The 2014 Saint Thomas Lecture invitation had just come out from the press…
Since 28 January, the liturgical feast of the Angelic Doctor always falls on the week of the CNY, the brothers at Chapter had decided that the celebration and the traditional Academic function be moved to another date. Following the tradition of PUST Rome, it was decided to take the old date of his feast day…his death day which is on 7 March.
As in the previous years, the Academic Act will be held at the All Purpose Hall of the Escola Sao Paolo on Rampa dos Cavaleiros. The invited Guest Speaker is Fr. Felicisimo Martinez Diez, Professor of the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca and guest lecturer of Universidade de Sao Jose Macao. The topic of the lecture is :
TRUTH, MEANING AND FAITH: HOW TO APPROACH THESE QUESTIONS?
After the Academic Act, the Solemn Mass will be officiated by the local Ordinary of Macau, Msgr. Jose Lai.
Reception will follow at the School Auditorium adjacent to the School Chapel.
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    A week long basic catechism seminar was held during the time break of Chinese Lunar New Year at St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau. The lectures started on February 3 and ended on February 7, 2014. The special lecturer was Ms Helene Reichl, a consecrated lay person, who works for the Kingdom in Taiwan; she originally comes from Germany. Twenty two simply professed brothers, including two from St. Albert Convent in Hong Kong, participated in the interesting and fruitful week-long course.
     The major aim of the program was to enhance the knowledge of the Dominican brothers on the the catechism, an essential subject matter for our future apostolate as Dominican priests.
     The two-hour daily sessions started at ten in the morning and ended at noon. The daily lecture opened with a song. The lectures were mostly based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Some themes were underlined and presented by the lecturer, in particular liturgical ministries, the liturgy of the Mass and its celebration according to the standards of Vatican II.
     Ms. Helene, a renowned speaker on the subject, mixed wonderfully the doctrinal content of the lectures with her own varied experiences during her missionary work in Taiwan. She also shared with us the questions raised to her by non-Catholics. According to her, it is crucial for those who are preparing to carry out the mission of Christ, to acquire a deep knowledge of the following points: the celebration of the Mass, the liturgy of the Hours, the general instruction of the Roman Missal, the importance of the Creed, the detailed instruction of the liturgy of the Mass as well as the different liturgical ministries. Every lecture was followed by a lively open forum.
     The Dominican community is very grateful to Ms Helene Reichl for giving us her time and sharing her wisdom and life. By the way, Ms. Helene is the founder of the Epiphany Covenant Community of consecrated lay women. She had been ministering in Taiwan for over fifty years.
Thanks to the Holy Spirit, the course ended up successfully and meaningfully.
Bro. Mikele Gei, O.P
NEW MEMBER IN OUR COMMUNITY
On January 17, 2014 the Priory joyfully received a new member: Brother Peter Zya Reh, OP from Myanmar. After completing one year novitiate, Bro. Peter made his first simple profession as a Dominican of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary on December 15, 2013 at St. Albert’s Priory, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong.
All the twenty seven members of the Dominican community in Macau warmly and joyfully welcomed Brother Peter. Our Brother Peter will continue his philosophical and theological studies at the Faculty of Christian Studies of the University of Saint Joseph.
Indeed, “people come and people go.†One new brother arrived in our community and another brother went out. We have to add here that a student brother left our Priory: Brother Christopher Max decided to leave the Order. He left for Myanmar on January 18, 2014. He was grateful to the community, which wished the best for him and a good future. Christopher was a first year theology student.
FACULTY OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES, USJ AND ST. DOMINIC CENTER OF STUDIES
Second semester began officially on January 19, although for some students it started two weeks earlier. These had to attend classes in Eschatology imparted by a visiting professor from Portugal.
An important development this semester is the transfer of the library of theological sciences from the USJ location at NAPE 1 to the Seminary of Saint Joseph, where our students pursue their studies.
The series of academic lectures 2013-2014 of the Faculty of Christian Studies began the year with a lecture on January 16, 2014.
The St. Dominic Center of Studies continued offering the special courses. The monthly Saturday Lectures started the New Year with lectures on January 4, 2014.
EXAMINATION FOR PRIESTHOOD AND HEARING CONFESSIONS
The exam took place on January 14, 2014 at the Council Room of St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau. The Panel of Examiners appointed by Fr. Javier González, OP, Prior Provincial was composed of the following: Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP, Chairman, and Fathers José Luis de Miguel, OP and Edmond Eh, OP, members.
Bro. Sebastian passed both oral tests unanimously. He will be ordained priest with Fr. Paul F., OP, on February 9, 2014 at the Chapel of Rosaryhill. Bro, Sebastian is a member of the Vicariate of Taiwan and Bro. Paul, of the Convent of Saint Albert, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong.
MIGRANTS DAY IN MACAU: January 19, 2014
The World Day of Migrants was celebrated in Macau, and in the whole world, on Sunday, January 19, 2014. Hundreds of migrants from many different parts of the world working in Macau celebrated the 100th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The joyful celebration consisted of a Solemn Mass, an agape for all, and a cultural program. Our Dominican brothers and sisters from Myanmar, Korea, Vietnam and China took part in all the activities.
