parish hall . The parish priest or his assistant will make a visit once a month to celebrate mass. Masses are celebrated in Bahasa Malaysia as the parishioner are from the local residents who are mostly Kadazan. Beluran is a small town located near the river estuary and fresh seafood is readily available The small wooden Nativity Chapel, not far from the Our Lady of Fatima Church, where the priest will celebrate mass with the kampong people of the Catholic faith whenever he visits later in Beluran. Afier the celebration, the parishioners will hold a gathering and share the food they have brought along with the priest.

LADANG SABAH
 
Located within a oil palm estate about 80 km from Sandakan, the parishioners are mainly the workers of the Ladang Sabah Oil Mill. Parishioners are mostly Kadazan and Timorese. It is visited by the the parish priest or his assistant once a month and mass is celebrated in Bahasa Malaysia.


ST. ANTHONY, BUKIT GARAM 
 
Bukit Garam is situated in the Kinabatangan District about 50km from Sandakan along the Sandakan-Lahad Datu highway. Mass is celebrated in one of the parishioner‘s home. The priest will visit and celebrate with the parishioners whereby it is always felt as a family church. It is located along the road leading to the jetty at the Kinabatangan River which is the longest river in Sabah. There are plans to acquire a parcel of land with in the township to build a church.


TOMANGGONG
 
A small church within an oil palm plantation Which caters mainly for workers within the estate. It is served by the 18 seaters Twin Otto services by Malaysia Airlines. The flight takes 30 minutes. By road, it takes about 5 hours. Mass is celebrated once a month in Bahasa Malaysia.


PAITAN MISSION


It is also a remote area and it takes about a day by 4 wheel drive vehicle. It is a new mission land under St. Mary's Church. With the assistance of the villagers, a small church has been built and the catechists are helping out with pastoral work. The priest will visit the area to guide the catechists and celebrate mass with the faithful once in three months. The villagers consist of people of Sungei and Kadazan origin.