Solemn Profession of Bro. Joseph Tran Van Huong op

On the occasion of Good Shepherd Sunday (7 May, 2017) Saint Dominic Priory in Macau witnessed the solemn profession of our Brother Joseph Tran Van Huong during the Sunday Mass presided by Fr. Provincial.

Among those who attended the celebration were the Fathers from the communities of Saint Joseph House and Saint Albert Priory, in Hong Kong, professors from the University of Saint Joseph, the Dominican family and friends of the community.

A good representation from the local Vietnamese community was also present during the liturgical event.

Although the profession ceremony was simple, its solemnity was not diminished despite the space; and was further enhanced by the beautiful songs and tasteful selections of the repertoire during the Mass. At the end Brother Joseph had some beautiful words of gratitude.

After the celebration, a simple agape was prepared at the social hall the all the friars, sisters, and guests in attendance.

 

Coincidiendo con el Domingo del Buen Pastor (7 de mayo, 2017) nuestro convento de Santo Domingo en Macao fue testigo de la profesión solemne de nuestro hermano vietnamita Joseph Tran Van Huong, durante la Misa presidida por el Prior Provincial.

Entre los presentes en la celebración estaban los Padres de las comunidades de San José y de San Alberto, de Hong Kong, algunos profesores de la Universidad de San José, la Familia dominicana y amigos de la comunidad.

También estaba presente en la celebración una buena representación de la comunidad vietnamita local.

Aunque la ceremonia de la profesión fue sencilla, sin embargo, su solemnidad estuvo enmarcada dentro de la Misa por la buena selección de canciones hecha por nuestros estudiantes. Al final, fray Joseph tuvo unas bonitas palabras de agradecimiento, con un recuerdo especial para sus padres.

Después de la celebración, hubo un ágape en la casa al que asistieron todos los asistentes a la Misa, los hermanos y las hermanas dominicas.

ENHORABUENA A NUESTRO HERMANO JOSÉ.

DOMINICAN JUBILEE 800 ENDS IN MACAU

Jarvis Sy Hao, O.P.

The 800 jubilee celebrations in the Hong Kong Macau-China Area will formally end on 22 December 2016, with a Solemn Thanksgiving Mass at the historic Church of São Domingos in Macau. The Eucharistic celebration will be presided by His Excellency, Stephen Lee Bun San, Bishop of Macau as the Dominican men and women in the region will gather to celebrate, to thank God for the gift of preaching, and to beg strength from  Him, to face the new challenges ahead. At the same time, it wants to be a manifestation of gratitude of the Order to the Church in Macau for her continued support and hospitality to the brethren.

On 7 November 2015, the inauguration of the Jubilee year began the year long celebrations worldwide and at the local level.  The choice of Macau to culminate the celebrations in the region and in the Church of São Domingos, is not only to relive the fact of the many challenges faced by the founders when they came to the Far East, but also our commitment to serve the Church in the missions, specifically the Church in China which is intimately linked in the long and glorious history of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The project of Dominic de Guzmán

It should be recalled that a providential trip to Southern France enabled S. Dominic de Guzmán (1170-1221), then a Canon Regular of the Diocese of Osma (Castille), to open his horizon to contemplate the challenge of the Church in his time: the threat of heresy and error, the reform of the clergy and the need of revitalizing the Church through preaching and instruction. Though he collaborated with the preaching work with Papal legates and other clerics, in the end, he was left alone to assume the responsibility in continuing the work of preaching and reconciling sinners and heretics. Thus the idea of a religious institution fully dedicated to the work of preaching. He first organized a community of contemplative women who supported the work of the preachers through their prayers and sacrifices. This would later evolved into the contemplative nuns of the Order. Then he organized the clerics and recruited new members into his project, organizing themselves as clerics living in common and sharing the same mission of preaching. Lastly, lay persons who continue to live in their particular states of life, support and collaborate in the work of the Order. This would later become what is known as the “Lay Dominicans”.

On the occasion of the IV Lateran Council (1215), Dominic was able to present his project to the Pontiff, Innocent III, who though giving tacit permission for the foundation, demanded some clarifications and requirements as stipulated by the recently concluded Council.

The official written confirmation of the foundation of the Order was published by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216, entitled “Religiosam Vitam”, recognizing the establishment of Dominic and his companions as a religious Order with all the rights and privileges it shall assume. Further bulls and Papal letters published henceforth would begin to delineate the charism, specificity and mission of the “new” Order of Preachers. By the Summer of 1217, as he gathered the friars to celebrate the great Marian feast of the Assumption, he dispersed the brethren throughout Christendom, sending them to urban centers and university cities as well as locales of frontier mission. This not only facilitated the friars in the preaching ministry, but also their access to formal education and formation and seek sources for vocational recruitment. And since then, throughout eight hundred years, the Order continues to serve the Church around the world.

