NINE BROTHERS RENEW THEIR RELIGIOUS PROFESSION

Fittingly the eve of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, June 28, is a most appropriate moment to once again renew the religious vows, the three evangelical counsels: obedience, chastity, and poverty. In the Office Readings for the Feast of the two apostles, St Augustine says that the sound of these two great apostles has gone out to all the earth and their words to the ends of the world. Reflecting on how these two greatest apostles gave witness to the Good News throughout the world and how they defended their faith in Christ inspired and moved the brothers who publicly and joyfully professed their vows during the evening prayer in honor of Sts. Peter and Paul.

St. Augustine again says that these two martyrs had seen what they proclaimed: they pursued justice by confessing the truth, by dying for the truth. These thoughts remind us of the confession we made in our first religious profession, when we placed our entire life in God’s hands. This remembrance of our first profession as Dominican brothers helps the eight of us to renew our religious profession in the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. As we renew our profession, we also commit ourselves to confess and proclaim the truth of faith and love. It is for the truth (veritas), one of our Dominican mottos, that these brothers have decided to continue their life as Dominicans promising obedience to God, to Our Lady, to St. Dominic, our Founder and Father and to his successors.

Indeed, these eight brothers expressed their joy and happiness after the ceremony of their renewal. Bro. Joseph joyfully said: “I was really happy to renew my profession again as I love to continue the journey of a Dominican brother. I am very thankful to God for this vocation and to the Dominican Fathers (priests) for accepting me as one of their brothers.”

Bro. Lawrence for his part said: “I am very happy to get such a chance to continue in this life (Dominican life). I believe that it is the grace and the will of God, and I still firmly hope that God will continue granting His blessing to me, because I cannot go on without God.”

Another brother added: “I did feel blest and was indeed joyful when I renewed my religious vow.”

In fact, their joy does not come out of their emotion, but out of their motivation. As we all have our various motivation for something, while seeking God and His mercy in this life, our eight brothers also have their motivation to renew their religious profession, or, so to speak, to continue their search for God and His mercy as Dominicans. One brother expressed his motivation thus: “My motivation is to help the people of God, especially the needy ones and the least ones.” Another brother confessed that “The motivation behind my renewal is to follow Christ in the special manner that St. Dominic has shown us: to be a witness of the words of God and to be part of the building of the Dominican Order in Myanmar as well.”

Hearing their voice, I could not keep silent myself, since I am also one of the brothers renewing the religious vows together with them. It is by the grace of the Holy Spirit that we joyfully renew our religious profession; and it is the thousands of people who are starving for the Word of God that motivate us to carry on our witnessing for the Word of God as Dominicans in the Church.

Let us add that on the same day, in the morning of June 28 six novices made their first religious profession at St. Albert the Great Priory in Rosaryhill, Hong Kong. So from now on, the eve of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul will be really an unforgettable and blessed day for the Dominican Province. By their religious profession in the Order of Preachers, the brothers become Dominicans “fully committed to preaching the Word of God in its totality” so that they live “an apostolic life in the full sense of the word, from which preaching and teaching ought to issue from an abundance of contemplation.”

By the way, another brother from our Priory of St. Dominic, Macau, who had to advance the renewal of his simple profession, made his profession the day before: on June 27, during the evening prayer and after the singing of the Te Deum. He is our Brother Pio Yu You Sin, OP, from Korea.

Bro. Paul Aung Myint Win OP

SEVEN BROTHERS MAKE THEIR RELIGIOUS PROFESSION

Newly Professed – On June 28, 2014, six brothers made their first profession as Dominicans at St. Albert Convent in Rosaryhill, Hong Kong.

They made their simple profession during the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Provincial, and concelebrated by Dominicans from the communities of Hong Kong, Macau and China.  A number of simply professed brothers, pre-novices and postulants attended the solemn and festive celebration.

The newly professed are: James Ye Min Tun, Abraham Ning Ki Gei, Peter Kyaw Thinn, Gregory Zhang W., Albert Liu Z., and Raphael Choi Seongho. Three are from Myanmar, two from China and one from Korea.

At the beginning of the ceremony for their first simple profession, the candidates expressed their hopes: “We wish to dedicate ourselves to God by embracing the life chosen and lived by Jesus. By the vow of obedience we bind ourselves to live the evangelical counsels. We embrace Christ’s self-emptying while sharing his life in the Spirit; and by being faithful, we strive to become clearer witnesses in the Church to the values of the Kingdom of Heaven.” May it be so for them and for all the professed.

