A leading archbishop in Myanmar has hailed the upcoming beatification of the south-east Asian nation’s first native son as a sign of the Pope’ love for the Church in Myanmar, formerly Burma.
“We are delighted to know that the first Burmese Blessed will be Isidore Ngei Ko Lat. The Holy Father is close to Myanmar and this first Blessed is the sign of Pope Francis and the Holy See’s love and attention,” said Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon.
His remarks came soon after Pope Francis on Monday authorized a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Italian priest Fr. Mario Vergara of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME ) and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, a lay catechist, martyred in Shadaw (Myanmar) May 24, 1950.
The recognition of their martyrdom was among 12 decrees, including a miracle and 10 heroic virtues, that Pope Francis authorized. The other upcoming beatification is of 19th century Italian nun, Giovannina Franks, through whose intercession a miracle has been recognized.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Archbishop Bo described the “great joy and happiness,” of the Catholic community, caught by surprise by the long-awaited announcement. The journey began in May 2008, when the Catholic Bishops’ Conference wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI to “humbly ask the Pope to authorize the study of the cause.”
The beatification of Fr. Vergara and his catechist, the bishops wrote, will be a source of ” encouragement” for the whole community to live” a faith more in line ” with the Gospel and to witness to it “in a brave and heroic” way, even at the cost of dying because of hatred for the faith and giving their lives “for the Gospel.”
Archbishop Bo said the Church in Myanmar is preparing to celebrate 500 years of history and hopes for a visit by Pope Francis to the country. He said that the beatification is a first step on a long journey and “there are many others”, because they have many martyrs in Myanmar, who deserve sainthood. (From ucanews, December 11, 2013)
Source: Vatican Radio
All Catholics make their profession of faith when baptized and renew it every year on Easter. By profession, we all put our faith in God and it means a lot for the believers. Surely it means much more for the religious persons when they make their profession of religious vows; poverty, chastity, and obedience because by doing so with faith, they put their entire life in God’s hand, just to be with Him and to walk along the path He has shown. In today’s gospel of Luke, Jesus tells us that with faith, we can do far more than we could accomplish by our own strength, by our own power. Expectant faith is a free gift God gives us to overcome the obstacles and stoppages along the way of doing God’s will and it enables us to accept God’s grace and power for accomplishing whatever God wants us to do. Jesus encourages us to have this faith, even if as small as a mustard seed, it is something dynamic, active and very alive.
It is this faith that enables our five Dominican brothers to renew their religious profession in the province of our Lady of the Rosary. During the Mass of 27th Ordinary Sunday, these five brothers made their renewal of religious vows in the hand of the prior of St Dominic House in Macau, in place of the Master of the Order of Preachers. Being a part of missionary province, they additionally declared their intention to go to the missions of the Province wherever they may be assigned by the superiors. The brothers who made their renewal of religious vows are; Bro. Peter Phan Ngo Xuan Thoai O.P, Bro. Joseph Nguyen Ngoc Huy O.P, Bro. Antonio Lee O.P, Bro. Mario U Shwe O.P, and Bro. Matthew Shing Mang Htun O.P.
After the ceremony, I curiously asked each of them how they felt or how they were inspired to do their renewal of religious profession, to continue the dedicated life as a religious. Here are their answers:
“I’m happy because I believe that God, the Church and the Province are also pleased with my response.â€
“Strengthened by renewing my commitment to God and community, I believe that with God’s help and the support from the community, I can pursue my calling with hope and joy as a religious.â€
“I’m happy to make my renewal profession. I believe God’s calling to be a Dominican. I would like to follow Him forever as a Dominican brother and our Mother Mary will guide me to her Sonâ€.
“To follow Christ, especially as a religious, it’s the best adventure I have ever. I am very happy and thank God for His graces and I hope I’ll be trying to follow what I have professedâ€.
“I eventually feel much better than before, especially when I renew my religious vows. I feel it brings me closer to God and hopefully I will be a good follower of Christ in futureâ€.
After hearing their answers, I feel I am deeply inspired to renew my religious vows for life. I do believe that in religious profession, we are bound and united in a community that lives in the evangelical counsels and in the community we, brothers help one another with the strength and support to follow Christ as our Father Dominic followed.
Bro. Paul Aung Myint Win O.P
St. Dominic’s Priory celebrated simply and joyfully the arrival of a new member: Fr. Edmond Eh Kim Chew.
