With the main purpose of meeting the Students, Fr. Pablo Sicouly, Socius of the Master of the Order for the Intellectual Life, paid a three-day visit (5 to 7 of January) to our Priory in Macau. The occasion was also propitious for him to meet the entire Dominican Family in Macau (Friars, Sisters and Laity). And so it happened: An extraordinary gathering was convoked at St Paul School in the afternoon of January 6, Epiphany Sunday.
           The program consisted of three parts. In the first one, we listened to a lecture on “The Challenges of Dominican Study†delivered by Fr Pablo. He based the talk on the first part of the Ratio Studiorum Generalis. Then a friendly dialogue followed between the Socius and the participants. Some student brothers and some Sisters, too, had the opportunity to share with the socius about their institutional study. Fr Pablo answered from his own experience and current position, to the points in questions; and he ended up encouraging all the Students to cultivate the habit of study, something essential for a Dominican.
           After the academic part, the participants moved to the School Chapel where we prayed Vespers together. It was indeed meaningful that the Dominican Family in Macau prayed together. The singing of the Salve Regina and the O Lumen was the crowned those liturgical moments.
           The last part of the program took the form of agape. Having dinner together is another way of sharing. In blessing the food we prayed that “partaking from the same table may help us grow always in brotherhood.†Indeed the agape dinner was the way for us, Dominicans, to share our brotherly and sisterly love as one family in Christ Jesus.
Fr Pablo left for Hong Kong in the afternoon of January 7. Since it was his first time in Macau, he treasured a lot of memories of persons and places. One thing that impressed him was the joyful and harmonious community life lived at St Dominic’s Priory. He enjoyed also his visit to the University of St Joseph, to St Dominic’s church and the other emblematic places Macau offers to visitors. We thanked Fr Pablo for his visit
By:Brs Stehen Saw Lej Kapaw Htoo and Andre Pereira
The Faculty day is an annual commemorative event held by the Faculty of Religious Studies of Saint Joseph University, in Macau. It takes place normally around the feast of St Francis Xavier in the first week of December, and it usually brings together all the members of the Faculty i.e. professors, students, staff, alumni, and friends to join in a whole day program of activities. This year, in 2018, the event took place on the 4th of December at Saint Joseph’s Seminary campus.
With the advanced invitation, the Rector of the University, some other Deans and professors from the different faculties, officers of the University, and Superiors of Religious Congregations were also present. The program began at 10:00 am with a morning coffee and friendly conversation among the participants. It was followed by a Lecture delivered by Reverend Dr. Stephen Morgan, the new Dean of the Faculty. In his lecture, entitled The Word was made flesh, the Dean zeroed in mostly on the Mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Right after the lecture, the participants proceeded to Saint Joseph’s Church for the Eucharistic celebration. Some professors and guest priests concelebrated with the Bishop, who was also assisted by the newly ordained Deacons Ignatius Ngo and Francis Nge Nge. In his homily, Bishop Stephen Lee emphasized the importance of prayer for the sake of enhancing a better relationship with God. Furthermore, he also encouraged the students to study seriously with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the source of all understanding. After the homily, Reverend Dr. Stephen Morgan made his profession of faith and oath of fidelity in the presence of the bishop and of the faithful, as he took the office of Dean of the Faculty of Religious Study of the University of Saint Joseph.
Once the Mass was ended, the participants gathered together again in the seminary hall for the partaking of lunch, by now readily set on the table. Since it was also the birthdays of the Rector of the University, Fr. Peter Stilwell, and of our Dominican brother Fr. Fausto Gomez, we all shared a birthday cake jointly cut by both of them after blowing the customary candles and the singing of “Happy Birthday by all those present. The lunch, graced by the bishop, was a great moment in which we continued sharing from the Eucharistic table of the Lord to the daily material food received from His Providence, which keeps us united in brotherhood. In our prayer, we expressed our gratitude to God and remembered those who had prepared the meal for us.
In the afternoon, the program continued with outdoor activities organized by the students of the Faculty consisting of games and soccer competitions. We all took part in them with enthusiasm and indeed, it was very enjoyable. The whole activity was great for the interaction between the professors and students and among the students themselves, for all worked together in groups competing to achieve one goal: to win.
The Faculty Day closed with the awarding of prizes to the winners and lots of picture taking.
A lay group composed of eighteen members, led by Professor Jenny Lao Phillips, paid a friendly visit to the St. Dominic’s Priory of Macao on the 1st of December, 2018 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. They are members of the Macau Catholic Lay Association. With their spiritual growth in mind, the main objective of this visit was for them to know more about the presence and life of the Dominicans in Macau. In fact, it was the first time for this Association to officially visit our community since its foundation in 2006.