The next stage for the six newly professed brothers will be to pursue their Institutional Studies: four of them in Macao at the University of Saint Joseph, and two in Hong Kong at the Seminary of the Holy Spirit.

Fraternal and joyful Congratulations, brothers. And most welcomed to the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary!

Solemnly Professed – Brother John Vianney W., OP, made his Solemn Profession as a Dominican on June 29, during the Eucharistic Celebration for the Feast Day of the apostles Sts. Peter and Paul at the Chapel of St. Joseph House, in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.

The center of the ceremony was the moment when Brother John Vianney proclaimed in a loud voice and slowly these truly solemn words: “I promise obedience to God, to blessed Mary, to St. Dominic and to Brother Bruno Cadoré, Master of the Order… according to the rule of Blessed Augustine and the institutions of the Friars Preachers and his successors, that I will be obedient to you and your successors until death.” Awesome, indeed! “Obedience … until death!”

Fr Javier González, OP, Provincial presided the Sunday Mass and received the solemn profession of Brother John Vianney. The Holy Eucharist was concelebrated by brothers from the communities of Kowloon and Rosaryhill, Hong Kong. It was attended by the pre-novices and postulants and the faithful who attend Mass on Sundays at the Chapel of St. Joseph House, Kowloon Tong.

Hermano John Vianney, our warmest Congratulations and our continuing prayers for your perseverance!

 

PREPARATIONS FOR THE JUBILEE 800 OF THE ORDER

In a recent meeting, the Provincial Council approved

the following points related to the preparations

for the 2016 celebration of the Jubilee 800

of the Order of Preachers

 

1. Plan of the Order. The Order has drawn a well detailed plan to commemorate the 800^th year anniversary of the foundation of the Order. The Jubilee 2016 is seen as important in our lives. (Cf. Program details in the website of the Order).

2. Provincial Plan. The Prior Provincial informed that recently Fr Fausto Gómez has been appointed as Provincial Promoter or Coordinator for the Jubilee 2016. He is coming out with some particular ways to celebrate that particular event, maybe through some Conferences, etc. He is persuaded that for the Jubilee to be meaningful there must be AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE (of our sources) and METANOIA (interior renewal).

Another important point to remember, and as suggested by the Provincial Promoter of the Jubilee, the preparations for the Dominican Jubilee should include members of the other branches of the Dominican Order, that is, of the whole Dominican Family.

3. Organization of Special Courses and Lectures. As the 2013 Provincial Chapter  recommended, courses similar to those of “Viday Misión” (Life and Mission) and “Predicación dominicana” (Dominican Preaching) be organized at the Provincial level and “be held on the occasion of the Jubilee 2016, so that the friars may enter into contact with the doctrinal and spiritual tradition of the Order” (Provincial Chapter 2013, Acts, 175).The Provincial Council recommended that a Formation Course similar to the one successfully held in Avila in the summer of 2011 be organized for our young Dominicans; this course will be complemented with pilgrimages to landmark Dominican places in Spain, France and Italy.

                                                    

4. A Great History Project. Given the need of a textbook on the History of the Province, Fr Provincial Javier proposed the following:

a) The translation into English of Fr. Pablo Fernández’ Dominicos donde nace el sol (Dominicans Where the Sun Rises).

b) The writing of the History of the Province through the Past 50 Years.

After a sharing on the matter, the Council suggested that before the translation of Fr. Pablo’s book is undertaken, it would be better to review the literary style of the book and to prepare a compendium of the thick book. Fr Ángel Daniel Blázquez could be invited to undertake the role of revising and preparing this compendium.

