Fr. Aloysious Tung may have left Sandakan 23 years ago but he still remembers his former parishioners. Staying back after attending the erection of the Diocese of Sandakan and the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Julius Gitom, Fr. Tung took time to visit some of his former parishioners. At the age of 81, Fr. Tung has unbelievable stamina and good memory of even the roads in Sandakan.

Fr. Tung was our parish priest from 1980 - 1984. ( Do you know that Fr. Tung donated the statue of Our Lady at the grotto. It came with a price tag of RM7000.00, imported from Italy; with his own pocket money in 1984, shortly after he left Sandakan?)

On the way to Bernard Shim's house, Fr. Tung recalled that Bernard was staying next to Alex Khoo. We waited for sometime before Bernard came to open the gate. Holding Bernard's hand, he asked about his health and went on to ask, "How is Helen? (Bernard's wife)". Bernard replied that his wife had passed away several years ago.  Bernard age 84, was one of the few local senior government officials during colonial rule. His two sons are now living in the United States. Bernard used to attend the Sunday morning Chinese Mass but now goes to church twice a year during Christmas and Easter.  Fr. Tung exhorted Bernard to say his prayers regularly and to do exercises like gardening or just take a walk round the compound of his house. They had some wonderful moments talking of the old times. When it was time to leave, Fr. Tung reminded me to bring the priest to visit our senior parishioners.

John Lai was the next on Fr. Tung 's mind. His youngest daughter, Julie who now lives in Ireland and who was back to visit her parents, came to the gate and asked about our identity. When she told her parents that the visitor was Fr. Tung, her mother Mary, came rushing out to meet us. Obviously, the visitor was someone whom they know well.

Like all good priests who came from China, Fr. Tung has all the powerful skills of communications and connecting link with his audience. With a good sense of humor, he had his hosts enjoying his presence.

John's parents were among the first Catholics in Sandakan. They were living near the present St. Mark's church then. In fact there was a wooden chapel built to cater for the early Christians in their family property.  The seeds of God's Kingdom from the White Founding Fathers had taken roots and gradually spreading. John's elder sister was the late Mother Margaret Mary, and the late Bishop Simon Fung, his cousin. On leaving, Fr. Tung assured his hosts that he will remember them in his prayers.

John's parents were good Samaritans who opened their homes for many people during the Japanese occupation. My grandmother together with her children (including my mother) took refuge in their homes to escape torture and hardship created by the invading Japanese forces.

posted by Raymond Jim