The migrants in Macau filled up St. Augustine Church for the celebration of the Solemn Mass. Many of them were dressed up in the colorful and beautiful costumes of their respective country. The Holy Eucharist was presided by the Bishop of Macau Most Rev. Jose Lai, DD and concelebrated by eleven priests from different religious congregations, including the Order of Preachers.
After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with a sumptuous lunch at St. Joseph’s Auditorium and closed with a cultural program of dances and songs from different countries.
ESCOLA SAO PAULO CELEBRATES ST. PAUL
St. Paul’s School celebrated its feast, the solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul, which this year was held on January 24, Friday. The multi-faceted commemoration consisted of the celebration of the Eucharist, presentation of a cultural program, and a family banquet.
The celebration of the holy Mass was presided by the Bishop of Macau, the Most Rev. Jose Lai, DD, and concelebrated by nine Dominican priests from the communities of Macau and Hong Kong, and two other priests close to the Dominicans. Held at the main auditorium of the school, it was attended by about nine hundred students, and academic and administrative staff.
The short and entertaining cultural program of songs and dances was opened by Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, Director of the Escola Sao Paulo, who expressed the deep gratitude of the school to all the teaching staff and students, his Dominican brothers, and the benefactors and friends of the school.
The banquet at a well-known restaurant and convention center was a family affair with good food, and spontaneous and excellent singing by some teachers, students and alumni, including our brother Fr. Athanasius, OP, Director of the school’s Campus Ministry and of the radio station “Saint Paul.â€
Escola Sao Paulo or Saint Paul’s School is a Catholic school of the Diocese of Macau run by our Dominican brothers. It is a leading school among the thirty four Catholic schools of Macau. About two hundred and eighty (full or part time) teachers impart lessons to and walk with over three thousand students of kinder, primary and secondary schools as they pursue their studies at St. Paul’s.
CHINESE NEW YEAR: JANUARY 31, 2014.
The Priory, the University of Saint Joseph and St. Paul’s School celebrated the New Year, the Year of the Horse on different days and with different activities.
St. Dominic’s Priory celebrated it on its proper day with a solemn Mass of Our Lady of China. The family celebration with familiar agape, and bingo was held the night before, that is the last night of the previous Lunar New Year. As it is customary, all the brothers receive from the Prior a red envelope. The elegant and brave horse symbolizes for us excellence in studies, teaching, preaching and school administration, fraternal and prayerful community life, and committed and joyful apostolate. We hope and pray it will be so! (Fausto Gomez, OP)
Religious men and women working in Macau for the Kingdom gathered together on February 2, 2014, to celebrate joyfully and prayerfully the Day of Consecrated Life, which is celebrated throughout the world on this day, the Presentation of our Lord.
The meeting started at 5:30 p.m. at the seminary with a talk by Fr. John Ledesma, SDB, on Our Spirituality. Hereafter, we offer a summary of the well-received speech of Fr. Ledesma. The speaker began by saying: “We need to -Study it, Speak it , Pray it, and Live it out.â€
Fr. Ledesma spoke of five dangers: danger of exaggerations; speaking the language of the world and pursuing the values of the world; not following the challenge of every spirituality  that is, creative fidelity; working for God but not doing God’s work, and following a Christ without the cross. He developed the first tow dangers.
Regarding the first danger, the danger of exaggerations, the speaker said that we live in a culture of consumerism and materialism; of violence, terrorism and death; of advanced technology, communication and science; and a culture of pluralism and secularization. Religious life is a life of “challenging/healthy tensionsâ€: formal prayer – direct apostolate; individual uniqueness – community life.
Vow poverty: need to be detached, simple, austere – access to material goods; need to use them. Vow of chastity: need to be detached, celibate) – need to enter into people’s lives and be “personal†and compassionate. Vow of obedience: need to be detached; go where we are sent – need to discern; use our sense of giftedness and talents.
Regarding the second danger, or the language of the world and pursuing the values of the world, Fr. Ledesma he opposed the language of the world focused on profit, productivity, investments, promotions, domination…; and the language of spirituality, which is centered on vocation, mission, Gospel values, the Beatitudes, sacrifice, compassion, the least, the lost and the last, the cross…
After the reflection, the sisters and the brothers went to the Chapel of Saint Joseph Seminary for the solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist, which was presided by Bishop Jose Lai, and concelebrated by 15 priests. Over one 100 religious men and women participated in the Mass. In his homily, the bishop echoed the discourse of Pope Francis to Major Religious Superiors last November at the Vatican. He also underlined the fact that Macao is ‘mission territory’ and needs the commitment of all religious men and wmen.
There were a couple of testimonies after communion as well as presentation by Bishop Lai about his plan to ask religious in Macao to organize language courses in Latin and Latin languages with a double aim: to help the people in Macao and also to let people know more about religious life and their different charisms.
The celebration of the Eucharist was followed by a dinner – a pleasant and tasteful agape with plenty of food and laughter and everybody having a good time (AR).
