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Sarawak govt's RM1 mln contribution completes funding for St Peter's Church
Sarawak govt's RM1 mln contribution completes funding for St Peter's Church

Borneo Post

time8 hours ago

  • Business
  • Borneo Post

Sarawak govt's RM1 mln contribution completes funding for St Peter's Church

Uggah (second left) presents the RM1 million cheque to Poh (centre) as additional aid for the construction of St Peter's Church, Padungan. Also seen are (from left) Unifor director Datuk Georgina Apphia Ngau, St Peter's Church Rector Rev Vincent Chin, and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (June 28): The Sarawak government has contributed an additional RM1 million to the building fund of St Peter's Church, Padungan, marking the final financial boost needed to complete the RM38 million construction of the new church. The cheque was handed over during the church's official opening ceremony today, in a gesture of continued support for religious harmony and development in the state. 'On behalf of the Sarawak government, we will be handing over a RM1 million cheque to the church in further aid to the building fund,' said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in a text of speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Abang Johari congratulated the Catholic community on the successful completion of the iconic house of worship. 'This is not just a place for prayer and reflection, it is a symbol of vision, resilience, and deep-rooted faith. 'Located in the very centre of Kuching, the presence of St. Peter's Church, among other religious houses in close proximity, is a powerful testament to the religious harmony and unity that Sarawak is so proud to uphold,' he said. The church's completion was made possible through a combination of donations, government funding, and community support, with much of the fundraising effort taking place amid the challenges of the pandemic. Poh speaks to reporters when met at the event. – Photo by Roystein Emmor Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Datuk Dr Simon Poh said the total cost of the building was RM38 million. 'Yes, so from the overall initial planning it was RM38 million and then you know the pandemic knocked out all the donors and pledgers so we had to start from zero again,' he said. Poh acknowledged the critical role of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), which had earlier contributed RM2 million through two separate cheques presented in the past two years. 'And then today is the final cheque,' he said. According to him, the RM1 million presented today brought the total contribution from the Sarawak government through Unifor to RM3 million. 'With this last RM1 million, today we received a total of RM3 million from the Sarawak government through Unifor. We have enough just to cover everything and pay everything so tomorrow we will consecrate the whole church together,' he said. While some minor funding is still needed for furnishings and interior work, Poh said the contract sum for construction is now fully covered. 'The smaller things like furnishing and interior work still need to be done, but the building, the contract sum, everything is cleared. With the last RM1 million coming in, we can cover everything,' he added. The Archbishop noted that support had come not just from Catholics but from many other communities and faiths in Sarawak. 'This church stands more than just the church for the Catholic because people from all walks of life are looking and saying wow this is in Kuching. It's amazing that we don't need to go to Europe to see a very nice church here,' he said. Poh said the church had become a new landmark symbolising unity and mutual respect among Sarawakians. 'This became a landmark for a sign of our desire for harmony, contributing to society and building a better Sarawak for peace, for harmony, as a model for other parts of Malaysia and for the world,' he added. Built entirely using local materials and expertise, the church also showcases Sarawak's growing capabilities in architecture and construction, said Poh. 'This is the beginning of something that's possible. So Anak Sarawak out there, those graduating in a few years, by 2030, they can come back. We believe Sarawak will provide employment and continue contributing to peace, harmony, and progress.' The consecration of the new St Peter's Church is scheduled to take place tomorrow. building fund douglas uggah embas sarawak government St Peter's Church

Brendan Gleeson: ‘I had reasons to call Taoiseach a moron'
Brendan Gleeson: ‘I had reasons to call Taoiseach a moron'

Extra.ie​

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Extra.ie​

Brendan Gleeson: ‘I had reasons to call Taoiseach a moron'

