Pilgrimage to Rome

Jose had accompanied a group of pilgrims from Hong Kong to Italy in the second week of June. It has a been an occasion of grace as he is on his Jubilee Year of Religious Profession this year. Jose had made his first vows as a Claretian Missionary on 31 May 1994 at Claret Bhavan, Bangalore in India.

The group had 42 members. The first three days were spent in Vatican, with attending the Pope's general audience on June 11. During the same time, a delegation of six religious leaders from Hong Kong, led by Cardinal John Tong was also present in Vatican.

The group paid a visit to the Catacombs, major Basilicas, Salesian General Curia and the room where St. John Bosco breathed his last, the Colosseum, the Vatican Museum etc. before traveling to La Verna and Assisi. Other major destinations of the pilgrimage were:

the Basilica of Our Lady of Loretto (The Basilica della Santa Casa),
 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/did-angels-really-carry-the-holy-house-of-mary-to-loreto-italy-25088

Our Lady of Pompey,

the relics of St. Padre Pio (San Giovani Rotondo),
 https://www.conventosantuariopadrepio.it/en/home/

The tomb of St. Nicholas,
 https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/saint-in-bari

Monte Cassino of St. Benedict,

Eucharistic Miracle Church of Lanciano
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html

ASCLA EAST Bible Conference in Hong Kong

Stanley, Hong Kong. In the afternoon of Monday, May 13, 2019, the ASCLA East Bible Seminar organized by the General Bible Commission for ASCLA East started with the enthronement of the bible led by Fr. Alejandro Gobrin, CMF of the Philippine Province. Persons in-charge of bible apostolates and of the biblical animation of pastoral ministries from ASCLA East (Independent Delegations of East Asia, Korea, Indonesia-Timor Leste, and the Province of the Philippines), lay and CMFF, are currently gathered together at the Diocesan Retreat House in Stanley, Hong Kong SAR for the said seminar with the theme: “Biblical inspiration of our life and ministries as listeners and servants of the Word”.

General Consultor and Head of the General Bible Commission, Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF is animating the group. Several sessions are lined up to be discussed until the 18th of May: Claret and the Bible / Bible and Transformation / Bible Ministry in the Congregation (Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF); Bible Ministry in Asia / Biblically Inspired Pastoral Ministry (Fr. Alejandro Gobrin, CMF); Bible Ministry and the Media (Fr. Louie Guades III, CMF); Bible Ministry and Publication Ministry (Fr. Alberto Rossa, CMF); and last but not the least, Biblical Apostolate in Youth and Vocations Ministry (Br. Carlos Verga, CMF).

The ASCLA West Bible Seminar which was originally scheduled on the 28th of April to May 2 was rescheduled to October 2018 due to the bombings that happened in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

At the end of the five-days seminar, the participants selected a core group for the biblical apostolate in Asia East conference of the Claretians which will be coordinated by Fr. Alberto Rossa. The Seminar has proposed a resolution for the final approval major superiors of the various organisms in the Conference. The following is the draft of the proposals:

The sharing, discussions and lectures during the assembly enlightened us to identify the
strengths, challenges and the transformations needed in the Biblical Apostolate of the
Conference in general and that of the different organisms. The discussions have been
guided by the 8 directives of the XXV General Chapter, (MS 42-45). The assembly recognized
the need for goals and structures proper to the Conference in order to animate and
empower the Biblical Apostolate. The members of the seminar resolve to collaborate in the
biblical animation of their life and ministries in the following areas.

Pastoral Bible School
1. Establish a Pastoral Bible School at the Conference level to deepen the biblical
formation of the members of the Congregation and Lay people.
2. Begin the first biblical course by 2020 for the Claretians and collaborators.
Formation
1. conduct bible study week, promote lectio divina, bible based conferences, retreats
and recollections at all levels of formation
2. nurture the word of God through ‘Bible Forge’ at Conference level for our
missionaries
3. intensify and multiply lay evangelizers with a biblical orientation through Bible
courses, retreats, conferences and recollections.
Youth Ministry
1. qualify youth gatherings (AEYG) with biblical dimension and animation
2. encourage growth of vocations and lay evangelizers with biblical-vocational-
hermeneutics in engaging with the youth
Apostolate
1. animate all our pastoral ministries through biblical encounters for parish priests, lay
organizations, educational institutions, JPIC, and others within the organisms

Publication and Social Media
1) appoint lay experts in media ministry
2) content production of biblical materials for different ministries
3) training of personnel for the apostolate beginning with the early stages of formation
who can handle both the business and ministerial part of it
4) Sharing of biblical resources with the entire Congregation
5) Facilitate publication of the bible where such help is required

