THE NEW SACRED HEART CHURCH AT JESSELTON

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH - SPECIAL EDITION

THE NEW SACRED HEART CHURCH AT JESSELTON

IMPRESSIVE OPENING CEREMONY

An event of historic importance at Jesselton was the formal opening  of the $14,000.00 building of the Sacred Heart Church on Sunday the 14th August 1938. Though the "finishing touches" (painting etc.) are yet to be given , the spacious edifice measuring 140 ft by 42 ft with a seating accommodation for over 500 people  and its surrounding presented an attractive appearance when a great concourse of our cosmopolitan population arrived before the appointed time. In addition to a large number of Catholics for whom it was indeed a red-letter day, the gathering was representative of many Non-Catholics and Non-Christians including a couple of beturbaned Sikhs, and the ladies in their multicolour dress added to the glamour of the occasion. Prominent  among,  those present were Mr. Tay Bee Chuan and family, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. H. Speedy, Mr. James Beatty, Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Round Turner, Mrs. E. R. Baker, Mr. A. E. Tremenheere and representatives of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and other Associations .

The opening ceremony commenced punctually at 8 a m. when Monsignor A. Wachter, the Prefect Apostolic of North Borneo, with his, two assistants and Rev. Fathers, Francis Sint and John A. Van Haaren proceeded from the Sacristy of the old Church to bless the new Church. The choir under the capable direction of Sister St. Luke chanted the Litany of All Saints. After the blessing a Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in spacious sanctuary, the tile-flooring of which is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. H. Speedy.