LIKE A PERFECT DAY:
VESTITION, PROFESSION AND ORDINATION
Saturday, July 9, 2011 in Hong Kong! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
July 9, 2011 is already a historical day for our Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. Three wonderful happenings took place on this truly eventful day:Â Vestition with the Dominican habit, First Profession and Ordinations of nineteen (19) brothers from different Asian countries. Indeed, that second Saturday of July was a unique day for the Dominican Order, the Dominican Province, and in particular for the Dominicans working for the Kingdom of God in Hong Kong, Macau, and the other missions in Asia.
Vestition of new novices
In the morning, and in the lovely chapel of Rosaryhill School, Hong Kong, took place within the Mass of the Martyrs of the Province the Vestition of the Dominican habit and the first Profession. Twenty Dominican priests concelebrated in the Mass, presided by Fr Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial, who also led the Vestition and the Profession ceremonies.
First profession of new brothers
Five (5) postulants took the Dominican habit. (By the way, six more postulants will have their Vestition a few months from now) Twelve (12) novices made their first Profession officially. The whole celebration attended also by the Dominican students and members of the Dominican Family in Hong Kong was very moving, joyful, and hopeful.
new dicon and new priest eucharist with Bishop John Tong
The ordination to the Deaconate and the Ordination to the Priesthood took place in the afternoon in the beautiful Cathedral of Hong Kong: the new Deacon, Bro. Isaiah Hong Seung Kook from Korea; the new priest, Fr. Christopher Joannes Chor, OP from Hong Kong. Bishop John Tong presided the Mass and the Ordination ceremonies. Forty priests, led by twenty Dominicans concelebrated with the presiding Bishop of Hong Kong. The Cathedral was nearly full with relatives of the ordained ministers, members of the Dominican Family in Hong Kong, friends of the Dominican Province, and other faithful. The celebration was excellently carried out: with prayerful solemnity, great liturgical rhythm, soothing singing and shared joy.
As we were going back to Rosaryhill by bus, my seatmate and I remembered – it happens to me in every ordination I attend – the essential text for the newly ordained and all ordained ministers, and proclaimed twice by the Bishop this afternoon:  “See that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe, and that you practice what you teach.â€
The highly exciting day was closed with a sumptuous, cordial and friendly dinner in the spacious Hall of Rosaryhill School. Within a simple and short program of songs, Frs. Javier Gonzalez and Vicente Sanchez, OP Prior of St. Albert Convent expressed their warmest congratulations to the new novices, the simply professed and the ordained ministers and their profound gratitude to all present and, above all, to God.
A historical day indeed! God cares, and we praise and thank him: Thank you Father, through Jesus, in the Spirit for this unique, fantastic day – for your infinite love!
The journey continues! (FGB)
On Pentecost Sunday, June 12, the significant ceremony of the Solemn Profession was held at the Chapel of St. Dominic’s Priory. It took place during the Eucharistic celebration. On this day, Brother Joseph Lee Taeyun, OP, made his final vows (for life) as a Dominican of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. Bro. Joseph, from Korea, made his perpetual profession in the hands of Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial of said Dominican Province. Fr Javier represented Fr. Bruno Cadoré, OP, Master of the Order of Preachers or of the Dominicans. The moving ritual of the Solemn Profession was done after the proclamation of the Pentecost Gospel. After asking for God’s mercy and that of the Dominican community, and expressing his intentions and formally promising obedience according to the Rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Dominican Order, Fr. Provincial accepted Brother Joseph as a full-fledged member of the Dominican Order.
Right after the Solemn Profession, Bro. Joseph also received the ministries of Lector and Acolyte, which enable him to read the Word of God and assist the ordained ministers in the altar. These ministries represent for Brother Joseph a step forward towards the Deaconate and the Priesthood.Before the final blessing, Brother Joseph expressed his humble and deep gratitude to all those who made his solemn profession and this celebration possible. For his part Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, Prior of St. Dominic’s also gave thanks to all those present and invited them to share with us our table after the celebration. The celebration took place at 11 in the morning and the simple lunch about 1:30 PM. It was indeed a moving and joyful celebration of Pentecost, and obviously the Holy Spirit was in our midst and in our hearts!
On this august occasion, the chapel of the Priory was filled to capacity. Ten priests concelebrated with Fr. Provincial, including Fr José Lau, procurator of the Diocese of Macau who represented the Diocese, and seven Dominicans, among them Fr Bonifacio G. Solis, OP, former Prior Provincial of Our Lady of the Rosary Province and Fr. Jose Luis Miguel, OP, a member of this Province working now in the General Vicariate of Chile. Over eighty faithful attended the Pentecost Eucharist and the Solemn Profession: our Sunday Mass participants, sisters from different religious congregations and members of the Korean community. Brother Joseph Lee was born in Seoul on January 19, 1973. He made his first simple profession on June 16, 2007. At present, he is finishing his institutional studies at the Catholic University of Saint Joseph here in Macau.
The St. Dominic’s Priory is presently composed of twenty three members: six Dominican priests and seventeen simply professed theology students. The Dominican priests’ apostolate includes the following: formation of the simply professed brothers, administration of St. Paul’s School, and teaching philosophy and theology at the University of St. Joseph. For St. Dominic’s Priory this great celebration of Pentecost Sunday with the Solemn Profession was a meaningful and historical event. The Priory is proud of its tradition. By the way, the first Dominicans, also members of Our Lady of the Rosary Province arrived in Macau in 1587, the year of the foundation of the Missionary Province of the Dominican Order. (FGB)
By profession, we dedicate ourselves to God, following Christ to lead an evangelical life in the Order.
In this way, our baptismal consecration becomes more fully effective.
LCO # 189 § I.
The Brethren of the
Province of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Order of Preachers
would like to invite you to attend the Eucharistic celebration when our beloved
Brother Joseph Lee Tae Yun OP
shall make his final vows as a Dominican friar in the hands of our Prior Provincial
Rev. Fr. Javier Gonzalez Izquierdo OP.
He shall also be instituted into the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte.
The celebration shall be held on
12 June, 2011, the Solemnity of Pentecost at 11:00 am
at Saint Dominic’s Priory Chapel
Avenida Sidonio Pais no. 39-41, Macau
A fraternal agape shall follow after the liturgy.
