CLOSER 2025

CLOSER 2025: A Lenten Pilgrimage for the Youth of Kuching Archdiocese

“At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.”

Imagine this and the rest of the chants being sung on a Saturday morning by more than two hundred youth station by station while climbing a forest mountain, sweating and smiling, pondering and praying, having fun as friends and growing in faith as sisters and brothers in Christ….

That’s exactly what has been happening in CMPC (Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre) in Mount Singai in Bau for the past four years now every Saturday before the start of the Holy Week. The event is called “CLOSER”… where young Catholics get closer not just to nature and to one another but above all to Christ, our Lord and Brother.

This Lent 2025, the Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Commission (KAYC)  has brought together again more than two hundred young people from all over the Archdiocese of Kuching, from various parishes, schools and youth groups, all journeying together for a meaningful pilgrimage at CMPC on 12 April 2025. 

The event started at the entrance of CMPC at around 8:45 in the morning and concluded in the Christ The King Chapel of CMPC at around 11:30 noon time. After the prayer, the young people spent the time together to chill as friends, both for long time friends and for new found friends. Wonderful to see many youth with all smiles, sharing snacks and stories together. At around 12:15 noon, a big number of them, around 60, even climbed further, higher, reaching the peak of Mount Singai. Wooow! It took them around two hours to reach the summit, literally closer to the heavens, indeed.

The hiking though was just desert. The main meal was of the praying of the Stations of the Cross, a sacred gift to the Church that invites pilgrims to recall with love and gratitude, with faith and awe the journey of Jesus from the praetorium where He was condemned to the tomb where He was laid in Jerusalem. 

These young Catholics started and concluded the prayer together. And after the introductory part, they grouped according to language preference. Fr Ramon Borja, SDB, and Ms Feniellia Diwvya led the English group; Ms Maria Amella Willing led the Bahasa Melayu group; and Ms Joan Lau led the Chinese group. Young people took turns to lead and read, to light candles and sing, to pray and ponder. Lovely to see youth and Jesus getting closer!

As we pondered and prayed on each of the fourteen stations, we were reminded that Jesus’ journey is also our journey. We learned from Jesus how to handle life’s ups and downs, how to live a life of passion and compassion, and how to respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers, especially the marginalized and the suffering.

TESTIMONIES from some of the PARTICIPANTS (who are students of SJIS, St Joseph International School, and are members/leaders of YCS, Young Christian Students):

1. It was very nice. I got to read and lead the stations of the cross for the first time! I met so many people and got to see a sister and their group from Indonesia participating in CLOSER. I was nervous at first but it turned out to be very great⭐ ~ Christian, 8B


2. It is my first time going to Mt. Singai, it was really fun. I got to lead the prayer on the tenth station, it was fun and enjoyable. It was fun going with my friends and teachers and praying. There were lots of people there from different groups! 😊  ~ Eileen, 8B


3. I feel like it is a great opportunity to learn more about God and at the same time get to meet new people. There were a lot of kind people there and I am glad that I was able to make a few new friends there. I really enjoyed my experience there and am so glad that I am able to participate in this amazing experience. ~ Sophia, 10B


4. ⁠This is my second time going and my first time leading the prayer. I think it was really nice as we could do it with more people in our group.I really liked the hike because we could meet new people. I hope we can do this again. ~ Ronan, 8B


5. ⁠It was my first time going, it was really fun but also hot. There were a lot of people . It was a great experience I hope we can do it again 😁- Hannah, 7Y


6. It was fun! I get to see a bee with yellow mixed with black for the very first time instead of a completely black one. It was hot  there but I still enjoyed going with my teachers and friends! I was exhausted when I reached home.👀 ~ Belle, 8b


7. ⁠As a new member, I truly feel welcomed and grateful to contribute. I really enjoyed today, making unforgettable memories with my amazing teachers, friends and also strangers that I met today. Today, I learned a lot, and got closer to God, and I’m looking forward to next year’s (if there still is) thank you teachers!  ~ Aaron, 8Y


8. At the start we had split into three groups, (based on language) and I was in the English group. At the first station, I read the prayer. I was pretty nervous at first since there were so many people, but once I finished and everyone started singing, I felt a lot more relaxed. As we walked, I ended up making a few new friends—they were also in YCS at their old schools, and one of them even represented Malaysia! It was really cool hearing about their experiences, and it actually inspired me to try and be like them. When we reached the top we sang together and prayed together. After that we had a quick photo taking session. Once we were ready, we started to walk back down. On the way down it was quite scary as it was very steep and slippery. But overall, after going on this journey, I felt closer to God and to everyone around me. I would love to do it again.💕~ Marrissa Ho Xinyin, YCS member

 

9. Closer is a very nice experience⭐️ I got to read on station 9 and it is my first time reading for the Stations of the Cross. I met so many nice people and get to see a sister and their group from Indonesia participating in CLOSER, i was nervous at first but it turn out to be very great⭐️ by praying and participating in this CLOSER event i learned that jesus is sacrificing himself by being crucified and has to fall down twice while carrying his heavy cross just to forgive our sins, from this event i can see how jesus really loves and cares for all of us unconditionally. I also feel touched by the tolerance of people in that area because I saw non-christian people help carry sand and bricks to the top. I am very grateful that I have experienced and participated in this CLOSER event and looking forward to join again next time. ☺️~ Christian Romen Linggadinata, YCS member

We thank these young people for generously joining CLOSER and beautifully sharing their reflections. We thank all who have been part of this, praying that this and many more like this will keep bringing them closer to God and His blessings. 

Inspired by the call to synodality through “Communion, Participation, and Mission” and as “Pilgrims of Hope” in this Jubilee Year, we pray for the grace to recognize the Crucified Christ in those who are suffering, the forgotten, neglected, or ignored. We ask for compassion and courage to stop, look and listen, to reach out and walk alongside them, to see Jesus in them and to share Jesus to them. And we entrusted ourselves to the Holy Spirit to guide and grace us in this greater pilgrimage called life. With Mary, our mother and model, always with Jesus in joys and pains, we as young Catholics commit to journey with faith, hope and love.

“By the cross with thee to stay, there with thee to weep and pray, this I ask of thee to give.”

Written by: Fr Ramon Borja, SDB 

Photos

Descriptions

Opening prayer by Fr Ramon

Prayer of Station of the Cross by language group

Group photo in the chapel

Students of SJIS, St Joseph International School, and are members/leaders of YCS, Young Christian Students