Today, October 7, 2023, the Priory celebrated the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary. Here is the homily of our very own Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior of St. Dominic Priory, delivered during the solemn mass.
” On October 7, the Catholic Church celebrates the yearly feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
We, too, as a community, are gathered together on this day to honor our Mother and Patroness. We are not simply praying to Mary, but we are praying with Mary in our midst, reenacting the scene of the Acts of the Apostles in the Upper Room, where the latter “with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Act 1:14). Mary is in our midst, maternally watching over us that we do not miss the point of our very existence. With Mary we echo today her words: “The Almighty has done great things for me; holy is His name,” making them ours. With Mary we reaffirm, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” With Mary, we glorify God.
This solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary has a prime Dominican flavor. From its beginning, the Order of Preachers showed special honor and devotion to Mary, Mother of God. The Ro
sary, which places before us the chief mysteries of the infancy, life, passion and resurrection of our Savior, has been one of the chief ways in which the Order has expressed this devotion.
In 1208 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Dominic in the church of Prouille, France, and gave him a chaplet of beads representing roses commending to him the devotion which had spread among the faithful. St Dominic then gave the Rosary to his Sisters and Friars Preachers to use it in their efforts to convert the Cathars and the Albigensians in Southern France. It was indeed a powerful prayer.
Our brother Alan de La Roche (1428-1478) helped to define the structure of the Rosary and promoted its recitation. In 1470 he established the first Confraternity of the Rosary.
A century later, another member of the Order of Preachers, Pope Pius V, turned to the Virgin Mary in an hour of need. He began a rosary campaign through Europe for the Christian fleet at Lepanto, who was vastly outnumbered by the Muslim Turkish fleet. But the Christian soldiers were victorious. The Pope attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and established the feast of “Our Lady of Victory” on October 7, 1571. (Pope Paul VI renamed it “Our Lady of the Rosary” in order to remind the people of God how effective the Virgin Mary’s prayers are.)
Our Dominican Province, founded in 1587 “to preach the Gospel in the Philippines, in China and the rest of the nations of the Far East,” was recognized by the General Chapter of Venice [1592] under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary.
It has been a tradition in our communities the daily recitation of the Rosary, ended with the oldest known Marian prayer (“We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all dangers. O glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.”)
“It has always been the habit of Catholics in danger and in difficult times to fly for refuge to Mary”, Pope Leo XIII wrote.
Pope Pius XII called the Rosary a compendium of the gospel. This expression was repeated by Pope Paul VI in Marialis Cultus. It is a form of contemplative, mental and vocal prayer, which brings down God’s blessing on the Church. It is a biblically-inspired prayer centred on the meditation on the salvific mysteries of Christ in union with Mary, who was so closely associated with her Son.
Pope John Paul II, in October 2002, with his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, made a landmark contribution to the prayer of the Rosary by adding the five luminous mysteries. He selected some significant moments in the life of Jesus: his Baptism, his first miracle at Cana, his Preaching of the Kingdom, his Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist.
The Rosary appeals to many. It is simple. The constant repetition of words helps create an atmosphere in which to contemplate the mysteries of God. We sense that Jesus and Mary are with us
in the joys and sorrows of life. We grow in hope that God will bring us to share in the glory of Jesus and Mary forever.
As we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, our Patroness, let us remind her with filial devotion to turn her merciful eyes towards us now, and to show unto us
the blessed fruit of her womb, Jesus, at the end of our earthly exile.
Let us place under Mary’s maternal protection the Church, our Order, our communities, our families and our beloved ones.
Let us entrust to her our Province, our Missions currently spread in Asia (Philippines, Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Myanmar, East Timor), in Europe (Spain, Italy) and in South America (Venezuela). Twelve countries, which I fancy represented in the 12 stars of Our Lady’s crown.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us! “
[Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP]
Macau, October 7, 2023
Reflection of Br. Cesar O.P.
“On this feast day, we are encouraged to reflect on the power of prayer, particularly the praying of the rosary.”
The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, is celebrated on October 7th each year. This feast day holds great significance for the Dominican Order and is dedicated to the Our Lady of the Rosary as the patron of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The origins of this feast can be traced back to the 16th century when the Christian naval forces, known as the Holy League, achieved a remarkable victory against the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The naval battle was fought in the Gulf of Patras, off the western coast of Greece.
Pope Pius V, who urged all Christians to pray the rosary for victory, attributed the triumph to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In gratitude for the decisive victory and in recognition of the Virgin Mary’s intercession, he established this feast day, initially called “Our Lady of Victory,” which would later become known as “Our Lady of the Rosary.”
