The Bicentennial Celebration of College General finally came to a close on 6 December 2008 with a Eucharistic celebration followed by a dinner thanking all and sundry for their support, contribution and encouragement. The occasion was attended by both clerical and lay people. Seminarian Anthony Liew (2nd Year Philosophy), said it is always “nice to see the alumni come back home to College General. I’m blessed to have worked with the lay people on this auspicious occasion.”  

Indeed, the Bicentennial celebration had seen an unprecedented number of lay people come forward to make the celebration a most meaningful one with the committee being made up of Fr. Simon Labrooy and Fr. Mark

Anthony Liew

Michael, David Kathamuthu (2nd Year Philosophy), Michelle Andrews, Joseph Cheung, Joachim and Evlyn Ambrose. As accounts and portfolios were closed, glasses were raised and prayers were said, there was a sense of satisfaction, of having journeyed together in collaboration, an unmistakable bond of closeness, of unity, oneness and family.

Other seminarians also expressed what was in their hearts. For Joachim Robert (1st Year Philosophy), he felt that “the conclusion of the Bicentennial Celebration was very, very good, in that, it was a very good homecoming for everybody and it was an experience of a lifetime.”

Simon Anand (2nd Year Philosophy), on the other hand felt that it “was a fruitful and inspiring experience to my vocation to join the College Fathers, seminarians and also lay people who helped us tremendously in making this celebration such a meaningful one. Thank God and thank his holy people.”

Kevin Eruthayanathan (1st Year Philosophy) commented that, “It was a truly grace-filled experience. I thank God for giving me this blessed opportunity. It is an experience that I will treasure all my life.”

Peter Anthoney (Pastoral Year) described as a “wonderful gathering” and added that he was glad to hear from the people who worked behind the scenes, their struggles and their achievements. “Thank God for this 200 years that made many of us come together to praise the Lord.

For Robert Jissem (English Language Enrichment Programme) who hails from Kuching, Sarawak, the journey that this celebration had taken reflected his own personal one. “I feel very happy, because this is the first time we have a big celebration like this. In the beginning of the year I was struggling to adapt myself with the community. I’m happy to go back to my hometown but sad that I won’t be able to see everybody here.”
 

Joachim Robert



Simon Anand
 

Glenn and Michelle Andrews, parishioners of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus, spent countless hours with the College Fathers and seminarians working on various projects, offered a very unique perspective: “We have harvested what the Missionaries sowed 200 years ago. We have to sow now, for the future!!! There is a time and season for everything. Church! We have to start sowing, if we don’t, a spiritual famine will hit us in the future, and what we celebrated will be lost!!!”