The 2014-2015 school year is ending. Students, professors and other brothers start in July-August their longed for summer vacation or a different kind of work or mission. In our Priory most of its members – priests and student brothers alike – are journeying to different places and missions: some are going on vacation with their families to their respective country; others are going to various Asian countries for pastoral exposure, and still others will leave Macau for improvement in languages, arts, theology or education.
While a few priests will remain at the Priory during summer, other new members will be added in a few days: five of the seven newly professed in Rosaryhill, Hong Kong just last Saturday July 4, 2015. These five brothers – four from Myanmar and one from Korea – will start their Dominican institutional studies by the second week of September at the Catholic University of Saint Joseph, Macau. (By the way, on the same day of the first profession of our brothers (seven in all) on July 4, seven postulants received their Dominican habit, including – for the first time – two from Timor Leste).
Summer is a great time to rest, relax and enjoy the wonders of God’s creation. It is a wonderful time to examine our loves and our hopes in a peaceful environment. Tomorrow will be better if we begin today. Really tomorrow does not exist; only today, this moment is in our hands. In fact, “Life is a series of moments either lived or lost.â€
May you all – brothers, friends, relatives and co-pilgrims – have a restful, enjoyable and hopeful summer! Prayer always helps!
See you all healthy, relaxed and happy – when summer is gone! (FGB)
On 28 June 2015, Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, four of our student brothers made their Solemn Profession at the Chapel of St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau.
The moving and touching ceremony took place within the Eucharistic Celebration which was presided over by Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial of Our Lady of the Rosary Province. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by fifteen Dominican priests from our St. Dominic’s Priory and from various countries of Asia. Our brother priests from Asian countries are currently participating in the Common Study Program organized by the Asia/Pacific Region of the Dominican order that is being currently held in Hong Kong. The liturgical celebration was indeed very joyful, colorful and inspiring.
In his short homily, Fray Javier commenting on the proclaimed Word of God underlined the great importance of faith and generosity. The daughter of Jairus was brought to life by Jesus counting on Jairus’ faith. On the way to the house of Jairus, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years was healed by Jesus because of her faith, which Jesus “felt†when she “touched†His clothes (see Mk 5:21-43). The preacher questioned incisively: “We who are chosen by the Lord and who touch Him many times, how come we seem not to experience much change in our life? Why?†Perhaps, we are like the crowd pressing around Jesus and even touching Him but, maybe, without or with little faith.
With faith in Jesus who has called them, the four lucky brothers come to make their Solemn Profession, that is, “usque ad mortem,†or until death in the Dominican Order. With humble faith and hopeful trust they consecrate their life to God: to do His will by following Jesus by the path of St. Dominic de Guzman; by imitating Jesus who has shown us all His unconditional obedience to the Father, and His infinite love for humanity.
Our four Dominican brothers, Mariano Kai, Paul Aung Myint Win, Mikele Gei, and Lawrence The Reh pronounced their vows to God, promised to be obedient until death kneeling before our bother Javier, who represented Fray Bruno Cadoré, OP, the Master of the Order. As the four brothers prostrated on the ground, as a sign of obedience to God through Jesus in the Spirit, the choir sung solemnly: “Here the eternal Spirit of God tells us a new world’s begun.â€
The liturgical celebration was wonderfully animated by our Dominican sisters from Taipa. The chapel was totally filled up to the point that many were standing both inside and outside the lovely Chapel. Beside the regular Sunday Mass participants, there were the Dominican brothers who are attending the Common Study Program of the Asia-Pacific Region, some distinguished professors from the Catholic University of Saint Joseph, Macau and friends of the Dominican community of Macau.
After the wonderful Eucharist and the touching rites of the Solemn Profession of the four brothers, all the people attending were invited to share with the Dominican family in a fraternal agape at the Hall of the Priory.
As we leave the Chapel, the meaningful lyrics of the song “Hear I Am Standing Right Beside You†keep ringing in our hearts:
Here I am standing right beside you.
Here I am; do not be afraid.
Here I am, waiting like a lover.
I am here; I am here.
Bro. Paul Aung Myint Win OP
St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau
On June 24, 2014, nine brothers from our studentate in St. Dominic’s Priory renewed their simple profession during the morning Community Mass. Fr. José Luis de Miguel, OP, Prior, received the brothers’ personal and free decision to continue their commitment to the religious vows, obedience to Christ through the Dominican Constitutions, and willingness to accept being sent to the missions of the Dominican Missionary Province of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The brothers who said YES to the Dominican call and renewed their resolve to continue being Dominicans for one or two more years are the following:
Paul Thu Reh
Michael Tony
Pio Yu Yousin
Joseph Tran Van Huong
Francis Naw San
Ignatius Ngo Van Thu Giang
Peter Kyaw Thinn
James Ye Min Tun
Abraham Nin Ki Gei
Three other brothers of our studentate renewed their simple profession in their respective country. They are:
Michael Song Jeong Sin
Francis Nge Nge
Peter Zya Reh
  To the twelve brothers, another name has to be added: the name of brother Joseph Pakhu, who renewed his simple profession once more and for one year on June 27, 2015. It is understood that the renewal of the religious profession is done as another step on the way to the solemn profession.
The profession ceremony was simple and meaningful. Appropriate songs marked joyfully the spiritual rhythm of the unique event: “Here I am Lord. I come to do your will.â€
The Priory continues praying for the perseverance and happiness of the brothers who decided to continue journeying with us in their following of Christ by the path of St. Dominic and with the help of Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary.
To one and all: Warm and fraternal congratulations!
