ONE MORE STUDENT BROTHER

Brother Peter Zya Reh, OP is the newest member of our community, of St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau. Bro. Peter is 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.

Brother Peter Zya Reh, now assigned to the Studentate in St. Dominic’s Priory, took up three years of philosophical studies at St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Singapore. After taking a short vacation in his hometown, Loikaw, Myanmar, he arrived in Macau on the 17^th of January 2014.

All the twenty eight members of the Dominican community in Macau warmly and joyfully welcomed Brother Peter. We all pray and hope that he will enjoy the new environment and the new community. We assure him of our help and support, as we continue to support each other and face together good and bad times. Now, our new brother will continue his philosophical and theological studies at the Faculty of Christian Studies of the University of Saint Joseph.

May the good Lord bless him and guide him in his community life and studies, and may he be faithful to his Dominican vocation.

Brother Peter Zya Reh, you are most welcomed!

(Bro. Francis Nge,  Nge, OP)

THE CHURCH IN MACAU CELEBRATES MIGRANTS’ WORLD DAY

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 and Vietnam 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.

The theme for the centennial of the World Day celebration is “Migrants and Refugees: Towards a Better World.” Bishop Jose Lai developed the theme in his homily. The good Bishop said that the Church cares for the migrants, and the migrants themselves contribute very positively to the development of the small city of Macau. In a real sense, in this world we all are migrants journeying towards a better world – the house of our Father in Heaven. We prepare for the new city of God by loving one another as brothers and sisters. The petitions of the Prayer of the Faithful in the Mass were very appropriate:  they included petitions in the languages of the different countries from where the migrants come from. Out of different cultures and languages, one common treasure was found in the celebration: the smile of all the participants that could easily be interpreted as the universal language of love and hospitality.

After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with a sumptuous lunch at St. Joseph’s Auditorium. Different kinds of food from the various national communities highly pleased the participants’ tastes. After lunch, the celebration went on in the same auditorium with the cultural performances of different groups that showcased the rich culture of their respective country. Among the performances, our Dominican brothers from Myanmar also performed a grand number of their beautiful ethnicity and likewise the Dominican sisters from Myanmar and from East-Timor. A song sung by all, “We are the world,” highlighted the message of the 2014 Migrants’ World Day.

The program ended with the words of gratitude of the organizers of the great affair. A representative of the Apostolate with Migrants in Macau gave praise and thanks to God, to the Church of Macau, to Bishop Jose Lai and to all participants as well as the performers. He cheered all for the successful celebration of the centennial of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Copies of the interesting and informative book “Crossing the Borders” were given to all participants as an unforgettable souvenir of the event. We now look forward to next year’s celebration of the 101^st World Day of Migrants and Refugees in Macau.

Bro. Paul Aung Myint Win O.P

St. Dominic Priory, Macau

THE COMMUNITY OF SAINT DOMINIC’S PRIORY WISHES ALL OUR BROTHERS