CHRONICLE ST. DOMINIC’S PRIORY (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011)

September-October. Not much to report through the month of September. Our twenty students enrolled in the different years of philosophy/theology at the University of Saint Joseph’s School of Christian Studies. They started their classes on September 19. The Priory of St. Dominic is composed then of six Dominican priests and twenty student theologians.

A New Member for our Priory. On October 12, Fr. Dionisiso Cabezón, OP arrived in Macao. He came from Manila, Philippines from the University of Santo Tomas, where he was assigned for over forty years. The previous month, he had asked Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP, Prior Provincial of the Philippines Province (the UST Priory is under the Philippine Province) to allow him to go back to the mother Province, that is Our Lady of the Rosary.  Permission granted with gratitude, Fr Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial of our Province welcomed Fr. Dionisio back to the Province and on October 13, assigned him to St. Dominic’ Priory, Macau. On October 11, St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, Manila, tendered a special lunch in honor of Fr. Dionisio. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, OP, Prior, expressed the deep gratitude of the community to Fr. Dionisio, who answered by saying that he enjoyed very much his years in the community. The whole community answered his words with a standing ovation.

An old member returns. Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP came back to Macao with Fr. Dionisio. Fr Fausto was in Manila for over one month and a half fulfilling his commitment to teach at least once a year at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Santo Tomas, where he was assigned for forty four years. This time he taught Social Doctrine of the Church, Justice, and Basic Bioethics.

Commencement Exercises. Fr. Athanasius CH., OP. and Bro. Hilario Plureh, OP. received their graduation diploma from the University of Saint Joseph on October 8 and 15 respectively. With about fifty five other graduates, Fr. Athanasius was granted the diploma of Master in Religious Education, and, with about two hundred other graduates Bro. Hilario, the diploma of his licentiate (Portuguese nomenclature, in reality a bachelor’s degree) in Theology. The other five classmates of Bro. Hilario are already assigned to different places and could not be present at the solemn Commencement Exercises. Where are our six graduates with the licentiate in theology? Bro. Patrick Boreh is on leave from the Province for one year; Bro. John Maung Sui is in Myanmar helping in the administration and pastoral work of our first Dominican house in Yangun; Bro. Terence Aye Win Aung is in Avila (Spain) learning Spanish; Bro. Simon Saw Sele  is in Manila learning Tagalog; Bro. John Bosco is in Rome studying moral theology at the Angelicum, and Bro. Hilario Plureh is in Bangkok to study interreligious dialogue at the Assumption University.

Mass of the Holy Spirit. Although the present academic year began on September 19, 2011, the school year 2011-2012 opened officially on October 17, with the concelebrated Mass of the Holy Spirit, which was presided by Mons. Jose Lai, Bishop of Macao and concelebrated by six religious priests, including a Dominican from St. Dominic’s Priory, and a secular priest, Fr. Joao Eleuterio, Deputy Rector and coordinator of the School of Christian Studies. Our students animated the Eucharistic celebration with appropriate songs.

Special Lecture at USJ. On October 17, 2011, the School of Christian Studies organized a special lecture on the Bible. It was introduced and presented by Prof. Arnold T. Monera of the same School of ChristianaA Studies. Two excellent speakers interacted with each other while speaking to us on The Problems of Bible Translation between different languages, confessions and cultures.” Dr. Willen A. M. Beuken, SJ, professor of the University of Leuven (Belgium), and Dr. Jonathan Ting-Pong Tsoi, professor of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong. Dr. Edgar Javier, SVD, reacted to the double presentation. Fr. Joao Eleuterio, USJ Deputy Rector and Coordinator of the School of Christian Studies closed the enlightening session with a word of gratitude. The conference was well attended. The audience included most our students.

Our Prior Repeats. On October 19, Fr Provincial Javier Gonzalez, OP, confirmed Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, as Prior of our St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau. Fr. Alejandro was elected the day before by the voting members of the community. On October 23, the community celebrated the appointment of Fr Alex for a second consecutive term with the solemn Sunday Eucharistic celebration, in which Fr. Alejandro made his Profession of Faith. Thereafter, the whole community joyfully celebrated the new term of our Prior with a delicious lunch. Congratulations!

New Subprior. Fr. Dionisio Cabezon, OP, the newest member of our community was chosen by Fr. Prior and confirmed by the Chapter of the Convent as the new Subprior (October 26). He succeeds our dear Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP, who now rests in God’s peace. Congratulations!

Our Visitors. On October 27, 2011, Fr. Rafael Carpintero, OP, from our Convent of La Santa Cruz in Manila visited us with his sister and brother-in-law. We hope that next time Fr. Carpin will visit us to stay with us for a while and teach liturgical songs and Gregorian chant to our community. On the same day we had the pleasure of the visit of five Korean members of the Dominican Confraternity connected with our Dominican brothers in Seoul and Ansan.

