Welcome to the China Bulletin - January 2017

Happy New Year 2017 

Thank you Lord for all that has been of 2016 

Yes Lord for all that is in store for 2017 

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AEYG 2017+CF to be held in Yogyakarta 

TRUE WITNESSES AND MESSENGERS OF THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IN DIVERSITY will be the theme for the Asia East Youth Gathering 2017 with the Claretian Family (AEYG 2017+CF) to be held from 1 - 7 August 2017 in Yogjakarta - Indonesia. The theme and the dates were announced during the ASCLA East Youth coordinators’ meeting at Yogjakarta from 6 to 8 December 2016. 

Yohanes M. Vianey, CMF, the delegate superior of Indonesia-Timor Leste shared with the group the three mystic-words of Pope Francis to the Claretian Missionaries - TO ADORE, TO WALK and TO ACCOMPANY. The group had a reflection and sharing on the message of the Pope.  The AEYG 2017 + CF will be held simultaneously with the Asian Youth Day 2017 which will also be celebrated in Yogyakarata. The AEYG participants would join just for one of the days of AYD. 

The previous edition of the AEYG was celebrated in 2015 in Quezon City, in the Philippines. Thanks to Indonesia-Timor Leste Independent Delegation for hosting this preparatory meeting and all the best wishes to the coordinators and the participants. Let AEYG 2017 + CF be a channel for all of us to be a TRUE WITNESSES AND MESSENGERS OF THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IN DIVERSITY.
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Cantata Macau 2016

Cantata Macau 2016 - The first ever International Choral Festival of Macau was celebrated on 3 & 4 December in St. Joseph Seminary Chapel and Fatima Church Macau. It was a joint venture of St. Augustine's Choir and the Claretian Publications, Macau. 

Fr. Jijo, Director of the Claretian Publications and the organiser of the event, at the closing ceremony of Cantata Macau 2016 at the Fatima Church in Macau 

Although the first of its kind in Macau, the festival attracted 10 various choir from the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Macau.

The participating choirs during their joint performance

San Pedro College Davao Choir (Philippines)

Thomasian Chamber Choir (Philippines)

Mahildol University Choir (Thailand)

Centro Escolar University Choir - Makati (Philippines)

Vocalismo Choral Group (Philippines)

Sto. Augustinho Choir (Macau)

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Pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Francis Xavier 

Fr. Jojo from his early years in Macau started the practice of leading pilgrims from Macau to the tomb of St. Francis Xavier in the month of December, in connection with the feast day of St. Francis Xavier. As per the "custom", this time too, he lead a group of pilgrims to Shangchuan Island  (St. John's Island) where St. Francis Xavier breathed his last on 3 December 1552.  

Every time he travels to the tomb, he encounters some miraculous experiences. This time, the site is closed for some major renovation work and pilgrims are not allowed to visit the site. In spite of knowing this before hand, Fr. Jojo led a group to the Island and there he comes across some one who was influential and could get access to the site and have mass there! 

This is the main island of on the southern coast of China. Its name originated from São João ("Saint John" in Portuguese). It is part of the Guangdong province, in the South China Sea. Located 14 km from the mainland, it is the largest island in the province. 

The Spanish (Navarre) Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier died on the island on December 3, 1552, as he was waiting for a ship to take him to mainland China.

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Advent , "Simbang Gabi" & Christmas 

During the season of Advent, parishioners of Epiphany Church in Mui Wo have visited the home for the elderly in Mui Wo and Tai O with singing of carols and Christmas gifts for the elderly. 

The Youth For Life members singing Carols
in the home for the aged in Mui Wo

Carolling in the Mui Wo home for the aged 

The Youth group members after Carolling in Mui Wo 

Now it's the elders' turn! : Performance by the Epiphany Parish group during the Silvermine Bay Carnival, which is an annual cultural festival of the island. 

During the Silvermine Bay Carnival 

"Go and tell that the Saviour is born"!
Carols Singing on the streets! 

