SIBU: Some 5,000 Christians and well-wishers took to the streets for the annual local Christmas parade at 6pm last Saturday night. The revellers started to gather at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase One (Sibu Town Square Phase One) as early as 5pm.
The parade organised by the local branch of the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) was organised by the Catholic Church under the chairmanship of Monsignor Michael Lee.
Leading the procession was Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King. This year’s event was themed “I bring tidings of Great Joy, Jesus, the Messiah and Lord to be shared by all”.
The procession was led by the Sacred Heart Bagpipe School Band, Tung Hua School Band, 1st Girls’ Brigade Company, and 1st Boys’ Brigade Malaysia.
Before the procession began there was an opening prayer, praise and worship, scripture reading and a Christmas message by Catholic Bishop Rt Rev Joseph Hii.
This was followed by the lighting of Christmas candles by chairman of ACS, Sibu Branch Pastor Ting Leh Na, Bishop Hii, Michael Lee, President of Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) Reverend Dr Tie King Tai, vicar of St John’s Church Rev Ramdan Mejem, Superintendent of Borneo Evangelical Mission Pastor Welly Sigo, Methodist Sarawak Iban Annual Conference (SIAC) representative and Tiong.