Bible Translation
1) collaborate with the translation work in other organisms of the Congregation
2) assist in the formal training for translation to cater to the needs of the Conference
and even the whole Congregation
3) appoint a translation expert to the Biblical Animation Team of the Conference
Biblical Animation Team
In order to coordinate and animate the execution of the objectives we resolve to
constitute a Biblical Animation Team at the Conference level.
Dated: 17-05-2019
drafted by Jijo Kandamkulathy

Claretians to take care of Cheung Chau Parish

Since 2007 Claretian Missionaries have been present  in Hong Kong as three priests from India came to study Cantonese in the Chinese University. After the competition of their two years of language studies, the diocese assigned two of them to two different parishes as assistant pastors in 2011. Four years later, on 1 November 2015, Epiphany Parish in Lantau island was entrusted to the care of the Claretians. Fr. Jose Cherukara and Fr. Alberto Rossa resided in Mui Wo while caring for the Mass Centers in Tai O and Peng Chau.  Fr. Ezakias joined the parish a year later in 2016.

Fr. Jose with some of the parishioners of Fatima Parish in Cheung Chau 

In May 2019, Fr. Ezakias was appointed the parish priest in Mui Wo while Fr. Jose moved to Our Lady of Fatima Church, Cheung Chau. Fr. Ezakias and Fr. Rossa are joined by Fr. Piotr as the new assistant parish priest in Mui Wo.

Our Lady of Fatima Church is situated in a quiet and serene location near the waterfront of Chueng Chau Tung Wan. Cheung Chau is an offshore island about 10 knots southwest of Hong Kong. With a population of 30,000, it is considered the most densely populated island. Being centrally located amongst the neighboring islands, it enjoyed a strategic position thus attracting residents even 3,000 years ago.  Cheung Chau was already a vibrant rural center in the 17th century, with many shops serving the needs of the neighbouring fishing fleets.  There was a custom house during the Ching dynasty, guarded with garrison and soldiers.

Our Lady of Fatima Church has experienced a long history of development and is now an independent parish, more so, a famous destination for pilgrims of local worshippers.  Pilgrims each year include the third day of the Chinese New Year fpr Chiu Chow and Swatow Catholics, May for the glorious cross and Our Lady of Fatima parade, and October for the Feast Day of patron saint.

People come, notwithstanding inclement weather, to pay tribute to our Lady, to say rosary, to pray for true repentance and peace for the world with whole hearted sincerity and dedication.

Other Catholic Organizations in Cheung Chau

In the 1950’s, the Jesuits and the Salesians have established language centres in Cheung Chau for training of their priests and students.  The Jesuits have also set up their own primary seminary, while the Salesians have developed their institute of philosophy and the Don Bosco centre for the young people.  From 1960’s onwards, Caritas provided community work and youth services in Cheung Chau. 

In respect of education facilities, the Sacred Heart Primary School and Kindergarten was completed together with the chapel. The Caritas Vocational Training Institute was founded in 1973 to fulfill the mission of evangelization through education.  All these efforts by various Catholic organizations have taken root and flourished in the quiet and peaceful island of Cheung Chau. 

The social services provided expand rapidly throughout the years, while at the same time complementing each other in achieving their objectives to serve the community, alongside the spiritual leadership under the Church of Our Lady of Fatima.

Together and working hand in hand, we can see the growth of religious life and spiritual worship being enriched through dedicated social and education services, making Cheung Chau a unique area of Catholic blessing. 

Catechetical Congress – Anaheim

Fr. Rossa and Jose attended the Catechetical Congress in Anaheim, Los Angeles from March 21-24. We arrived in the Claretian Community at Dominguez on 13 and had a couple of days of acclimatizing to the new air and time zone.

With Fr. Gerald Kumar at St. Gabriel Mission, California

Claretian Community is situated in a beautiful 'Oasis' of greenery int the middle of the dry oil fields of Dominguez. The hose is a place for the elderly and all of them were so heartily welcoming us.  Bro. Rene, John Raab, Frank, Milton, Ed, Bob Billet, Jim, the artist Alberto, Tom, John Hampsch, Al Vazquez, Rick Wozniak and the young Bonano - that makes the community.

Fr. Rossa with Fr. Steve Sherwood, the "rabbi"

Their hospitality was superb. We have no words to thank... and it made possible our participation at the Catechetical Congress that proved to be very helpful for our ministry. Their interest and empathy for our ministry touched our hearts. 