Brendan Gleeson has said he won't take back calling Taoiseach Micheál Martin a 'moron' almost 20 years ago, but the actor added he now prefers a more constructive approach. The Hollywood star said it was the way he 'really felt at the time' after witnessing 'unacceptable' treatment at a hospital. Gleeson, who is now supporting a major fundraising effort for St Francis Hospice in Raheny, Dublin, criticised the health service on an appearance on The Late Late Show in 2006. Brendan Gleeson. Pic: Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock Asked about the comments yesterday, Gleeson said it was the way he 'really felt at the time' and that he was 'raging' with Mr Martin. He added that he is 'glad' he highlighted the problems at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin at the time, but now thinks a constructive and compassionate approach is more appropriate. 'The vociferous nature of it was fine, but I did find afterwards it became a thing then where everybody is screaming, shouting and enraged and all this kind of stuff,' he said. Micheál Martin. Pic: Leah Farrell/ 'I feel I had reason – and it was my younger self, and I'm glad I did it – I think it needed to be drawn attention to, but how many times does it need to be drawn attention to, and how constructive is that 19 years on?' The actor says he now has a glass-half-full approach, describing 'reactionary outragers' as 'boring'. Gleeson is supporting a major fundraising effort for the building of a 24 single-bed in-patient unit at St Francis Hospice, where both his parents received care.

Brendan Gleeson does not regret calling Micheál Martin a 'moron' over the health service
Brendan Gleeson does not regret calling Micheál Martin a 'moron' over the health service

The Journal

time3 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Journal

Brendan Gleeson does not regret calling Micheál Martin a 'moron' over the health service

BRENDAN GLEESON HAS said he had a reason to call Micheál Martin a 'moron' almost 20 years ago, but added he now prefers a more constructive approach. The Irish actor said it was the way he 'really felt at the time' after witnessing 'unacceptable' treatment at a hospital. Gleeson, who is now supporting a major fundraising effort for a hospice in north Dublin, said profit incentives in care for older people are 'counterproductive'. During an appearance on the Late Late Show in 2006, he criticised the state of the health service and, in particular, his experiences with loved ones at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Martin, who was the Minister for Health from 2000 to 2004, had opened a unit at the hospital. Brendan Gleeson's healthcare rant on the Late Late is nearly 17 years old, has anything changed? (17th March 2006) — KM2 archive (@KillianM2) December 19, 2022 During the interview, Gleeson said: 'There were people trying to fight for life and cling on to hope beside people who were dead and this moron's name was on a plaque saying the oncology suite was opened by Micheál Martin, when he screwed the place from the time he went in until the time he left.' Asked about the comments today, Gleeson said it was the way he 'really felt at the time' and that he was 'raging' with Martin. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'In fairness to Micheál Martin, I was raging with him because his name was on a plaque in a new unit and they were running coffins down the bottom of my mother-in-law's bed where she was dying – the systems were catastrophic.' The Oscar-nominated Banshees Of Inisherin star said he was 'glad' he highlighted the problems, but now thinks a constructive and compassionate approach is more appropriate. 'The vociferous nature of it was fine, but I did find afterwards it became a thing then where everybody is screaming, shouting and enraged and all this kind of stuff,' he said. 'I feel I had reason – and it was my younger self and I'm glad I did it – I think it needed to be drawn attention to, but how many times does it need to be drawn attention to and how constructive is that 19 years on?' Gleeson says he now has a glass-half-full approach, describing 'reactionary outragers' as 'boring'. Hospice campaign A source of that optimistic outlook is found at St Francis Hospice in Raheny, Dublin, where the actor says staff and volunteers treat people with compassion. Gleeson is supporting a major fundraising effort for the building of a 24 single-bed in-patient unit at the centre, where both his parents received care. The 70-year-old said the single-bed units at the hospice will be beneficial for families as he recalled it sometimes being difficult to speak to his father when he was passing away in the four-bed units. Brendan Gleeson is supporting St Francis Hospice's new 'buy a brick' campaign. Conor McCabe / MediaConsult Conor McCabe / MediaConsult / MediaConsult Reflecting on the tone of public debate, he said it is very difficult for people to maintain positivity in the world now because they are 'bombarded' with relentless bad news. 'The despair is beginning to become pervasive,' he said, adding: 'But here, there's a chance to show gratitude, compassion and build – brick by brick – something that is extraordinarily positive in the face of grief and bereavement.' Advertisement Gleeson said that over the years, Martin had 'learned from mistakes' and taken stances which he considered to be 'quite brave'. He said certain things have improved in the intervening 19 years but remained critical of the 'ideological issue' of running aspects of care through the private sector. He said: 'We're spending a fortune in this country on healthcare – but the systems are terrible.' Gleeson said he did not necessarily agree with an entirely state-run service either as it can lead to a lack of dynamism. He said: 'But I don't think that driving things for profit solves problems of compassion.' 'Proper discussion' He added: 'Let's have a proper discussion, not outage. We know what's wrong, let's have constructive ways – literally – of finding a way forward. 'I've had it with moaning about it and absolutely screaming about things.' Recently, RTÉ broadcast undercover reporting from two privately-run nursing homes which showed vulnerable people being left unsupervised, large amounts of residents congregated together being supervised by one member of staff, and requests for the use of toilets being unanswered for lengthy periods of time. In contrast with that footage, Gleeson said: 'The difference between what we saw in that documentary and what happens here is all you need to know. 'This costs a lot of money, fundraising, volunteer and local effort – but this is a happy place even with all the sadness that is involved in it. 'A nursing home is a place of diminishing horizons at its best – it feels like that going in. 'If you go into the right environment, it becomes a new chapter and there's a possibility where older people – and I'm not that far off it myself – where you can go and actually find kindred spirits.' Gleeson said he disagrees with the 'care for profit' approach: 'The two are counterproductive in my opinion.' While acknowledging that he did not have the answers for the challenge of running nursing homes, he said the approach should be about compassion, understanding, and appropriate availability of staff. Backing the €20 million 'buy a brick' campaign for the hospice, he said: 'I know how much of a game changer this new facility will be for the entire community of North Dublin.' The new unit will enable staff to care for an extra 3,000 patients over the next 25 years – and the fundraiser invites people to contribute to the build by buying a brick for between €25 and €250 and leaving their name or message on a virtual community support wall. He said the new unit would be a 'beacon of hope' and a 'centre of excellence', adding that the approach of the hospice is one of the best standards rather than cost-cutting. Last year, St Francis Hospice cared for 2,313 patients at its two facilities in Blanchardstown and Raheny – almost double that of a decade earlier. Construction at the new site is due to begin next year and will also include an underground car park and clinical support facilities, with a pedestrian bridge linking it to the existing building. Those who wish to contribute can visit St Francis Hospice's website .

