Nearly 80 people, including eight priests, about fourteen Dominican brothers, and a good number of friends and alumni of the late Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP –  who passed away on October 19, 2011 – attended the Holy Mass in is honor and the liturgical ritual for the reposition of his ashes.  The celebration was held at the chapel of St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau.
The Eucharistic celebration began at 11:00 am, January 15, 2012. The concelebrated Mass was presided by Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was the Second Sunday in Ordinary time and the readings of the Liturgy of the Word were about vocation. In his homily, Fr. Provincial talked about the calling of the prophet Samuel, about John the Baptist who pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and finally about how the first disciples were called. Before he ended his homily, Fr. Javier reflected on the life of Fr. Lionel who generously replied to God’s calling like Samuel and followed the path of Jesus: practicing what he believed, encouraging the youth, and promoting the religious vocation. He added: “We owe him so much.†Fr. Lionel faithfully offered his life in the Dominican Order, serving the Province in different ministries:  for many years he served in the Dominicans’ Rosaryhill School (Hong Kong) as an administrator, as its Director, also as Prior of St. Albert’s Priory. When the mission in Macau was reopened, he enthusiastically helped and served as a superior of the Dominican house and as a Master of the Dominican students, and he was in charge of the Department of Religion of the diocesan school of Saint Paul administered by Dominicans. After the homily, Fr. Alex, the Prior of St. Dominic’s, gave thanks to all present, in particular to the people who came from Hong Kong.
Right after the celebration of the Eucharist, the urn with the ashes of Fr. Lionel was blessed and then placed in a special niche located at the back (right side) of the chapel of St. Dominic’s Priory. Before the reposition of the remains of Fr. Lionel in the niche, all those attending people gave Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP, who was a member of our St. Dominic’s Priory when he passed away, their last sign of respect and homage in accordance with the Chinese tradition.  Finally, the small columbarium of ten niches, inaugurated with the ashes of Fr. Lionel, was closed. On the dark glass covering it we read LOVE NEVER DIES!
Paul Aung Myint Win, OP
Every year the Diocese of Macau celebrates the World Day of Migrants during the first month of the year. This year of 2012 the day of the celebration was held on January 15 with the theme “Migrants and New Evangelization.†The celebration started with the Holy Mass, which was presided by His Excellency the Bishop of Macau Jose Lai, DD, and concelebrated by seven priests from different religious congregations including Fr. Fausto Gomez OP. Four Dominican brothers served at the Mass: Brothers Matthew, Mariano, Pakhu and Gabriel. The Holy Mass started at 10:30 in the morning at St. Augustine Church. The Church was packed with hundreds of people from many countries.
During the Mass, the Bishop shared the message of the Holy Father for the migrants of the world. He encouraged us to do God’s will unceasingly. He urged that we migrant workers and missionaries to live with the people of Macau in harmony and peace, and respect the different cultures and faiths. He urged us all, Catholics, to live our evangelical values and show the face of Christ to all. As migrants, we have to try to evangelize those with whom we are working. Thus, we are to bear witness of Christ by living out our Catholic faith. Finally, he closed his homily by saying that we have to serve one another with love and witness our faith in God.
It was a rainy morning, but the rain was no obstacle to enjoy the varied celebration. After the Mass, we all were invited to go to the St. Joseph auditorium for Lunch and the program of entertainment. Plenty of foods were served inside and outside of the auditorium. We all enjoyed our lunch very much while we were watching the different performances. There were many representatives from many communities and countries. It was indeed a great celebration. Some Dominican postulants and sisters from Burma and East Timor performed the lovely dances of their own culture. It was indeed magnificent and varied program of joyful entertainment. Moreover, it was a great chance to see the unity and harmonious relationship among the migrants from different countries. The celebration ended with the presentation of gifts to those who performed various kinds of dances. The celebration ended at 3:45 PM in the afternoon.
Matthew Shing Mang Tun, O.P.
2012 Theme: Migration and New Evangelization
January 15, 2012 – Sunday
Culminating Activity
Eucharistic celebration (Mass) :
 St. Augustine Church, 10: 30 am
Fellowship/ Lunch
Solidarity Messages
Cultural Presentations
St. Joseph School AuditoriumÂ
(Near Saint Lawrence Church)
Cardinal Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Ho Chi Minh City has appealed to Catholics to bear witness to the late Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan’s beatification process before a Vatican delegation in March. Cardinal Man announced on January 1 that the delegation from the Vatican-based Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace plans to visit Vietnam from March 23 to April 9 to meet and listen to witnesses with regard to Cardinal Thuan’s beatification cause, which was officially launched by the pontifical council on October 22, 2010. Cardinal Thuan was named coadjutor archbishop of Saigon archdiocese seven days before South Vietnam fell to the communist North on April 30, 1975.
The communist authorities rejected his appointment and imprisoned him for 13 years, nine of them in solitary confinement in the north. Released in 1988, he was allowed to travel overseas in 1991. While abroad, he was barred from returning to Vietnam. In 1994, Blessed John Paul called him to Rome and appointed him vice-president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He later became president of the council from 1998 until he died of cancer at age 74 in 2002. He was the first Vietnamese prelate to hold a high Vatican office.
“I would like to invite you all to fervently pray for our beloved cardinal’s beatification and canonization process to be completed soon,†Cardinal Man said in the announcement posted on the archdiocese’s website.
He also urged priests, Religious and laypeople that knew or met the late cardinal to bear witness to his holiness and virtues before the Vatican delegation in March. He said the launch of the cause for his predecessor’s sainthood was a great honor for the Catholic Church in Vietnam, especially the archdiocese.
Related reports
Catholics Express Gratitude To Late Cardinal Thuan And Ancestors On All Souls´ Day
Pope Rejoices At Opening Of Cause For Beatification Of Vietnamese Cardinal
Article taken from ucanews.com - http://www.ucanews.com
URL to article:Â http://www.ucanews.com/2012/01/04/vatican-to-hear-beatification-evidence/
A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEARÂ
“The Word was made flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14)
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