The most solid number of it was Fr Fausto Gomez’ short talk on the presence and life of the Dominicans in Macao. He focused on who the Dominicans are, what they are doing here in Macau, where they did come from and where they are heading to. He mentioned also the history of this Priory and of the studentate and the life of the friars. He concluded by remarking also the presence of the Dominican Family in Macau: Friars, Sisters, and Lay members.
As ‘intermission’ number the brothers sang “O Sanctissimaâ€, a traditional Latin hymn addressed to Mother Mary. A brief sharing by four student brothers, the representative from different countries, followed up the singing. There was also a short time for an open forum, with questions and answers on both sides. Then, some refreshments, courtesy of the Association, were friendly shared with all the participants while engaging in joyful and informal conversation.
The encounter was ended by gathering up together in the chapel of the Priory for the singing of “Salve Regina’’ and final blessing.
A group picture and the distribution of some souvenirs rounded off this pleasant and fruitful visit.
The 21st of November 2018 is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this Memorial Day, all the Women Religious in Macau gather together for the Mass in Cathedral to pray and give thanks to God. Fr. Beda Liu, S.J presided the Mass and few priests concelebrated. On this special day, the brothers from the community were invited to sing. Â After the Mass, there was some sharing of conversation among the attendances and at the same time having simple dinner at the hall of the Parish office.
On February 21, a group of four Chinese secondary students from Escola São Paulo came to St. Dominic’s Priory and made a short interview with some of our student brothers about religious vocation and Dominican life. Five of our Brothers, from different countries, welcomed the group and gave friendly responses to their inquiries. Each brother explained to them his vocational journey and the reason why and how he decided to join the Dominicans.
The youngsters were not only interested in our religious vocation and life but also wanted to hear the Brothers’ opinions on other contemporary issues, like the possibility of accepting same-sex marriage by the Church, of having married priests due to the shortage of vocations, etc. They showed interest likewise in knowing about our daily schedule, our prayers, meals, organization, and lifestyle. So towards the end of the interview, to satisfy their curiosity, we showed them the chapel, the refectory, the library, the community room and even one private room. While going around, we explained to them about St Dominic, the founder of our Order, and the significance of the Dominican symbols which they saw. They took plenty of pictures for their records.
The interview ended with words of gratitude on both sides. And since their visit coincided with the Lunar New Year’s holidays, the community gave each of them a red envelope, in keeping with the Chinese customs. It was a pleasant event.
From the Provincial Chapter I would like to send to all the Brothers in the Province this short greeting to wish you a very happy feast-day, and at the same time, I am hereby inviting you to become true messengers of the Truth as our Father wanted.
Let the example of our Founder allow us to be transformed by the power of the Spirit as we contemplate and reflect on the truth so that strengthened by the mystery we contemplate we may become dynamic agents of preaching. This requires enthusiasm, quality of life, service and commitment in favor of those to whom we Lord is sending us. Since he called us, let us do our best and he will be faithful to his promise. Let us do what we can and allow him to lead us along the way.
No seamos agentes pasivos sino hombres de fe e instrumentos en las manos del Señor para enfrentarnos con valentÃa a los desafÃos planteados a la iglesia, a los creyentes y a nosotros, misioneros por vocación.
Let none of us become a passive agent, but men of faith and instruments in the hands of the Lord, that we may have the wisdom and power required to confront the challenges presented to the Church and the believers and to us, missionary by vocation.
Nada podrá hacerse sin la convicción de que la refundación de la Orden y la renovación exige constancia y dinamismo. No obstante, poco haremos si no permitimos al Señor encender en nosotros la llama del amor con que Él nos ama.
Nothing would be done without the conviction that the Order has to be revitalized and renewed through a constant and dynamic process, it cannot be halted. Nevertheless, we will achieve little unless we allow the Lord to set us on fire of that love He has for us.
Que Santo Domingo interceda por nosotros, dinamice nuestras comunidades y avive la llama de la esperanza. Domingo de Guzmán, tu que prometiste ser de más ayuda desde el cielo cumple hoy con tu intercesión lo que prometiste a tus hijos.
May St. Dominic intercede for us, revitalize our community and awaken the flame of hope. Dominic of Guzman, you who promised to be of greater help to your Brothers from heaven, fulfill your promise and come to the aid of your sons and daughters.