 

Dominicans in Macau

The Order of Preachers arrived in Macau on 1 September, 1587; the founders were part of the first group of Friars who were tasked to found a Province in the Far East in order to evangelize the “Empire of China and surrounding kingdoms”.  The three founders were Castillians who came by way of México. On the basis of a donation of some properties near the Chinese bazar, the friars were able to begin conventual life and ministry on 23 October 1587, and the community was officially known as the House of Our Lady of the Rosary, the first house of the Order in Chinese soil. Due to the political climate and the animosity between Spain and Portugal, the founders were ordered to leave the enclave and sent home via Portuguese India; and in their place, the Portuguese Dominicans from India came to assume the foundation and presence till the suppression of the religious Orders in 1835. The beautiful Church of São Domingos (rebuilt few years before the suppression) stands as the mute testament of a florid presence of the friars in Macau.

Macau had to wait till the 1950’s, specifically after the “Liberation” of China, that the Dominican Missionaries of the Holy Rosary came to Macau to work in the Diocese. The sisters began their presence as housekeepers for the Diocesan Seminary and later assumed work in medical aid, education and care for orphans. They were followed by the American Maryknoll Sisters who began to assume interesting ministries in the territory a tradition they continue till this day.

At the invitation of Msgr. Domingos Lam, Bishop of Macau, the Dominican friars returned to the territory a few years prior to the handover. The brethren came to assume the work of administering the Diocesan owned “Escola São Paulo” and collaborate in some parochial ministries. By 2006, it was decided that the Students’ Community and House of Studies be established in Macau and by 2008, the House was raised into the category of a Convent. Today the Macau community is one of the biggest communities of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Far East where future missionaries are being formed.

 

Looking forward

Despite the many challenges, the Order continues to be optimistic with the future. While various missions in the area need new blood to continue the missionary work as well as reorganization, new presences in other emerging Churches continue: in Myanmar where the Order has three communities and in the recently established presence at Timor Leste.

Chronicle of the Closing of the Jubilee 800

Jarvis Sy O.P.

The closing of the Jubilee celebrations for the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary took place on 22 December, 2016 at the historic São Domingos Church at the historic center of the city.

There was no other venue more appropriate for the occasion as it was the first Dominican foundation in Chinese soil, despite the fact that the foundation was short lived and was transferred to the Portuguese friars, the historic Church remains as a symbol of the Province’s undying commitment to evangelize the “ancient kingdom of China and its neighbouring kingdoms”, the unfinished encounter with the Chinese people, a desiderata that has perdured through centuries.

The thanksgiving mass began at 5:00 pm with Msgr. Stephen Lee Bun San, the Bishop of Macau as main celebrant, assisted by  Fr. Javier González, Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary Province, Fr. Hyacinth He Yousun, Socius of the Provincial and Prior of Saint Albert Priory, (Rosaryhill, HK), Fr. Timoteo Merino, the Master of Novices, Fr. Bonifacio García Solís, ex Provincial and Syndic of the Province and Fr Manoel Machado, the Vicar General of the Macau Diocese.

Msgr. Stephen Lee Bun San, the Bishop of Macau as main celebrant and the concelebrants

The concelebrants –the brethren from Macau and HK communities- as well as some members of the Diocesan and Religious clergy of Macau, were led in the solemn procession by the huge Dominican cross from the Priory which was carried by the novice Brother Carlos  and the Book of the Gospel by Brother Luigi. They processed through the main nave of the Church as the joint choir of the student brothers, novices, sisters and postulants began to sing the Jubilee Song of the Order.

The bishop upon approaching the altar began the incensation of the altar and the crucifix and began the liturgy. Clad in heavy red brocade, with the co-concelebrants in more somber red chasubles and stoles, (to mark the festive tone of the celebrations as well as to commemorate the witnessing of the martyrs of the Province!!!) he began to lead the Confiteor. After the recitation of the collect of the day, the assembly proceeded to the Liturgy of the Word.

