JUB 800 / 3
Macau, July 8, 2015
Dear Brothers:Â Â Â Â Â Â
I wish to continue our fraternal conversation on the Jubilee 800. I concentrate this time on some important coming activities and the book on the Province today. I will add a few concluding remarks.
The last General Chapter of the Order (Trogir, 2013) tells us that the various celebrations of the Jubilee are celebrations of all the branches of the Order and, therefore, as much as possible, ought to be organized and attended by brothers, nuns, sisters, and priestly and lay fraternities.
- Coming Activities
- Dominican Family Retreat. Representative groups of members from all the branches of the Dominican Family in Asia and the Pacific Region shall attend this unique spiritual retreat to be held at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, on October 12-14, 2015. The Master of the Order or his Vicar will participate and also our brother Timothy Radcliffe.
- Opening of the Jubilee 800. The solemn inauguration of the Dominican Jubilee will take place on November 7, 2015, which is the Feast day of All Saints of the Order. When possible, the inaugural ritual is intended “as a celebration of the whole Dominican Family of the same country or region.†The Opening Rite can be integrated within the Eucharist or the Liturgy of the Hours. The Central Committee of the Jubilee has posted on the web page of the Order The Rite of Opening, which develops the following steps: Opening Song, Message of the Master of the Order, Ritual of the Light, Prayer, Gospel Reading (Mt 10:5-15), Procession, Jubilee Hymn, Lighting of the Candles, Te Deum, Jubilee Prayer, Final Blessing, Salve Regina. (For more details, see web page of the Order: op.org ).
- Jubilee 800 Celebration in Hong Kong – Macau. With the cooperation of Rosaryhill School, our Province is organizing a Jubilee event consisting of a series of lectures, liturgical celebrations and appropriate exhibits – all focused on the Jubilee theme (“Woe to us if we do not preach the Gospelâ€). The especial event will be held tentatively on May 24-25, 2016 at Rosaryhill School in Hong Kong. It will be attended by the brothers of the Hong Kong – Macau Dominican communities and other brothers representing other communities of our Province in Asia. Some sisters and lay Dominican will also be invited. The event is being organized by our Provincial Fray Javier González in cooperation with Rosaryhill School, Hong Kong.
- Book on Missions of the Province Today
Hopefully, an opus magnum of the program of the Province for the Jubilee of the Order will be the publication of a book composed of a chapter per vicariate and mission to focus on the present and immediate past of the different independent units. Each chapter will be of about 25 pages in which to present to all others our passionate and hopeful reality: who we are, what we do and how we walk to our future, and where do we come from.
On May 15, 2015, I wrote a note to the brothers contributing to the book: “In this task, I am helping our Provincial Fray Javier González, OP. I am happy to announce that all the assigned writers have answered positively and are now working on the draft of their respective chapter.†Furthermore, I joyfully inform that the chapter of the Vicariate of Venezuela has already been submitted and the one of Taiwan will be submitted soon. Hopefully the first draft of all the chapters will be in by about December of this year. The task publishing the book is complex: we hope to publish it in English and Spanish. Still everything is tentative, depending on possible suggestions of the writers and of other brothers. You might prefer another title or a different order. Hereafter, I present the TITLE and OUTLINE of the book.
THE DOMINICAN PROVINCE OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY TODAY
(Celebrating Jubilee 800 of the Order)
INTRODUCTION
- THE DOMINICANS 400 and 800 YEARS LATER
Missionaries of Our Lady of the Rosary Province Today
Javier Gonzalez
The Dominicans’ Jubilee 800
Fausto Gomez
- MISSION PROFILES
    Spain
    C/o Pedro Juan Alonso
Hong Kong
Edmond Eh Kim Chew with Jarvis Sy Hao
Macau
Alejandro Salcedo with Fausto Gomez
Mainland China
Jarvis Sy Hao with Edmond Eh Kim Chew
Philippines
Jesus Prol and Laurentino Garcia
Taiwan
Tomas Miguel Blazquez
Japan
Saturnino Gonzalez with Ildefonso Gonzalez
Venezuela
Benjamin Garcia
Korea
Peter Yu Jong Pill with Javier Arrazola
Singapore
Antonio Gonzalez with Edmond Eh Kim Chew
Myanmar
Fernando Muñoz
East Timor
Ruben Martinez with Javier Gonzalez
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- The Jubilee 800: Journeying to the Future
The Jubilee 800 is a time of grace, a especial kairos: “The celebration of the Jubilee means entering into a dynamic process of renewal (mission, spiritual life, common life, institutions) and not just the celebration of events†(Ibid. 57, 1).
Before closing, let me just mention recent past activities that came to my knowledge: the wonderful and youthful Video prepared by our Convent and Parish of Santa Cruz, in San Juan, Philippines; the significant Video sent by our brothers in Korea who are preparing to celebrate the 25 years of presence of our Province there. I have also received a detailed program for the celebration of the Jubilee from our Vicariate of Venezuela; I understand Korea and Japan have also shared their respective program, and also Spain (I hope to receive the programs of other Vicariates and convents so that I may put them all together and shared them).
On a personal note, I mention the preparation of our brothers and sisters in Timor Leste. I was privileged to share with them some thoughts on the Jubilee and Permanent Formation on June, 9-11, 2015, near Dili. For me it was a life experience that I will never forget, particularly the simple, joyful and hopeful life style of our brothers and sisters ministering there.
Thank you very much for your kind patience, generous attention and cooperation. Pardon my errors!
Fraternally yours
Fray Fausto Gomez, OP
St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau
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!