The congress as such was very fruitful, "better than what was expected", int the words of Rossa. He had the chance to renew the contacts with many of the old friends... publishers and clients.

Claret Seminary, Dominguez Ranches

We tried to get in touch with some Chinese community, but the results were not very positive! Had a chance to visit Gerald Kumar at the St. Gabriel Mission.

With Fr. Justin Liu Zhen Tian – Associate Pastor, 

St. Thomas Aquinas ParishMonterrey Park, CA

Gerry and Rossa at St. Gabriels

Before the Sunday Mass at

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Monterrey Park, CA

Fr. John Raab and Rossa at the Cathedral of Los Angeles

With John Allen of CRUX and Eric Li

At the Claretian Booth in the Exhibitors' hall in Anaheim

With Fr. Jan Stefanów, SVDGeneral Secretary of the Catholic Biblical Federation

Claretian House in Hong Kong

Inauguration of the Claretian House in Hong Kong 

“Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”  - 2 Sam 7:29

19 June 2018 would remain a day of thanksgiving for the Claretian Community in Hong Kong. It saw our dreams come true when Superior General, Fr. Mathew Vattamattam blessed its community house in Shatin, Hong Kong and celebrated Mass together with the members of the Claretian communities of Hong Kong and Macau and our friends and associates. 

The purpose of the House is to serve as the Community House of the Claretians in Hong Kong; we hope that more members will join the community in Hong Kong in the coming years.

While maintaining its identity and specific mission, the House integrates itself into the pastoral projects and mission of the parish of St. Benedict. It will be utilized in support of the mission of the Church and serve as the centre for the Congregation’s China Mission.

It will also be the Centre for the Claretian Youth Ministry and service to migrants.
The House is also the office of the Pastoral Bible Foundation and its ministry of the Word of God – Promotion of the Word of God through biblical literature and Bibles through media – print, online, audio and video. 

Fr Mathew Vattamattam, Superior General of the Claretians, presided over the Mass after blessing the Claretian Residence in Hong Kong 

The House will work as the centre for social projects of the Congregation in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China. A lay-movement called Candle Light is a charity organisation established in 2016 under the aegis of the Claretians in Hong Kong and Macau and this group takes care of the social welfare projects in China and rest of Asia: Some of the major projects already being handled by this charity group are: 

- Help for the leprosy affected in China

- Sponsoring the educational needs of over 200 poor children in Nepal

- Assisting several projects of the Claretians and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth in the Philippines. 

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A Fresh start !

Mission China 

Looking for a fresh start after a break for almost two years! Of course, this does not mean that the missionaries had a break for two years! A lot have happened since the end of 2017 and my previous entry in this page was in the beginning of 2018, wishing you New Year blessings. The reasons for the long break could be mere excuses, so wouldn't want to list them!

To have a recap of what had happened with the Missionaries here would be a way to keep you abreast with your beloved friends and their mission in this region.

January 2018 
1. Fr. Jose is appointed the Deputy Editor in Chief of Sunday Examiner, the Catholic Newspaper of the Diocese of Hong Kong

7. Epiphany Parish in Mui Wo celebrated the Solemnity of Epiphany with Cardinal John Tong officiating the liturgy and Celebrations. Fr. Jojo from Macau together with a group of pilgrims joined the celebrations

11.  Hiking expeditions with the youth group, covering 14kms.

28. Celebration of the Feast of Santonino - but in a much subdued fashion. The celebration was held in the Mui Wo chapel instead of having it in Bui O


February 

9- Fr. Rossa leaves for Bangalore for the Claretian Editors Meet. Jijo from Macau is representing Claretian Publications, Macau. The meeting is scheduled for a week from 10-17 February.
www.facebook.com/claretianmissionaries.macau/videos/1635202859879364/

14 Ash Wednesday
16 Chinese New Year

19-20 Hong Kong - Macau Youth Gathering in Macau

www.facebook.com/josecheru/videos/10156329143797189/

March 

Welcome to China Bulletin - January 2018

May words of strength, courage and hope accompany our journey through the year opening up before us. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Wish you a joyous and prosperous 

New Year 2018 

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CANTATA MACAU-2017  

The 2nd Edition of the international Choral Festival was celebrated on  6 - 10 December in Macau. “Macau has a rich and ancient Catholic tradition. In the last quarter of a century, however, it has come to be designated as the haven of gamblers, unholy wealth and even as ‘the sin city’,” Fr Jijo Kandamkulathy, the Director of the Claretian Publications and one of the coordinators of the event.

