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| Merry Christmas 2016 & Joyous and prosperous New Year 2017 |
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The Chinese Blog is one year old!
When
a group of friends offered to translate the China Bulletin – Blog of the
Claretians in China into traditional Chinese in the Month of October 2015, it
saw the beginning of a new page in the media ministry of the Claretians. The
China Bulletin Blog was begun in 2006 under the title “Macau Bulletin” to share the life and mission of the
Claretians, working in the China Region.
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| With the team of 她心中的孩子--樂仁 blog: Teresa Wong, Teresa Mak, Emily Woo and Kwok Lin Wah in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel, Tai O |
Macau
Bulletin was renamed as China Bulletin in 2010 in order to give a wider
perspective to the monthly bulletin, covering the life of the missionaries in
Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. But one of the drawbacks of the
bulletin was that it’s target audience were not of the Chinese speaking
regions! By 2015, the monthly bulletin was posted online in three different
languages – English, Spanish and in Italian. Of course, each of them is
customised for their target audience.
It
was during this time, some of the “friends of Claretians” in Hong Kong
suggested to have a Chinese translation of the Bulletin for the benefit of the
Chinese-speaking people who are the real beneficiaries of the mission. And that
was the beginning of the Chinese Bulletin of the Claretians in China 她心中的孩子--樂仁 .
In
October 2016, the Chinese bulletin has completed one of year of bloging. The
translation team gathered together in Mui Wo for a day of sharing and planning
for the future. Thank you dear “team” for your valuable contributions in
sharing in the mission of spreading the Word.
Indeed, you are taking up a huge responsibility now. But, we know that
if it is God’s work, He will find His own ways of guiding his people.
Adieu Fr. Tom!
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| Fr. Tom Peyton, MM leaving Hong Kong |
Fr. Tom Peyton, a Maryknoll priest, after many decades of dedicated service to the Church in Hong Kong and in Mainland China, has returned to the United States on 14 November. He turned 85 a couple of months ago. 10 years ago when Fr. Jojo was looking for a residence while doing his language studies in the University, Fr. Tom Welcomed him to his parish. Later, Fr. Jose and Ezakias also stayed with him while attending classes. He was indeed a mentor to the first Claretians in Hong Kong. From then on, he in particular and the Maryknolls in general have been of great support to the Claretians.
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| Ms. Rosa Chan, a long-time aid to Fr. Tom bidding farewell |
His regular visits to the centers for the leprosy affected and to the schools in the mainland gave us opportunities to open our missionary options in the later stage. He was a great promoter of the Word of God. He helped us in distributing our Chinese Daily Gospel and Chinese Bibles both in Hong Kong and in the Mainland. He was indeed a great entrepreneur, a visionary and above all a committed missionary. Before his departure, we had a chance to have lunch with him in his favourite "Good and Cheap" restaurent in Ngau Tau Kok. While encouraging us to take up the ministry for the prisoners, which was one of his passions, he also had this to say: "Let me see what new projects can I take up in New York, before I return to Hong Kong"!
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| Thank you Fr. Tom for the witness of life! |
There is a beautiful story in the Old Testament about Prophet Elisha: When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." He said, "You have asked a hard thing. (2 Kings 2:9). How I wish I could make a similar prayer!
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Year of Mercy Pilgrimage
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| Pilgrims in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Tsing Yi |
A
group of parishioners of Epiphany parish made a pilgrimage to the St. Thomas
the Apostle Church in Tsing Yi, designated as one of the seven Holy Doors in
the diocese of Hong Kong. Pilgrimage was concluded with a Eucharistic Celebration
in the reliquary Chapel of the Church, where the relic of St. Thomas the
Apostle is preserved.
St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Christ is
believed to have undergone martyrdom in India in the year 70 AD. Fr. Ezakias and Fr. Jose accompanied the
pilgrims.
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Closing of the Holy Doors in Our Lady of Joy Abbey
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| During the closing of the Holy Doors in the Trappist Monastery in Lantau Island |
The
Holy Doors in the Trappist Monastery in the Lantau Island was the first to hold
the closing ceremony, kick-starting the closing of the ‘Holy Year of Mercy
celebrations’ in the diocese of Hong Kong.
