The Community of Saint Dominic Priory wishes all our brother Happy Easter

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Celebrating St. Thomas Aquinas

On March 7, the St. Dominic Centre of Studies, Macau, celebrated, with joy and gratitude, the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas, to honor his memory and accept the challenge that our brother and saint always arouses in us.

The venue of the celebration was Saint Paul’s School, Macau, which once more offered all the facilities and the adequate setting for the event. Our brothers in charge of the school saw to it that everything would rise to the occasion of this very significant event for our Centre of Studies, our Convent and the whole Dominican Family and friends in Macau. Our most heartfelt “Benedictus Deus” for their fraternal service.

Aside from the presence “in full” of the members of the community, joined by a considerable number of our brothers in Hong Kong and China, our Father Provincial included, were also present our Dominican Sisters, Monsignor Joseph Lai, Bishop of Macau, personalities of the University of Saint Joseph (Macau) and other numerous guests, lay and religious, totaling some 100 people. Their presence honored the great, yet humble Saint Thomas and multiplied the joy of all of us.

The Conference for the day, addressed by fr. Felicísimo Martínez, OP, was a masterly exposition touching on the very contemporary issue of “Truth, Meaning and Faith: How to approach these questions”? [See doc. Attached]

After stating that the questions about “Truth, Meaning and Faith” are transcendental for human existence today, the lecturer led us to reflect on some fundamental questions, such as: is it worthwhile to live in a lie? Is it possible an honorable and harmonious human coexistence at the margin of truth?

The question about meaning –already touched upon by St Thomas in his time- is the fundamental question of the human being, much more than the question about pleasure. Viktor E. Frankl said that: “The human being’s fundamental problem is not the absence of pleasure, but the lack of meaning”. It is there where the fundamental questions of the human being are to be situated: wherefrom do we come? Where are we going to? What’s the meaning of life? Why suffering and injustice? Why death and what can we wait for after death? At the end, it is faith that allows us to find a definitive meaning: the human faith in the other and the religious faith in God. Is it possible, without faith, to know all that this creation and this human being can yield of themselves?

To approach truth, meaning and faith, it is necessary to foster some fundamental attitudes in life: cultivate the culture of trust (only he who has learnt to trust can reach faith); to cultivate the heart’s habits (we reach truth, meaning and faith, not only through reasoning, but also through intuition, sensitivity, emotion); to cultivate the contemplative dimension of life (truth dwells only in our inner world); to cultivate the openness to the Transcendence through the mystical experience of the Other and the ethical experience of the other.

It was an excellent, even if not programmed, invitation to approach Lent in an attitude of deep contemplation and intimacy with the mystery that presides throughout the Season.

A very solemn Eucharist, presided by Bishop Lai, followed at the School’s Chapel -beautifully decorated by Sister Camino, OP for the occasion-, joyfully participated by all. Bishop Lai centered his homily on the need to preach, as Saint Thomas Aquinas did, the God News to today’s world. This is particularly relevant in those places where, as it is the case of Macau, so many people have not yet heard about Jesus, but appear to be eager to wholeheartedly offer “cult” to god Mammon… Macauenses, he continued, need to hear the Gospel of the Lord, and above all, to see witnesses of Jesus’ presence in their world today. Here and now. We are among those chosen by the Lord to be sent to bring His Good News to the whole world, particularly to the poor. This is our commitment. We cannot fail Him and the people whom we have been sent to.

The celebration ended with a fraternal, generous and exquisite lunch, “cortesía de la casa!”

FR. JOSE LUIS DE MIGUEL, OP

(Macau, March, 2014)

ST. DOMINIC’S PRIORY: CHRONICLE: JANUARY 2014

NEW MEMBER IN OUR COMMUNITY

On January 17, 2014 the Priory joyfully received a new member: Brother Peter Zya Reh, OP from Myanmar. After completing one year novitiate, Bro. Peter made his first simple profession as a Dominican of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary on December 15, 2013 at St. Albert’s Priory, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong.

All the twenty seven members of the Dominican community in Macau warmly and joyfully welcomed Brother Peter. Our Brother Peter will continue his philosophical and theological studies at the Faculty of Christian Studies of the University of Saint Joseph.

Indeed, “people come and people go.” One new brother arrived in our community and another brother went out. We have to add here that a student brother left our Priory: Brother Christopher Max decided to leave the Order. He left for Myanmar on January 18, 2014. He was grateful to the community, which wished the best for him and a good future. Christopher was a first year theology student.