Throughout the centuries, devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary has grown, captivating the hearts of countless faithful Catholics across the world. The rosary, a powerful prayer that meditates on the life of Jesus Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has become closely associated with this devotion.
The Dominican province of Our Lady of the Rosary dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary proudly upholds this devotion and pays homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary as their patroness. They honor her on this day by participating in special Masses, processions, and other religious ceremonies. These celebrations offer an opportunity for the faithful to come together and deepen their faith through prayer and reflection.
Devotees of Our Lady of the Rosary believe that through her intercession, they can obtain peace and protection, especially during challenging times. They seek her guidance and support in their spiritual journey, recognizing her as a loving mother who always leads them closer to her Son, Jesus Christ.
On this feast day, we are encouraged to reflect on the power of prayer, particularly the praying of the rosary. We are reminded of the significance of seeking Mary’s intercession and the importance of living a life of faith, gratitude, and love towards God and one another.
On 20th September, 2023 the student brothers and fathers from our Priory joined in the celebration of Faculty Convocation Day at St. Joseph Seminary Church. It also served as the memorial of St. Andrew Kim Taegon and companions. It was a prayerful and meaningful gathering of faculty members and students at the beginning of the Academic Year 2023-2024. We dedicated our time on daytime prayer, message from the Vice-Rector and innagural lecture of the Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy. After the celebration, there was a campus tour around the seminary and library. In this academic year, there are nine newly professed brothers who are studying in Foundation Year.
Opening Speech of Vice-Rector, Professor Keith Morrison
Inaugural Lecture of Dean of the Faculty, Fr. Cyril Law
Migrant Day is a significant occasion that celebrates the rich diversity and cultural exchange brought about by migration. Macau is known as a vibrant city with multiculturalism and diversity, and the celebration of Migrant Day this year was remarkable.
The celebration of Migrant Day in Macau is a testament to the city’s commitment to embracing and appreciating the contributions of migrants from around the world. The event serves as a platform for cultural exchange, fostering unity, understanding, and respect among different communities. In 2023, Macau is expected to host an extravagant celebration, showcasing the city’s cosmopolitan nature and its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds.
The festivities during Migrant Day in Macau are characterized by a variety of activities that highlight the cultural heritage of different countries. The event typically begins with a colourful parade through the streets of Macau, where participants proudly display their national costumes, dance to traditional music, and showcase their cultural artefacts. This parade serves as a visual representation of the global melting pot that Macau has become.
One of the main attractions of the celebration is the International Food Fair, where participants have the opportunity to savour delicacies from various countries. Food stalls line the streets, offering an array of international cuisines, allowing visitors to experience the flavours of different cultures.
In addition to the parade and food fair, Migrant Day in Macau also features cultural performances, exhibitions, and workshops. These events provide a platform for migrants to showcase their talents in music, dance, and art. Visitors can witness captivating performances, learn traditional dances, participate in art workshops, and appreciate the craftsmanship of various cultural artefacts.
The participation of countries in the celebration of Migrant Day in Macau is truly remarkable. As a global hub for migration, Macau attracts individuals from different countries. The Dominican brothers in Macau also participated in this event. However, the brothers from Timor-Leste and Myanmar represented their own countries by wearing their traditional clothes and performing their traditional music and dances.
As part of its ongoing Faculty and Staff Development Program, the University of St. Joseph in Macau organized a half-day activity on Friday, 29 September 2023 at the main campus. It was very well-attended
by the University staff: academic, administrative, support, research, and technical personnel, partly because it was a “compulsory training and development”; but also, because the topic chosen was a relevant, burning issue today, namely, safeguarding in the University.
The program started punctually at 9:30 a.m. The Rector of the University, Prof. Stephen Morgan welcomed the participants and addressed them with some opening remarks. Afterwards, the stage was given to Mr. Lau Sing (Serenity Training) who during the first two hours lectured the audience on “Safeguarding: How to handle and prevent workplace bullying and harassment.” Then, after a short
break, the session was resumed, this time with words by a representative of the CPSP (Corpo de Polícia de Segurança Pública), who illustrated the assembly on “Awareness of telephone scams and cyber fraud” based on real, recent data in the Macau area.
The activity came to an end with some short closing remarks by the Rector and with lunch generously provided by the University for all the participants. The attendance of the faculty members was facilitated by the University by cancelling beforehand the classes for the entire daytime of that 29th September; even in the evening, so as to enable the University Staff to celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival with their families and friends later in the day.
It was a fruitful gathering, perfecting matching the purpose of the program, namely, the promotion of camaraderie and development among the faculty and staff members of the University.