Fr. Ezakias giving the message during
Christmas party for the elderly in Pengchau 

Christmas party for the elderly in
Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, Pengchau

Ah! The Santa is here, with gifts indeed! Fr. Ezakias in action! 

Together with the Principal and students of  Holy Family School
during the elderly party 

Looking for the "Star in the East"?
Our Altar Servers during the "Christmas Camp" in Tai O 

Mid-night prayer gathering on the roof-top!
During the Christmas Camp for the Youth 

Tai O community after the Christmas Vigil Mass 

The “Simbang Gabi” is a long treasured Philippine tradition originally a series of “dawn masses” for nine consecutive days before Christmas Day. Its liturgical significance emanates from the Season of Advent, being the time of spiritual preparation and purification to worthily welcome and receive the Child Jesus in our midst. The Mass at Dawn, Simbang Gabi, is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. It starts every December 16th and is one of the longest and most important religious celebrations in the Philippines that has lasted over 600 years. 

There is a strong presence of Filipinos in the two parishes we serve in Macau and Hong Kong. As in the past years, this year too Simbang Gabi masses were organised in St. Lawrence Church in Macau and Epiphany Church, Mui Wo and Our lady Queen of Peace Chapel, Pengchau in Hong Kong. 

Christmas Party in Mui Wo 

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Mission in Yunnan 

A Claretian presence on the southern borders of China - our project among tribal minorities.

Yunnan Province, China

In the monthly blogs of the past 11 years we have talked about many places in China, but this is the first time we write about Yunnan. Yunnan Province has more than 46 million inhabitants. Its territory covers an area of ​​394,100 km². It is located in the south of the country and has border crossings with Laos, Burma and Vietnam.

Rice terraces in Yunnan Province, China

Its geography is very varied: mountainous in the border area with Tibet and with great valleys in the lowlands. The highest point of the province is the Kagebo peak, of 6,740 meters of altitude. 

Its population is formed by more than 20 different ethnic groups, among which the Miao, Bai, Yi and Hani stand out.

Nature is beautiful

A Claretian missionary, our companion, works with these minorities who live cut off from the "civilised world" and in a very precarious situation. Education of children is the urgent missionary focus of the region. 

Reality:

A group of Claretian associates from Hong Kong, Macao and China make economic aid possible on this missionary front. 

Wish to join hands? Feel free to contactus:  https://www.facebook.com/CANDLELIGHTCMF/?fref=ts

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From the Publications 

As the Christmas was approaching, the Claretian Publications (Claret Publishing group worldwide) received a surprise Christmas gift: Apostolic Blessings:- 

"To the Claretian Publications, with my blessing 

and my gratitude for all the good they do"

 - Francisco 

09/12/2016

Thank you Papa Francisco! 

Amoris Laetitia - A handbook for families  

Claretian Publications has just published a summary of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia with questions and answers for families. 

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Wish you all a prosperous Year of the Rooster! 

While most of the world is done celebrating the arrival of 2017, the Chinese New Year will begin on January 28 marking the start of the Year of the Rooster.

2017 is the Year of the Rooster according to Chinese Zodiac, a 12 year cycle symbolized by the 12 animals. According to this calendar, the Chinese New Year falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 every year and the occasion is celebrated with much pomp and grandeur across the globe. The revelry typically includes new clothes, family dinners, gift exchanging, decorations marked by an abundance of the colour red (a symbol of good luck and prosperity) and enthusiastic celebrations including firecrackers and the customary lion and dragon dances.

Welcome to the China Bulletin - December 2016

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.

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.

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Adieu Fr. Tom!

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. 

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"! 

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

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

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. 

With a few of the pilgrims who made it to the Abbey on foot

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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Fr. Jojo on pilgrimage to India and Nepal

Fr. Jojo (Centre) and Fr. Yuen (left) led a group of
30 pilgrims to India and Nepal 

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. 

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 16^th 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.

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. 

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.  

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.  

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.

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 .

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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.

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! 

 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.

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The Moon Gazers! 

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! 

The elders show the way! Fr. Alberto and Fr. Marques 

A view of the Hong Kong skyline on the Super-moon night