FACULTY OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES, USJ AND ST. DOMINIC CENTER OF STUDIES

Second semester began officially on January 19, although for some students it started two weeks earlier. These had to attend classes in Eschatology imparted by a visiting professor from Portugal.

An important development this semester is the transfer of the library of theological sciences from the USJ location at NAPE 1 to the Seminary of Saint Joseph, where our students pursue their studies.

The series of academic lectures 2013-2014 of the Faculty of Christian Studies began the year with a lecture on January 16, 2014.

The St. Dominic Center of Studies continued offering the special courses. The monthly Saturday Lectures started the New Year with lectures on January 4, 2014.

EXAMINATION FOR PRIESTHOOD AND HEARING CONFESSIONS

The exam took place on January 14, 2014 at the Council Room of St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau. The Panel of Examiners appointed by Fr. Javier González, OP, Prior Provincial was composed of the following: Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP, Chairman, and Fathers José Luis de Miguel, OP and Edmond Eh, OP, members.

Bro. Sebastian passed both oral tests unanimously. He will be ordained priest with Fr. Paul F., OP, on February 9, 2014 at the Chapel of Rosaryhill. Bro, Sebastian is a member of the Vicariate of Taiwan and Bro. Paul, of the Convent of Saint Albert, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong.

MIGRANTS DAY IN MACAU: January 19, 2014

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 100^th 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, Vietnam and China 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.

After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with a sumptuous lunch at St. Joseph’s Auditorium and closed with a cultural program of dances and songs from different countries.

ESCOLA SAO PAULO CELEBRATES ST. PAUL

St. Paul’s School celebrated its feast, the solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul, which this year was held on January 24, Friday. The multi-faceted commemoration consisted of the celebration of the Eucharist, presentation of a cultural program, and a family banquet.

The celebration of the holy Mass was presided by the Bishop of Macau, the Most Rev. Jose Lai, DD, and concelebrated by nine Dominican priests from the communities of Macau and Hong Kong, and two other priests close to the Dominicans. Held at the main auditorium of the school, it was attended by about nine hundred students, and academic and administrative staff.

The short and entertaining cultural program of songs and dances was opened by Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, Director of the Escola Sao Paulo, who expressed the deep gratitude of the school to all the teaching staff and students, his Dominican brothers, and the benefactors and friends of the school.

The banquet at a well-known restaurant and convention center was a family affair with good food, and spontaneous and excellent singing by some teachers, students and alumni, including our brother Fr. Athanasius, OP, Director of the school’s Campus Ministry and of the radio station “Saint Paul.”

Escola Sao Paulo or Saint Paul’s School is a Catholic school of the Diocese of Macau run by our Dominican brothers. It is a leading school among the thirty four Catholic schools of Macau. About two hundred and eighty (full or part time) teachers impart lessons to and walk with over three thousand students of kinder, primary and secondary schools as they pursue their studies at St. Paul’s.

CHINESE NEW YEAR: JANUARY 31, 2014.

The Priory, the University of Saint Joseph and St. Paul’s School celebrated the New Year, the Year of the Horse on different days and with different activities.

St. Dominic’s Priory celebrated it on its proper day with a solemn Mass of Our Lady of China. The family celebration with familiar agape, and bingo was held the night before, that is the last night of the previous Lunar New Year. As it is customary, all the brothers receive from the Prior a red envelope. The elegant and brave horse symbolizes for us excellence in studies, teaching, preaching and school administration, fraternal and prayerful community life, and committed and joyful apostolate. We hope and pray it will be so! (Fausto Gomez, OP)

FEAST OF OUR LADY, QUEEN OF CHINA (January 31, 2014)

The Priory celebrated the Feast of Our Lady, Queen of China on the first day of the Chinese Lunar Year, this year of 2014 the Year of the Horse. Our brother Fr. Edmond presided the concelebrated Mass of the community and gave us a beautiful homily. Hereafter, Fr. Edmond’s summary.

 This feast commemorates events which took place in April 1900. During the Boxer rebellion, a great number of soldiers attacked the village of Donglu, Hebei. The village consisted of a small community of Christians founded by the Vincentian Fathers.

The Virgin Mary appeared in white, and a fiery horseman (believed to be St Michael) chased away the soldiers.
The pastor, Fr Wu, commissioned a painting of Mary with Christ child dressed in golden imperial robes. This painting became the image of Our Lady, Queen of China.

Donglu became a place of pilgrimage in 1924. The image was blessed and promulgated by Pope Pius XI in 1928.

Happy feast day,

FR. EDMOND EH KIM CHEW, OP

St. Dominic’s Priory