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 and Vietnam 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.
The theme for the centennial of the World Day celebration is “Migrants and Refugees: Towards a Better World.†Bishop Jose Lai developed the theme in his homily. The good Bishop said that the Church cares for the migrants, and the migrants themselves contribute very positively to the development of the small city of Macau. In a real sense, in this world we all are migrants journeying towards a better world – the house of our Father in Heaven. We prepare for the new city of God by loving one another as brothers and sisters. The petitions of the Prayer of the Faithful in the Mass were very appropriate:  they included petitions in the languages of the different countries from where the migrants come from. Out of different cultures and languages, one common treasure was found in the celebration: the smile of all the participants that could easily be interpreted as the universal language of love and hospitality.
After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with a sumptuous lunch at St. Joseph’s Auditorium. Different kinds of food from the various national communities highly pleased the participants’ tastes. After lunch, the celebration went on in the same auditorium with the cultural performances of different groups that showcased the rich culture of their respective country. Among the performances, our Dominican brothers from Myanmar also performed a grand number of their beautiful ethnicity and likewise the Dominican sisters from Myanmar and from East-Timor. A song sung by all, “We are the world,†highlighted the message of the 2014 Migrants’ World Day.
The program ended with the words of gratitude of the organizers of the great affair. A representative of the Apostolate with Migrants in Macau gave praise and thanks to God, to the Church of Macau, to Bishop Jose Lai and to all participants as well as the performers. He cheered all for the successful celebration of the centennial of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Copies of the interesting and informative book “Crossing the Borders†were given to all participants as an unforgettable souvenir of the event. We now look forward to next year’s celebration of the 101st World Day of Migrants and Refugees in Macau.
Bro. Paul Aung Myint Win O.P
St. Dominic Priory, Macau
May God the Father bless us
May God the Son heal us
May God the Holy Spirit enlighten us
And give us eyes to see with,
Ears to hear with,
Feet to walk with,
And mouth to preach the word of salvation with.
And May the angel of peace
Watch over us and lead us at last
To the Lord’s gift of the Kingdom.
Amen.
13th century
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The birth of Jesus is the best news in the entire history of mankind: “God with us!†Simply because of love, in order to reconcile us and make us sharers of his divine nature!
The jubilation produced by such great news could be contained neither by Zechariah nor by Mary nor by Simeon… nor by Jesus himself, who in their time broke out in joy and they could not prevent themselves from sharing it with those around them.
It gives me joy to see how many of our brothers today are impelled by the mystery of Christmas to share with others the Good News of Jesus’ birth. Would that everybody shared in this joy! Hence my Christmas wishes:
May the joy of the Gospel inflame your heart this Christmas season and may its effect endure throughout the New Year 2014.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Fr Javier González
Provincial
(January 1, 2014)
Peace refers to well-being of daily existence; a state of living in harmony with nature, others and God. It is associated with happiness, salvation, justice and blessing.
Pope Francis’ message for World Day of Peace: Fraternity as foundation and pathway to peace.
Basis of fraternity is found in God’s fatherhood, his specific and personal love for each man and woman. Humans are unable to generate fraternity by themselves; it is regenerated in and by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection.
Violence occurs when there is lack of fraternity: In South Sudan, the Dinka ethnic group support President Salva Kiir while the Nuer ethnic group support former Vice-President Riek Mahar. 180 000 people displaced and 1000 people killed.
The first reading (Num 6:22-27) is a formula for blessing, semitic way of expressing divine favour by invoking the Lord’s name 3 times: Peace is a gift from God.
The gospel passage (Lk 2:16-21) mentions twice a message that the angels told to the shepherds about the child. The saviour born is Christ and Lord, and God will give peace to those on whom his favour rests.
The second reading (Gal 4:4-7) gives the basis for fraternity. There are two aspects of salvation: freedom from sin (negative) and adoption as children (positive).
FR. EDMOND EH KIM CHEW, OP
St.; Dominic’s Priory
Many are the Christmas Greetings I have received these past days of December. All of them containing the same message and well-known good wishes. That is why our eyes often go straight to read the name who sends them. Their signature is precisely what makes each of them unique, worth of appreciation. In fact, it is the thought of those behind them what makes them valuable.
I wished to correspond individually to each of them. Its impossibility forces me to send this simple Christmas greetings, not to add any new message (everything has been said with Jesus´ birth), but only to say “thank you†to each and every one of you for your remembrance and your good wishes.
Let me express also my wish: May the Joy of the Gospel touch anew our lives this Christmas season and that the new year 2014 register the impact.
Cordial greetings.
Fr. Javier González, OP
Provincial
23 of December 2013