“Unfortunately, this designation does not suit most people living here, Catholics or otherwise who are in general God fearing. So, the intention of holding this event is to begin reinstating our territory for its Catholic traditions and regain its appreciation for what is holy and sublime,” he added. 

The opening ceremony was held on December 6, Wednesday, with a concert in St Dominic’s Church at 7:30 PM. Eight teams from five nationalities participated in the four-day Catholic Music Festival. Cathedral Schola, Fundação Rui Cunha Chorale (Macau), Bishop Hall Jubilee School Choir (Hong Kong), Chorus Vocales Philippines, Parañaque National High School Glee Club (Philippines), Medan Community Male Choir (Indonesia) and Noche Lirica (Mexico) were the performing groups.

On December 7, a solemn Mass was celebrated at the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Macau at 7:15 PM, followed by the sacred concert in the same venue at 8:30 PM. The grand concert on December 8, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, was held in the Cineteatro Macau.

 

On December 9, the friendship concert was be held at St Joseph’s Seminary and Church at 5:00 PM. On the last day the closing concert was conducted at the Cathedral of Macau. The Music Festival was also made available for the public through live streaming of the events through social media networks.

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Christmas 

Christmas was a time of celebrations as usual but this time with a difference. A few pictures from our mission centers to share the story with you. 

 Fr. Jojo and his parishioners began to provide food for needy in the parish premises every evening. It all began when a couple of poor people came to Fr. Jojo asking for alms. He took them to a nearby shop to buy them dinner. Next evening there were more people at the door. In a couple of days time, he began to get 20-30 people every evening. During the Christmas eve, there were around 100 people at the parish premises for the free meal. 

 Pictures from Nepal: The "Candle Light" charity group that take care of a school in Nepal was also involved in providing food for the poor in the Christmas season. These visuals show the gleaming faces of kids in the Nepalese village when they had their "catch"! 

From Nepal 

Getting their meals ready! 

Bro. Sid spent the Advent and Christmas season in Indonesia with a few aspirants from the Mainland, training them in English. 

Fr. John who hails from Inner Mongolia and his friends were involved in bringing electric light to one of the poorest villages in Yun Nan province in the Mainland. By 24 december, they had the electric lines reaching the village. "A festival of lights" in the season of the birth of Jesus, the Light! 

Fr. John was also involved in food distribution to the homeless. On the Christmas Eve, he gathered the kids in the parish in Yokohama in Japan and set out in search of the homeless, bringing them food packets. They met over 70 homeless on the streets. 

--------------------

Our Visitor

Fr. Manuel Ezhaparampil from India, a Claretian Missionary working in South Korea for over 20 years has visited the Claretian Communities of Hong Kong and Macau. Fr. Manuel serves as a professor at the Incheon Catholic University. 

Welcome to the China Bulletin - December 2017

A Blessed Season of Advent 

An Advent Reflection :Returning to Essentials

Hospitality is the practice that keeps the church from becoming a club, a members-only society. —Diana Butler Bass

Practical, practice-based Christianity has been avoided, denied, minimised, ignored, delayed, and sidelined for too many centuries, by too many Christians who were never told Christianity was anything more than a belonging or belief system. 

Now we know that there is no Methodist or Catholic way of loving. There is no Orthodox or Presbyterian way of living a simple and nonviolent life. There is no Lutheran or Evangelical way of showing mercy. There is no Baptist or Episcopalian way of visiting the imprisoned. If there is, we are invariably emphasising the accidentals, which distract us from the very “marrow of the Gospel,” as St. Francis called it. 

We have made this mistake for too long. We cannot keep avoiding what Jesus actually emphasised and mandated. In this most urgent time, “it is the very love of Christ that now urges us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Pastor Philip Gulley superbly summarises how we must rebuild spirituality from the bottom up in his book, "If the Church Were Christian". Here I take the liberty of using my own words to restate his message, which offers a rather excellent description of Emerging Christianity:

Jesus is a model for living more than an object of worship.

Affirming people’s potential is more important than reminding them of their brokenness.

The work of reconciliation should be valued over making judgments.

Gracious behaviour is more important than right belief.

Inviting questions is more valuable than supplying answers.

Encouraging the personal search is more important than group uniformity.

Meeting actual needs is more important than maintaining institutions.

Peacemaking is more important than power.

We should care more about love and less about sex.

Life in this world is more important than the afterlife (eternity is God’s work anyway).

If this makes sense to you, you are already inside of Emerging Christianity.

