On the memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, today, student brother, Bro. Orlando Lopes, O.P. renewed his religious vows at the Convento Del Santisimo Rosario in Madrid. Prior Provincial Fr. Ruben Martinez Ortega, O.P. received the profession. Bro. Orlando is from Timor-Leste. Let us continue praying for him to be faithful and persevere in his Dominican vocation!
The Priory celebrated the birthdays of the brothers who were born in June.
The celebrants were Br. Joseph Naing Ling Hung, O.P, Br. Xaverio, O.P, and Br. Ephream Nay Myo Thu, O.P. The community greeted them with the warmest wishes.
It was a joyous occasion that brought everyone together in celebration of community life and fraternity.
Today, at the memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, thirteen student brothers renewed their religious vows in the Priory’s chapel of St. Dominic. Conventual Prior, Fr. Javier González Izquierdo, OP, presides over the solemn Eucharistic celebration and receives the professions of the brothers. In his homily, Fr. Javier reminds us that the renewing of vows should not be just a symbol but the renewing of persons. The thirteen brothers are from different countries: one from Korea, six from Myanmar, and six from Timor-Leste. Let us continue praying for them to be faithful and persevere in their Dominican vocation!
SOLEMN PROFESSION OF OUR DOMINICAN BROTHERS
CESAR LINO DE SOUSA XIMENES, ANDRE PEREIRA AND INNOCENT HAN-ZAW-HTUN
Great event in our priory today! Three of our community brothers, Cesar Lino de Sousa Ximenes, Andre Pereira, and Innocent Han-Zaw-Htun, made their solemn religious profession, consecrating themselves in a special way to God “until death”.
The profession ceremony took place within the community Mass, which started at 10:45. The Mass was presided over by the conventual Prior, Fr Javier Gonzalez, who had been delegated by our Fr Provincial to receive the vows of the three brothers. After the homily, the three were definitively incorporated into the Dominican Order through their solemn religious solemn profession, promising obedience to God… until death.
Attending the celebration, in addition to our entire community and those faithful who ordinarily attend to our Sunday Mass, were all the Dominican Sisters in Macau as well as some Lay Dominicans, members of “Torch of Macau”. Present also were some USJ professors and classmates of our brothers, as well as some other friends and guests. The celebration was solemn, well prepared by the entire community, particularly by the student brothers and their Master, Fr. Paul Fan. It was a time to witness this momentous occasion, to join the three brothers in thanking God for the gift of vocation, and to assure them of our prayer. At the end of the Mass, one of the newly professed, Brother Innocent, said a few words of gratitude on behalf of the three brothers.
After the Mass, everyone was cordially invited to stay for lunch at the Priory, as our Fr Lawrence had prepared abundant food and drinks, including a commemorative cake with three candles. All in all, it was a festive gathering to thank the Lord at the table of the Eucharist and share then His blessings.
Congratulations to our brothers Cesar, Andre, and Innocent for their courageous decision, with the assurance to them of our prayer for their perseverance in the path they embraced today.
It is mandatory that every graduating student of the University of St. Joseph in Macau go through a thesis defence. Without exception, our three graduating student brothers pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies had to encounter this. Bro. Cesar Lino de Sousa Ximenes, O.P., Bro. Agostinho Mendoca, O.P. and Bro. Innocent Han Zaw Htun, O.P. successfully defended their theses on 19, 20 and 21 June 2024, respectively. The thesis title of Bro. Cesar is ” RECONCILIATION AS A WAY OF MISSION.” Bro. Agostinho’s thesis is titled ” ARISTOTLE AND AQUINAS ON HAPPINESS: A COMPARISON OF NICOMACHEAN ETHICS I & X AND SUMMA THEOLOGIAE 1A2AE QUESTIONS 1-5″ and from Bro. Innocent, ” DEVELOPING A CATHOLIC THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING IN THE CONTEXT OF BURMESE THERAVADA BUDDHISM.” May God continue His blessing for their future ministry! 
