Twenty years ago, a sad event took place
in Kudat town, we, the parishioners faced
his sad departure to heaven, untimely
for he was murdered brutally.
the news shook the whole country.
Earth turned dark and trees clothed in mystery.
We Christians sadly mourned him.
We said the rosary and sang requiem.
Though taught by Christ to forgive
his murderer, we raged, let
tears wet our sleeves.
May Father’s soul rest in peace;
his friends and family all felt amiss.
Pak Sen Fu is our nickname for him.
He is indeed a good orang putih.
In Kudat he served two terms;
from
1952 to 1954, then from 1980 till 1983,
when atlas, he met his doom,
till this day left us in the gloom!
A man who thirsted to learn and impart;
local dialects, customs and other art.
On Sunday Mass he preached painstakingly
in languages so
foreign to him and to us .
So humble he was, he would not publish
he was so good in Dutch and in English.
It's
Fr. e Wit who built St. Peter's church
and furnished it with benches of birch,
a tabernacle, an altar and an Irish cross
which till this day still
stand in gloss.
He also built the first Chinese school,
to educate us, he used this tool.
In 1981, Fr. de Wit built his dream house near the hill,
then later a convent, the belfry all added. What a
thrill!
St. Peter's Square has become a merry place,
we Christian love to meet and obtain grace.
In June 1981, he organized the Centenary Celebrations;
for three days Christians lauded
in jubilation.
As I sail down the memory lane
I see him as a man who loved his fellow men.
He made lively a party with his humour and wit,
and drank his beer and let his song flit.
He took photos of us; the two albums are our treasure,
to leaf through for reference or in leisure.
He mingled with people from all walks of life;
from ministers to ordinary house wife.
He started the combined Christian Service
which till this day, holds yearly office.
This is the story of one whom we know
and who has set our souls aglow.