Mumbai takes a leap of faith: Festival of San Joao makes a splash in city
Mumbai takes a leap of faith: Festival of San Joao makes a splash in city

Time of India

time20-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

Mumbai takes a leap of faith: Festival of San Joao makes a splash in city

Mumbai: The star of a Catholic saint has been on the rise in Mumbai, reaching its zenith every year on June 24, the day of his feast, San Joao. St John the Baptist (San Joao in Portuguese) was the cousin of Jesus, who baptised him in the River Jordan and initiated him into his ministry. Over the years, the feast in Mumbai has evolved from a neighbourhood community festival to a citywide carnival, with events hosted from Marine Lines to Manori, open to people within and outside the Catholic fold. Its widespread appeal is due in part to the unique customs and revelry that frame it, celebrating not just the saint, but nature, the rains, and, curiously, newlyweds alongside. New son-in-law day In East Indian and Goan tradition, a married couple visits the bride's home, where the son-in-law is feted and fed. In Uttan, fireworks welcome a couple into the village a day prior to the feast, which is also called 'Jaavaycha Sann' or New Son-in-Law Day. "When they arrive, the groom unearths the ceremonial coin buried under the 'arka' for good luck," says Mogan Rodrigues, co-founder of Sangath, a Bombay East Indian cultural platform. "On the day of the feast itself, the couple attends mass in the morning. In the evening, they are led by an East Indian brass band in a lively procession to the village well, where their feet are washed by women from the family or the community. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트 29만원 이벤트 임플란트 더 알아보기 Undo Singing and dancing, everyone returns to the bride's house for light refreshments, while later, a more elaborate dinner of pork Indyal, stuffed chicken and mutton stew is laid out for the son-in-law," he says. Gleason Barretto, a coordinator with the Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP), believes East Indians wash the couple's feet as a sign of respect and acceptance for the new son-in-law, and says the sacrament of baptism, signifying ritual cleansing and a new beginning, may have been extrapolated to the matrimonial context. Goans don't practise this custom. Water works Water is central to San Joao celebrations, recalling St John's baptism. In Mumbai and Thane, wells, ponds and tanks stand in for the river, with community members leaping into wells. If a waterbody isn't available, tankers are summoned and sprinklers set up. There was a time, though, when the mechanics were more rudimentary. "We'd empty buckets of water from the terrace or hose each other with pipes," laughs Wency Pereira of Goan Outreach Association. "Goans who had no access to wells celebrated San Joao in building compounds. But as the numbers grew, we needed a larger venue." In places where wells vanished, pools both tiled and inflatable, became the new proxy. "We rented a BMC pool one year," recalls Fleur D'Souza, former history department head at St Xavier's College and a parishioner of St John the Baptist Church, Thane. "Festivities began a whole week prior with tournaments and games. It was the first big celebration after Easter." New currents In the past decade, San Joao celebrations have moved beyond homes and gaothans into gymkhanas, clubs and resorts, especially in Gorai and Manori. "It wasn't this popular a couple of years ago," notes Pereira. "We had close to 1,000 people at our event last year." The festival is now marketed as a semi-carnival with live bands, competitions, rain dances and pool plunges. Traditions are observed, but with a twist. At Felix Sequeira's San Joao party in Gorai, prayers led by a priest are followed by the ceremonial plunge—led by brides. While most events are promoted via WhatsApp and word of mouth, some, like Mumbai Meri Jaan Foundation, use ticketing platforms. "Last year, we had 1,700 people; this year we expect 2,500," says Nicholas D'Souza, manager at the foundation. Purists though believe such events dilute tradition. For organisations like MGP, the sanctity of the festival is rooted in community and custom. Its revivalist manifesto, San Jao Cha Sann!, encourages celebration at local water bodies and restoration of neglected wells. "Reviving cultural traditions around water bodies can help revive the waterbodies themselves," says Alphi D'Souza, MGP's global head. Rising to the task, the East Indian community in Vakola will organise its first San Joao at the gaothan well on June 24.