The first reader was Brother Ben Lei Chi Hang OP, a Macau resident and professed student brother. He read the first reading from the book of Samuel in Cantonese. The responsorial psalm was sung by two postulants from our Sisters community: the Timorese Dionisia Salsiha Maia and the Burmese Sabina Themar whose angelic voices led the chanting of the responsorial psalm. An additional reading on the charism of preaching was read by Sister Julieta da Costa our Timorese Dominican sister working in the diocese. After the joyous singing the Gospel acclamation, Fr. Edmund Eh OP, a Singaporean friar and the Moderator of Studies/ Director of the Center of Studies read the Gospel on the Magnificat.

(The First Reading by Brother Ben Lei Chi Hang OP, The responsorial psalm by two postulants from our Sisters community: the Timorese Dionisia Salsiha Maia and the Burmese Sabina Themar

After the solemn reading of the Gospel, the Bishop took the ambo and preached on the figure of Mary and the role and charism of the Order; making beautiful reference on the Marian canticle.

Fr. Fausto Gómez, the Subprior of Macau and      the Provincial Promoter of the Jubilee

After the homily, Fr. Fausto Gómez, the Subprior of Macau and the Provincial Promoter of the Jubilee, led the congregation for the Act of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of the Dominican vocation. This dialogued special prayer was based on the “act of praise” used during the annual Day of Consecrated Life when men and women religious reaffirm their commitment to the gospel. Four Dominicans were invited to respond: a professed student brother (Brother Joseph Tran Van Huong, a Vietnamese), a novice (Brother Christian Conlon, an Australian), a Maryknoll Sister, American, and a lay Dominican (Janet Choi). After each petition the whole assembly broke into song… After the act of praise we proceeded with the “Te Deum” as the Church reverberated with the Hymn of Holy God we praise thy name!!

Next followed the Prayer of the Faithful… there were eight intentions all in all and four persons were tasked to lead the prayers: A student brother (Brother Albert Liu, a Chinese), a novice brother (Brother Gabriel Khun Ri, a Burmese), a lay Dominican (Sister Rose Pae Alcántara- Filipina) and a woman religious (Sr. Elsamma George OP, Indian).

The next part of the liturgy was the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The offertory procession was led by the two candle bearers who led the offerers from the main door of the Church to the presbytery. The offerers were: Brother Mannes Kim (Korean) bearing the fruit basket; Sister Begoña Abad OP (Spaniard), bearing the basket of flowers; Sister Ann (American) bringing the bread and sister Marian Navarro Yip (Filipina) carrying the cruets of wine and water. They marched through the great nave as the choir sang the “Veni Veni Emmanuel”, in Latin.

While the proper prayers for the mass and the readings were taken from the proper liturgy of the day as it was within the Major week of Advent, the Bishop allowed us to use the Proper Preface of the Patronage of Our Lady over the Order which evoked her maternal protection and inspiration in the work of Dominic and the life of the Order.

The Eucharistic Prayer III was chosen for the concelebration and the “Pater noster” was sung in Cantonese by the grand choir with aplomb.

During communion, as the congregation processed into the nave, Brother Bosco deftly played the organ with beautiful rendition of “Jesus, the joy of man’s desire”, to create a moment of recollection and prayerfulness.

After communion, the assembly took up to sing King’s “Dominican Magnificat” which was sang with profound emotion by the friars.

After the post communion prayer, Fr. Provincial took the opportunity to thank those who attended and to wrap up the celebration.

Fr. Javier González, Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of     the Rosary Province

After the solemn blessing proper of the Advent season, Fr. Hyacinth He was asked to lead the solemn Salve with the chanting of the solemn tone of Salve Regina complete with candle bearers and bearer of the holy water vat. In the middle of the hymn, Fr. Hyacinth began to sprinkle holy water to the congregation.

The recessional began as the friars began to chant the antiphon “O Spem miram…” The commentator and liturgist was Fr Jarvis Sy and the conductor was the cantor mayor of the priory, Brother Abraham Ning Ki Gei.

Souvenirs were handed out to those who attended. They were a commemorative fan and a book on the life of S. Dominic. After the celebrations, the guests were brought to the Banquet Hall of Sintra Hotel where the guests were served with a buffet. It was about 8:30 when the dinner ended and those who had to return to HK on the same day left for the Ferry Terminal.

We thank the collaborative effort of all the brethren in the region, especially those of Macau for the preparations as well as the many details to make the celebration unforgettable.
The impressive presence of the friars in formation who were clad with the black and white habit filling the baroque Church was a great marvel to behold; not to mention the solemn Salve… It had been more than a century when this chant was sung by a great number of friars with such intense depth and emotion.

 

Lenten Season at the Priory – Macau 2017

We, the Dominican Brothers of Saint Dominic Priory, would like to invite you to share with us our Lenten journey at our Priory.