Published on: Sunday, March 14, 2010 |
Kota Kinabalu: A requiem mass for the late Brother Peter Phelan at the Stella Maris church in Tanjung Aru, Saturday, provided a glimpse into the uncountable number whose lives he touched in one way or another.
They ranged from the ordinary to Tan Sris and Datuks as well as both current and past leaders of various segments of Sabah society, besides professionals.
They turned out not just because their success in life was partly attributable to the late Bro. Peter's guidance but also because of the latter's selfless dedication to the cause of empowering the youths of Sabah through education.
In his eulogy, Archbishop Datuk John Lee said the best way that we can remember Bro. Peter would be to recall the service that he has rendered, especially to Sabah.
"We cannot be here forever and how long will be the journey we will never know. And where do we go depends on our Faith.
"Our Faith tells us this journey is not the end but the beginning to another never-ending world," Lee said.
Lee said that when man dies we are sad but at the same time we rejoice because he or she has stepped from this world to eternityÉa welcome home journey.
He said Bro. Peter has been walking this way in the will of God and doing what God wanted him to do. "He (Bro. Peter) walked a path of difficulty and sickness but the Lord was with him. That's the kind of experience he had."
On a poignant note, Lee added: "We are still on that journey that Bro. Peter had finished. Hence, this occasion is as much for us as for Bro. Peter."
In his remarks, fellow La Salle Brother Charles M. O' Leary recalled the late Bro. Peter telling him in one of their final chats that although there were priests on both sides of his family, he never wanted to be anything more than a lay Brother.
He said the late Bro. Peter was inspired by a talk as an adolescent given in his school in Ireland by a member of the Mercy Order of Brothers who care for the sick. However, the speaker did not leave behind any contact numbers nor asked for the names of any who might be interested to join.
Fortunately, another speaker, this time a La Salle Brother, did a better job and asked for the names of those who may be interested.
Soon, the late Bro. Peter joined the Teaching Order devoted to human, moral and spiritual education of youth, especially the poor.
He then joined the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1948 and had his training in Ireland and England, graduating as a trained teacher at St Mary's Training College, in Twickenham, London.
The late Bro. Peter graduated with an Arts degree in 1963 at the National University of Ireland, Dublin. He also holds a Diploma in Education Counselling from the Institute of Counselling, Glasgow.
His first assignment was as a teacher in Hong Kong's St Joseph's College from 1954-60. On independence day in Sabah in 1963, he was transferred to La Salle Secondary School in Tg Aru as a teacher, where he served as a Senior Assistant from 1970-77 before serving as Principal at St Martin's, Tambunan from 1978-87.
The late Bro. Peter returned to La Salle briefly and upon retirement moved to the Interior where he taught at a private institution, the Upper Regional Academy in Keningau.
It is here that he established his best legacy, in the form of hostels for poor students called Asrama Butitin in Nabawan. In the words of Bro. Charles, it was without doubt the climax of his career as a Religious Brother in the La Salle Order and one that gave him most satisfaction and fulfilment - reaching out to the poor and underprivileged and enabling them to have access to a holistic education.
"He found his true vocation among the Kadazans, Dusuns and Muruts in Tambunan and Nabawan. He identified with them and shared their simple lifestyles. They responded to his love and care for them because they sensed his sincerity and genuineness," said Bro. Charles.
"He inherited nothing but shacks in Nabawan but left behind a mini educational complex bordering the jungle, equipped with modern buildings, dormitories for boys and girls, study rooms and computer rooms."
The complex is now the only home-away-from-home for 70 poor mainly Murut boys and girls.
"What Bro. Peter achieved in 20 years in Nabawan is short of miraculous.
The resources he accumulated with the help of donors, friends and old boys not only helped to run the hostel but also set up a trusteeship to ensure the hostel's future."
Bro. Charles adds: "Bro. Peter was the right man for the right job.
He has left the place with joy, gladness and pride that what he set out to do has been fulfilled.
"He left Sabah with the positive hope that his work will continue and hoped there would be more who would follow his footsteps to educate the youths."
The late Bro. Peter is perhaps best known also for documenting the traditional practices of the Dusuns, Kadazans and Muruts.
His invaluable work is contained in the books, "Headhunting And The Magang Ceremony in Sabah" and "Traditional And Wood Monuments of Sabah".
This writer feels honoured to have been approached by the late Bro. Peter many years ago for permission to include my own research materials on the Magang ceremony of the Penampang Bobohizans.
Though it pales in comparison to his monumental work, Bro.Peter said he found it necessary for inclusion in his book to provide a better understanding of why heads used to be taken by pagan ancestors in Penampang and the dilemma that their descendants are faced with today on what to do with these skulls.
