On 20th September, 2023 the student brothers and fathers from our Priory joined in the celebration of Faculty Convocation Day at St. Joseph Seminary Church. It also served as the memorial of St. Andrew Kim Taegon and companions. It was a prayerful and meaningful gathering of faculty members and students at the beginning of the Academic Year 2023-2024. We dedicated our time on daytime prayer, message from the Vice-Rector and innagural lecture of the Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy. After the celebration, there was a campus tour around the seminary and library. In this academic year, there are nine newly professed brothers who are studying in Foundation Year.
Opening Speech of Vice-Rector, Professor Keith Morrison
Inaugural Lecture of Dean of the Faculty, Fr. Cyril Law
Migrant Day is a significant occasion that celebrates the rich diversity and cultural exchange brought about by migration. Macau is known as a vibrant city with multiculturalism and diversity, and the celebration of Migrant Day this year was remarkable.
The celebration of Migrant Day in Macau is a testament to the city’s commitment to embracing and appreciating the contributions of migrants from around the world. The event serves as a platform for cultural exchange, fostering unity, understanding, and respect among different communities. In 2023, Macau is expected to host an extravagant celebration, showcasing the city’s cosmopolitan nature and its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds.
The festivities during Migrant Day in Macau are characterized by a variety of activities that highlight the cultural heritage of different countries. The event typically begins with a colourful parade through the streets of Macau, where participants proudly display their national costumes, dance to traditional music, and showcase their cultural artefacts. This parade serves as a visual representation of the global melting pot that Macau has become.
One of the main attractions of the celebration is the International Food Fair, where participants have the opportunity to savour delicacies from various countries. Food stalls line the streets, offering an array of international cuisines, allowing visitors to experience the flavours of different cultures.
In addition to the parade and food fair, Migrant Day in Macau also features cultural performances, exhibitions, and workshops. These events provide a platform for migrants to showcase their talents in music, dance, and art. Visitors can witness captivating performances, learn traditional dances, participate in art workshops, and appreciate the craftsmanship of various cultural artefacts.
The participation of countries in the celebration of Migrant Day in Macau is truly remarkable. As a global hub for migration, Macau attracts individuals from different countries. The Dominican brothers in Macau also participated in this event. However, the brothers from Timor-Leste and Myanmar represented their own countries by wearing their traditional clothes and performing their traditional music and dances.
As part of its ongoing Faculty and Staff Development Program, the University of St. Joseph in Macau organized a half-day activity on Friday, 29 September 2023 at the main campus. It was very well-attended
by the University staff: academic, administrative, support, research, and technical personnel, partly because it was a “compulsory training and development”; but also, because the topic chosen was a relevant, burning issue today, namely, safeguarding in the University.
The program started punctually at 9:30 a.m. The Rector of the University, Prof. Stephen Morgan welcomed the participants and addressed them with some opening remarks. Afterwards, the stage was given to Mr. Lau Sing (Serenity Training) who during the first two hours lectured the audience on “Safeguarding: How to handle and prevent workplace bullying and harassment.” Then, after a short
break, the session was resumed, this time with words by a representative of the CPSP (Corpo de Polícia de Segurança Pública), who illustrated the assembly on “Awareness of telephone scams and cyber fraud” based on real, recent data in the Macau area.
The activity came to an end with some short closing remarks by the Rector and with lunch generously provided by the University for all the participants. The attendance of the faculty members was facilitated by the University by cancelling beforehand the classes for the entire daytime of that 29th September; even in the evening, so as to enable the University Staff to celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival with their families and friends later in the day.
It was a fruitful gathering, perfecting matching the purpose of the program, namely, the promotion of camaraderie and development among the faculty and staff members of the University.
On June 21st 2023 two Brothers from the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary, Bro. Joseph Gabriel OP and Bro. Luigi OP made their solemn Profession into the Order of Preachers. Both of them just finished their institutional studies, at Saint Joseph University in Macau. The Celebration was presided over by the Prior Provincial, Fr. Ruben Martinez Ortega OP, at St. Dominic Priori, Macau. The celebration was participated by the Dominican Family in Macau, some USJ Faculty and staff members, and also by friends from the Burmese Catholic community in Macau