Fr. Edmond was previously assigned to the House of St. Joseph in Kowloon, Hong Kong. A recently ordained Dominican priest, Fr. Edmond is at present the new Moderator of St. Dominic Center of Studies, a teacher of philosophical subjects at the Faculty of Christian Studies of the University of Saint Joseph and a candidate for the doctorate in philosophy at the University of Macau.
The assignment of Fr. Edmund to our community by Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, our Prior Provincial, was read right after supper on September 16, 2013. At present our community is composed of thirty (30) members: twenty two (22) student brothers and eight priests.
Brother Edmond, a cordial and fraternal welcome!
Three Dominican brothers are accepted to the Holy Orders: two for the deaconate, and one for the priesthood.
On June 29, 2013, the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul three brothers received sacred orders. The place of the ordination: Macau Cathedral. The ordaining prelate: the Bishop of Macau, Joseph Lai, DD. The concelebrants with the Bishop: about forty priests, Dominicans from the communities of Hong Kong and Macau, religious men from the congregations of Macao, and secular priests. Our Dominican brothers were the acolytes. An excellent choir composed of the aspirants of the Dominican Missionaries of the Rosary and the Dominican brothers of our Studium Generale of St. Dominic’s Priory. The faithful that filled the Cathedral were the families and friends of the three ordinandi, religious women of different congregations and some lay faithful from Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau
The celebration of the Mass and the Rites of Ordination were conducted devotedly and joyfully. The choir animated the celebration with appropriate songs. Among the moving moments of the celebration were the Laying on of Hands by the Bishop and the concelebrating priests, and, as it usually happen in all ordinations, the challenging words of the Bishop to the brothers being ordained that are said first in the Homily and second in the Presentation of the Book of the Gospels: “Believe what your read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.â€
After the solemn liturgical celebration, Fr. Javier Gonzalez, OP, Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Province of the two new deacons and the new priest, gave words of thanks to the Bishop, to the parents of the three newly ordained, to all who prepared and executed superbly the program of the enchanting liturgy, and to all present.
After the Mass, all the people present were invited to a simple reception at the neighboring School of St. Joseph. From there, the special guests were led to a good nearby restaurant to continue the celebration with a light program of songs and speeches that took place while the guests enjoyed tasteful, varied and plentiful Chinese food.
June 29 is a historical day for the Dominicans and for the diocese of Macau! Indeed a red-lettered day to remember.
Thank you, Lord!
 BROTHERS RENEW PROFESSION
Four student brothers just renewed their simple profession on the hands of their Prior Provincial.
On June 29, 2013 Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul four Dominican student brothers renewed for the first time their simple profession as members of the Order of Preachers. Fr. Javier González, OP, Prior Provincial of Our Lady of the Rosary Province took their promise on behalf of Fr. Bruno Cadoré, OP, Master of the Order. The profession renewal was held at St. Dominic’s Priory during the Morning Prayer of the community.
The four joyful brothers are: Bro. Pius Yu Yo Sin, from Korea; Bro. Antoninus H., from China; Bro. Joseph Tran Van Huong, from Vietnam, and Bro. Luke Tran Van Tam, also from Vietnam
On June 17, 2013 Fr. Lancelote, a very popular priest of Macau was taken by the Good Lord to heaven. He was ninety years old. On June 22, His Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Macau Cathedral with participation of priests, relatives, friends and hundreds of ordinary lay faithful that filled the Church. The Bishop of Macau, the Most Reverend Joseph Lai presided over the Eucharist and over thirty secular and religious priests concelebrated with him, including some Dominicans. After the Mass, the burial took place at the St. Michael Archangel Catholic Cemetery.
Of Portuguese descent, Fr. Lancelote was born in Malacca, Malaysia on December 21, 1949. He was ordained priest in Macau on October 6, 1949. As the Macau delegate of Catholic Social Services-USCC and Director of the Secretariat of od the Diocesan Services for Social Welfare Macau, the good priest dedicated himself for nearly six decades to social services not only in Macau but also in Mainland China and other neighboring countries.
Fr. Lancelote is a household name in Macau, where he served the Diocese and the people with competence, dedication and great generosity. He was well-known for his total commitment to refugees, the poor, the disabled and other disadvantaged minorities.
Fr Lancelote was a close friend of the Dominican in Macau. I fact, he was for a long time the only Dominican Tertiary in Macau.
Well done, brother. May you rest in peace!Â