Distribution of duties of the Priory though 2011-2012. Fr Prior convoked a meeting of the Chapter of the House on October 26, 2011. The main item of the agenda was the assignment of the brethren, including priests and students, to the different posts or works to be done in the community. These assignments comprise, among others, assistant treasurer, secretary to the council of the house, archivist, liturgist, sacristan, infirmarian, guest master, librarian, chronicler, web page, etc.

Meeting of Religious Men in Macau. On October 28, representatives (nine) of different Congregations of Religious Men working in Macau, including our Priory met again, this time at the Jesuit House. The meeting was presided by Fr. Alberto Rossa, CMF; Fr. John Ledesma, SDB acted as secretary for the meeting. After the reading and approval of the minutes of the previous session (September 29), the religious men present commented on various points previously discussed, in particular the future of the Macau Catholic Center and their possible participation in its program, and Bishop Jose Lai’s request to the religious men to collaborate in the elaboration and implementation of a new pastoral project for the Diocese of Macau. This project is being planned now with the participation of the different agents of evangelization in the diocese. The next meeting will be at our Priory on November 25, 2011, at three (3:00) in the afternoon. The main agenda for this meeting will be: the current mission of the different religious congregations of men in Macau, and our cooperation as religious men in the contemplated pastoral project of the diocese. Indeed, things are moving “slow by slow.”

Our Incipient Library Keeps Growing. An important part of the collection of books of Fr. Donald Goergen, OP of the American Province of St. Albert (three boxes) arrived safely from St. Louis, Missouri.  Fr Dionisio donated some excellent books of psychology. The whole rich collection of Fr. Lionel (RIP) was placed in our Library. Gratitude is the memory of the heart. We remember: Thank you very much!

Closing words. At the end of the month we have to remember our beloved Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP, whom the Lord took from us on October 19, 2011. He rests in God’s peace. The community is deeply, deeply grateful to Fr. Lionel, who will continue, we believe, helping all its members (see separate write-up).We also continue remembering in our prayers our former dear member and Master of Students Fr. Lucio Gutierrez, OP, who continues gravely sick in our Sty. Martin de Porres’ Hospital in San Juan, Metro-Manila.  We understand that come January 1, 2012, a new member will be added to our Priory: Fr. Jose Luis Miguel, OP., classmate of Fr. Lucio. He shall be warmly welcomed! (FGB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN MEMORIAM: FR. LIONEL XAVIER, OP (1930-2011)

            In the morning of October 19, 2011, our Father in heaven took his son Lionel Xavier, OP, to his glory about five in the morning. Fr Lionel passed away in the Kiang Wu Hospital of Macau, where he was taken the day before. Last August, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Aggressive therapy would have been useless so he was given under the continuing direction of his doctors palliative or comfort care at his Convent, St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau. He died peacefully and after receiving devoutly the last Sacraments. Requiescat in pace!

            Three special Masses were celebrated for his eternal repose before he was incinerated.

The first Mass was celebrated On October 19 at six forty five in the morning at the Chapel of the Priory of Saint Dominic, where Fr. Lionel celebrated or con-celebrated Mass almost daily, except the Sundays he had to go to Hong Kong to celebrate his Mass there with the Dominican Laity. This first Mass was an intimate celebration of his brothers in the Dominican community of Macau.

            The second Mass was celebrated near his remains at a Catholic Funeral Parlor of Macau. This Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Provincial of Our Lady of the Rosary Province, and concelebrated by about fourteen secular and religious priests, including a good number of Dominicans. Among the faithful attending the holy Mass, many were members of the Dominican family, friends, teachers and students of Fr. Lionel. Fr. Provincial pronounced a moving homily underscoring the wonderful life of Fr. Lionel and giving thanks to God, to Fr. Lionel and to the Dominican community of Macau. At the end, Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, subject or prior of Fr. Lionel for the seven years (2004-2011) he lived in Macau, also gave thanks to all and underscored the exemplary conduct of Fr. Lionel as a kind, forgiving and grateful patient. By the way, Fr Alejandro and Bro. Joseph Lee are the two brothers who provided Fr. Lionel with extraordinary daily loving care.