As for the writers of a short history of the last 50 years of each mission, this Council decided to kindly request it to the following Brothers:

For Venezuela, Bro. Benjamín; for Korea, Bro. Peter Yu; for Taiwan, Bro. Tomás Miguel; for China, Bros. Jarvis and Edmond; for Japan, Bro. Delgado or Bro. Saturnino; for Spain, Bro. Teodoro or Bro. Medina; for Myanmar, Bro. Fernando Muñoz; for Singapore, Bro. Antonio or Bro. Edmond; for the Philippines, Bro. Laurentino and Bro. Prol

Fernando Muñoz, OP,

Provincial Secretary

Kowloon Ton, Hong Kong: April 24, 2014

THE CHRONICLE OF THE PRIORY FOR JANUARY-APRIL 2014

ST. DOMINIC’S PRIORY

 Our chronicle narrates briefly events that took place between January and April, 2014. The “happenings” in which our members participated actively are chronicled under the following headings: the Priory, St. Dominic Center of Institutional Studies, St. Paul’s School, Faculty of Christian Studies of the Catholic University of Saint Joseph, and the Association of Men Religious of Macau (AMRM). (For a more extensive coverage of some of those items, you may wish to visit our modest web page: www.dominicansmacau.org)

v  THE PRIORY

New Member in Our Community – On January 17, 2014 the Priory received a new member: Brother Peter Zya Reh, OP 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.

All the twenty seven members of the Dominican community in Macau warmly and joyfully welcomed Brother Peter. Our Brother Peter will continue his philosophical and theological studies at the Faculty of Christian Studies of the University of Saint Joseph.

Indeed, “people come and people go.” One new brother arrived in our community and another brother went out. We have to add here that a student brother left our Priory: Brother Christopher Max decided to leave the Order. He left for Myanmar on January 18, 2014. He was grateful to the community, which wished the best for him and a good future. Christopher was a first year theology student.

Examination for Priesthood and Hearing Confessions – The exam took place on January 14, 2014 at the Council Room of St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau. The Panel of Examiners appointed by Fr. Javier González, OP, Prior Provincial was composed of the following: Fr. Fausto Gomez, OP, Chairman, and Fathers José Luis de Miguel, OP and Edmond Eh, OP, members.

Bro. Sebastian passed both oral tests with the unanimous approval of the tribunal. He will be ordained priest with Fr. Paul F., OP, on February 9, 2014 at the Chapel of Rosaryhill. Bro, Sebastian is a member of the Vicariate of Taiwan and Bro. Paul, of the Convent of Saint Albert, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong.

Migrants Day In Macau – 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, Vietnam and China 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. After the Eucharist, the celebration continued with a sumptuous lunch at St. Joseph’s Auditorium and closed with a cultural program of dances and songs from different countries.

Chinese New Year – The Priory, the University of Saint Joseph and St. Paul’s School celebrated the New Year, the Year of the Horse on different days and with different activities. St. Dominic’s Priory celebrated it on New Year Day, January 31, with a solemn Mass of Our Lady of China. The family celebration with fraternal agape, and bingo was held on the night before, that is the last night of the previous Lunar New Year. As it is customary, all the brothers received from the Prior a red envelope. The elegant and brave horse symbolizes for us excellence in studies, teaching, preaching and school administration, fraternal and prayerful community life, and committed and joyful apostolate. We hope and pray it will be so!

Sister Helen Gives Course on Catechetics – From February 3 to 7, Sister Helen gave an excellent mini-course on Catechetics to our students. Sister Helen is a consecrated lay woman who has been teaching catechetics and other related subjects in Taiwan for over fifty years. The Priory is most grateful to her for her significant presence in our community.

Visitors – On April 11-13, we had some special visitors, who had attended and participated in the Provincial Council meetings at St. Albert’s Convent, Rosaryhill, Hong Kong: from the Vicariate of Spain, Brothers Pedro Juan Alonso and Mario Jabares; from Korea, Fr. John King, Regent of Studies of the Province. Our Priory also enjoyed the presence of lawyer Don Luciano Lopez, a good friend of our Priory and of the Dominicans of our Province. As usual brothers from our communities in Hong Kong and China visited us from time to time. We were also blessed with some relatives of members of our Priory and friends.

v  ST. DOMINIC CENTER OF STUDIES, ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL,

USJ FACULTY OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES,

St. Dominic Center of Studies – The center continued offering the two special simultaneous courses, one for the general audience on Liturgical Symbols and Psalms given by Fr. Jose Luis de Miguel, OP and the other for religious men and women in Macau on The Evangelical Councils, by Fr. Jarvis Sy, OP. The monthly Saturday Lectures started the New Year with lectures on January 4, 2014.