'HK to diversify financial services to drive growth'
'HK to diversify financial services to drive growth'

RTHK

time17-06-2025

  • Business
  • RTHK

'HK to diversify financial services to drive growth'

'HK to diversify financial services to drive growth' Christopher Hui says the government is looking to boost growth in the family office sector, digital assets and artificial intelligence. Photo: RTHK The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, has highlighted government efforts to boost growth in three areas – family offices, digital assets, as well as the responsible use of artificial intelligence – as the SAR seeks to further diversify its financial services sector. Speaking in an interview with RTHK marking three years of Chief Executive John Lee's administration as well as the 28th anniversary of the SAR's establishment, Hui said his bureau has released three policy statements and passed 33 pieces of legislation since taking office to help the city emerge from the Covid outbreak. He noted that Hong Kong's financial markets have shown resilience over the past three years, attracting global funds and family offices to increase investment here to help fend off risks. Hui said while 150 family offices have already set up shop here, another 180 have said they are interested in following suit, which would far exceed his bureau's goal of attracting a total of 200 by the end of the year. 'Among them, nine are with Middle Eastern backgrounds. Of course, there are also others with traditional market backgrounds," Hui said. 'But you can see that the appeal of Hong Kong as a family office hub is global," he said, noting that there's still ample room for growth of these offices that manage the wealth of ultra-high-net-worth families. Hui also said other than incorporating greater financial technology into the city's financial services industry, another key focus of his bureau is to improve relevant settlement platforms to drive trading of commodities in the SAR, so as to further boost product diversity. This came after the government took the leap in transforming the city into a premier bullion trading hub, while ramping up collaboration with the London Metal Exchange (LME) to become a key global metals centre. Hui said seven local warehouse facilities have been approved by the LME so far to speed up such trades, which could in turn boost financial services growth in the future. "For warehousing, it's not just about keeping them [the commodities] here. Sometimes, after [the commodities] are stored, some of their warehouse receipts can be used as collaterals for financing, which can lead to some derivative financial services. 'And even if their goods are stored in the warehouse, there will also be urgent insurance demands and so on. So, in fact, I think if our policies are well implemented, some corresponding institutions will naturally take these opportunities to develop their businesses.' Hui also said the government will continue to improve the financial connectivity between the SAR and mainland markets. Efforts include launching the offshore Treasury bond futures as well as real estate investment trusts (Reits) under the Stock Connect programmes.

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