            The third Mass, the Funeral Mass was held at the Cathedral of Macau with Bishop Jose Lai presiding. It was a solemn Mass concelebrated by about forty priests – religious as well as secular -, including the Dominicans working here in Macao and in the two communities of Hong Kong. Our Dominican students animated the Mass with the usual songs and hymns. In his homily, Bishop Lai underscored the highlights of the life of Fr. Lionel, thanking him in particular for his pastoral work in the Diocese of Macau. Before the end of the Mass, Fr. Jarvis Sy, OP, from our Priory in Macau gave thanks to all present, in particular to the Bishop, to the many concelebrants, to the relatives and friends of Fr. Lionel and to all the faithful who filled up the Cathedral. Most of them were members of religious congregations of women, and teachers and students from the schools of Rosaryhill in Hong Kong and St. Paul in Macau. After the Mass, the Dominican family said good bye to their brother Fr. Lionel with the traditional songs Salve Regina and O Spem Miram. When the remains of Fr. Lionel were leaving the Church to be cremated, our students sung with contained emotion the Ode of Joy of Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony.

(Afterwards, more Masses for his eternal repose were celebrated: a Novena at St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau(October 21-29) and a special Mass – on October 28, 2011- at our Rosaryhill School in Hong Kong).

            Fr Lionel was 81 years old when he died. He lived his Dominican vocation to the full in the different kinds of works and apostolate he performed. Always kind, respectful and competent, he was deeply spiritual and joyfully  in love with Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Dominican saints, in particular St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena whom he knew very well.

            Born on July 3, 1930, in Kowloon Hong Kong, Fr. Lionel made his first profession at St. Albert’s Convent in Hong Kong on July 28, 1956. He pursued his philosophical studies also at St. Albert’s Convent (1956-1959), and his theological studies at the Convent of Santo Domingo and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where he obtained his Licentiate in Theology (1959-1963). He was ordained a Dominican priest at Rosary Church, Kowloon Hong Kong, on April 27, 1963. Later on, Fr. Lionel obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate in Education from the University of Hong Kong, and after finishing a Summer Course in Education, University of London, he was granted a special Diploma.

            Fr. Lionel spent most of his life working and evangelizing in the Rosaryhill School run by the Dominicans of Our Lady of the Rosary Province. He taught there for over thirty years. He administered responsibly different positions, including Director of the School (1981-1984; 1987-1990), Prefect of the Primary Section (1966-1968; 1993-1997, and of the Secondary Section (1966-1975; 1978-1990). He was also the Prior of St. Albert’s Convent (1981-1984, and 1994 and ff.) Through all his years in Rosayhill, Fr. Lionel worked not only or even mainly as a revered administrator but as a caring Dominican father, serious and soft-spoken, approachable and compassionate. In the different woks he carried out, Fr. Lionel made many friends, whom he loves dearly and vice-versa.

            During his first three years in Macau (2004-2007), Fr Lionel was superior of the Dominican House, and also in charge of the Department of Religion of the diocesan school of Saint Paul administered by Dominicans. He was, above all, in love with his Dominican and priestly vocation. This was particularly shown in the last four years of his life that he spent at St. Dominic’s Priory in Macau, as formator, master of students or assistant master of students, as assistant liaison of our students with the Catholic University of Saint Joseph. A task he loved with special love was his role as Promoter of the Dominican Family in Hong Kong that he carried out – like everything else he had to do – with utmost punctuality and concern for others.

As a preacher, He loved to preach the Word of God and proclaim the lives of the saints. He was always ready to preach the word of God; in particular, he was ready every day with his written homily. He loved to begin or end his homilies or his sermons with a moving story. One story he repeated often was the one of an Arabian mystic. This Sufi once said to his followers the following story. When I was young, I wanted to be a revolutionary, I wanted to change the world, so I prayed to God every night: “Please, dear God, help me to change the world.” Nothing happened! When he was an adult, he changed his prayer: “Please, dear God, help me to change my family and those around me.” Again, nothing happened! Finally, when he was old, he prayed daily: “Please, dear God, help me to change.” Then, yes, something happened! He began to change and also those around him. “”My brothers and sisters,” Fr. Lionel used to say, “let us try to change ourselves – always with the help of God who never fails.”

Our journey continues! Our brother and friend Fr Lionel is dead! But, for us Christians – and many other believers – death is not the end of life, but the beginning of a new life: “I am not dying; I am entering a new life” (St. Therese of the Child Jesus). Through his death, Fr Lionel has gone to another place, an everlasting dwelling place in heaven, the place of the Light! Indeed, “Death is not extinguishing the light, but putting out the lamp, because the dawn has come” (R. Tagore: cf. Rev 22:4-5)

Dear brother Lionel, we all – your brothers and sisters, relatives, friends, teachers and students -, we all give you thanks, many, many thanks. It was good, very good to walk with you on our journey of life. We shall continue praying for you. We are sure you are in heaven praying for us. Remember we sung together so many times the O Spem Miram to our Father Dominic. Now it is your turn to tell our father St. Dominic, “Imple Pater quod dixisti, nos tuis juvans praecibus.” Amen, Alleluia, Praise the Lord! (FGB)