On March 7, 2014, St. Dominic’s Center of Studies celebrated solemnly the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas at St. Paul’s School, Macau. The morning celebration consisted of three parts: lecture, Mass and fraternal agape. More than one hundred people attended the memorable event. The Holy Eucharist was presided by the Bishop of Macau Dom Joseph Lai and concelebrated by a good number of Dominicans with some religious from other congregations. The public lecture was given by theologian Felicísimo Martínez, OP, who is currently teaching at the University of Saint Joseph. The title of the lecture was “Truth, Meaning and Faith: How to Approach These Questions?”

Escola Sao Paulo Celebrates Patron – St. Paul’s School celebrated its feast, the solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul, which this year was held on January 24, Friday. The multi-faceted commemoration consisted of the celebration of the Eucharist, presentation of a cultural program, and a family banquet.

The celebration of the holy Mass was presided by the Bishop of Macau, the Most Rev. Jose Lai, DD, and concelebrated by nine Dominican priests from the communities of Macau and Hong Kong, and two other priests close to the Dominicans. Held at the main auditorium of the school, it was attended by about nine hundred students, and academic and administrative staff.

The short and entertaining cultural program of songs and dances was opened by Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP, Director of the Escola Sao Paulo, who expressed the deep gratitude of the school to all the teaching staff and students, his Dominican brothers, and the benefactors and friends of the school.

The banquet at a well-known restaurant and convention center was a family affair with good food, and spontaneous and excellent singing by some teachers, students and alumni, including our brother Fr. Athanasius, OP, Director of the school’s Campus Ministry and of the radio station “Saint Paul.”

Escola Sao Paulo or Saint Paul’s School is a Catholic school of the Diocese of Macau run by our Dominican brothers. It is a leading school among the thirty four Catholic schools of Macau. About two hundred and eighty (full or part time) teachers impart lessons to and walk with over three thousand students of kinder, primary and secondary schools as they pursue their studies at St. Paul’s.

USJ Faculty of Christian Studies – Second semester began officially on January 19, although for some of our students it started two weeks earlier. These had to attend classes in Eschatology imparted by a visiting professor from Portugal.

An important development this semester is the transfer of the library of theological sciences from the USJ location at NAPE 1 to the Seminary of Saint Joseph, where our students pursue their studies now.

The series of academic lectures 2013-2014 of the Faculty of Christian Studies began the year with a lecture on January 16, 2014. The overarching title of the series is Initiation in Christianity. On March 27, 2014, Fr. Felicísimo Martínez, OP, then teaching at the USJ Faculty pronounced a lecture on “Current Trends in Christology.” On April 24, Fr. Fausto Gómez, OP, professor of the faculty spoke on “Initiation into Spirituality.”

The Faculty celebrated the feast of the Patron of the University, St. Joseph with   a midday Mass and a simple lunch. It was attended also by our students and professors. It also celebrated with the university the season of Easter with a Mass on April 28 at the Chapel of the Seminary of St. Joseph. It was presided by our Bishop and concelebrated by the priests who are professors and students of the Faculty of Christian Studies.

v  RELIGIOUS MEN IN MACAU

Day of Consecrated Life in Macau – Religious men and women working in Macau for the Kingdom gathered together on February 2, 2014, to celebrate joyfully and prayerfully the Day of Consecrated Life, which is celebrated throughout the world on this day, the Presentation of our Lord.

The meeting started at 5:30 p.m. at the seminary with a talk by Fr. John Ledesma, SDB, on Our Spirituality. After the reflection, the sisters and the brothers went to the Chapel of Saint Joseph Seminary for the solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist, which was presided by Bishop Jose Lai, and concelebrated by 15 priests. Over one 100 religious men and women participated in the Mass. In his homily, the bishop echoed the discourse of Pope Francis to Major Religious Superiors last November at the Vatican. He also underlined the fact that Macao is ‘mission territory’ and needs the commitment of all religious men and women.

Paschal Celebration – On April 21, Easter Monday, the associations of religious men and of religious women ministering in the Macau Diocese organized a paschal celebration at the St. Joseph Church, which is run by the Combonian fathers. The simple and fraternal celebration included the Mass and an agape. The Bishop of Macau Dom Joseph Lai presided over the concelebrated Mass.  The celebration of the Eucharist was followed by a dinner – a pleasant and tasteful agape with plenty of food and laughter and everybody having a good time. It is the first time consecrated men and women working in Macau celebrated Easter together. (Fray Fausto Gómez, OP)

The Community of Saint Dominic Priory wishes all our brother Happy Easter