The parishioners from Peng Chau, Mui
Wo and Tai O attended the Solemn Eucharistic celebration, officiated by the
abbot of the Monastery. A group of parishioners from Mui Wo together with Fr.
Jose made a pilgrimage by walk to the Monastery, which is a little more than 3
kms. through the mountains from Mui Wo.
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| With a few of the pilgrims who made it to the Abbey on foot |
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Fr. Jojo on pilgrimage to India and Nepal
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| Fr. Jojo (Centre) and Fr. Yuen (left) led a group of 30 pilgrims to India and Nepal |
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| Fr. Jojo and Fr. Yuen together with the pilgrims from Hong Kong and Macau with the children they sponsor in Nepal |
Fr.
Jojo led a group of 30 pilgrims from Macau and Hong Kong to India and Nepal in
the middle of November 2016. Besides visiting holy shrines and famous churches
in Goa and Kerala, the pilgrims visited some centers for the leprosy affected
in the region.
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| A repeat of Francis Xavier?! Fr. Jojo celebrating mass on the beaches of Goa |
A visit to Bom Jesus Church in Goa, which is the custodian of
the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier, a 16th Century Jesuit
Missionary and to the Mount of the Holy Cross in Kerala, where St. Thomas the
Apostle is believed to have prayed, were some of the highlights of the
pilgrimage in India.
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| In Nepal |
“The
Candle Light”- the Charity wing of the lay associates of the Claretians in
Macau and Hong Kong, under the guidance of Fr. Jojo is helping the education of
Children in an earthquake-hit village in Nepal.
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| An Indo-Sino fusion! |
To visit to this remote village
and to meet the children they are helping was one of the objectives of their
trip to Nepal. The pilgrims from Macau and Hong Kong are our collaborators in
the mission in this part of the world.
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| Being with them, at least for a while |
The
village in Nepal was hit by the 2014 earthquake which shattered the homes and
hopes of the people here. The Claretian Missionaries from India are involved in
the rebuilding and rehabilitation projects here.
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| Being with the poor, for the Lord is with them! |
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Sharing the little that we have
Epiphany
parish in Mui Wo is one of the smallest parishes in terms of parishioners in
the diocese of Hong Kong. It is one of the largest parishes in terms of the
geographical area it covers. The parish is not financially sound, as vast
majority of the parishioners are domestic helpers who hail from various
nationalities such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka etc. Therefore, the
parish relies on the diocese.
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| Fr. Alberto and Fr. Marques with the parishioners in Mui Wo, Getting ready with the box of used goods for the needy |
Yet,
we find joy in sharing the little we have with the one who is in need. Recently
we have sent a few boxes of clothes and goods to some of the poorest regions of
the Philippines .
150 million Bibles
On
November 9, 2016, Amity Printing, the printing company in China with whom the
Pastoral Bible Foundation has been working for the past 18 years, celebrated
its 30th anniversary. During the past 30 years in the industry, they have
printed 150 million copies of the bible, in more than 100 languages, and sent
to more than 70 countries.
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| Amity Printing Press in Nanjing, China |
Amity
Printing - over 600 workers work there, but over 90% of them do not believe in
the Bible! Yet as far as printing the Bible is concerned, there are not many to
compare with!
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| Nancy, Jill and Fanny of the Amity Printing with Divine. |
What
is expected of a printing company? When Fr. Alberto started dealing with this
printing company in China he asked for three things: print quality, good price
and timely delivery. After a couple of years he added one more requirement: 'a
credit line' that was given to him. But what he considers as the most important
thing was his discovery of what the Chinese call: 好的 关系 (hou dik guan-hai) an expression that can be translated as "good
relationships". After 18 years of collaboration, the Amity Printing is like
"we are family!". It is a very great deal of friendship that does not
hinder the necessary commercial relationship.
The Moon Gazers!
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| Fr. Ezakias, Fr. Alberto and Fr. Marques |
November 14 presented the moon's closest encounter with Earth in over 68 years, since January 26, 1948. And we have made it a night to remember! With a couple of pizzas and drinks we climbed the mountain overlooking the Mui Wo beach to watch the moon!
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| The elders show the way! Fr. Alberto and Fr. Marques |
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| A view of the Hong Kong skyline on the Super-moon night |
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