Gateway to Silence:

Rooted and growing in Love.

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Fr. Marquez helps in Mui Wo 

Fr. Jose Ruiz Marquez, a Claretian Missionary based in the Philippines was in Epiphany Parish, Mui Wo for over a month helping in the parish. While two of the priests from the parish were away on studies and vacation, Fr. Marquez made himself available to serve the English community. 

Epiphany parishioners had the opportunity to listen to a series of classes on liturgy and Bible as Fr. Marquez is a Professor of Theology and a priest with wide reading. During his Bible Study classes in Mui Wo and Pengchau, he challenged the enabled the parishioners to look beyond the traditional understanding of devotions and practices of faith, in order to make the scriptures more relevant and meaningful in our daily life. 

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Claretian Family reach out - Candle Light

In the past couple of years, the Claretian lay associates - "Candle Light"- from Hong Kong and Macau have been making huge strides in their reach-out programme for the needy: leprosy affected people in the Mainland China and for the educational aid for the children in Nepal. All this was possible with the help of generous assistance from our friends and well wishers. 

Candle Light volunteers participating in the Caritas Charity Sale in
St. Benedict Parish, Shatin

Over the past year, the Parishioners of Epiphany parish, Mui Wo have been sending used clothes, toys and house appliances to help the informal settlers in the Philippines. 

Fr. Lito CMF, the parish priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, UP Village, Metro Manila  distributing utensils and rice for the fire tragedy victims 

Recently there was a fire accident in one of the informal settlers area where in over 150 houses went up in flames. Many of them belonged to the Claretian Parish in Quezon City. 

Fr. Lito, CMF with the volunteers of the Claret Urban Poor Apostolate (CUPA)after distributing the basic necessities for the fire tragedy victim

Hearing the news of the fire tragedy, a group of our friends from Macau - "Grace Educare" - made some generous contributions to provide immediate relief for the affected families. Relief materials were distributed by Fr. Lito, the parish priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Quezon City.  

The generous help from numerous well wishers in
Macau and Hong Kong for the surgery and medical
help for the Children has gone a long way! 

We have been assisting a group of Sisters - Franciscan Daughters of St Elizabeth - in the Philippines in their medical mission programme for the children. The Sisters have come across a large number of children who are badly in need of medical help. This time too, a lot of our friends from Macau and Hong Kong have done generous contributions that we were able to raise more than a million pesos for the surgery and treatment of children. 

Waiting for the Vice President Ms. Leni Robredo at Saklay Centre 

Another project in the Philippines where generous contributions from Hong Kong and Macau is reaching is for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. 

Fr. Arnold with the Vice President of the Philippines,
Ms. Leni Robredo at Saklay 

With the now infamous 'war on drugs' by the Government forces and having over 13,000 people already gunned down in just over a year, the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines responds to the need for 'giving them another chance' and opened a centre for the addicts. Fr. Arnold Abelardo collaborates with the Police forces and the health department to spread the message of 'No to deaths, Yes to Life'. 

"Boodle Fight" at Saklay! 

The Saklay Centre for the drug dependants is located in the Province of over 100 kms north of Manila. On 28 November the third batch of drug dependents completed their recovery treatment programme and the Vice President of the Philippines, Ms. Leni Robredo herself was present on the occasion. According to Fr. Arnold, over 500 drug dependents have benefited from the Centre.     

The Volunteers and staff at Saklay

We missionaries are greatly indebted to all our friends and benefactors who joyfully responded to share in this ministry. We pray for the heaven's choicest blessings on all of you! 

If you wish to be part of this ministry to the needy, please contact us through email: 
josecheru@gmail.com 
or visit the Claretian Volunteer's facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/CANDLELIGHTCMF/posts/?ref=page_internal

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Pastoral Renewal and Leadership for Mission

The Participants in EAPI this time were from 21 Countries

I have been attending a renewal programme for the past four months in the East Asian pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Ateneo de Manila University. The programme was titled "Pastoral Renewal and Updating for Leadership and Mission". 

With Fr. Bruno,  who's visit to the Philippines was a pleasant surprise

Together with the 19 participants from the stream of Sabbatical Pilgrimage Experience, and 35 in the Pastoral Renewal stream, we were 54 participants, mostly priests and religious from 21 nationalities participated in the renewal programme which started in August 2017. 15 modules on varied themes spanning from Spirituality, Psychology, Pastoral leadership, Ecclesiology, Interfaith relations, etc. were conducted during a period of 18 weeks. The programme served as a platform for renewal of vocational commitment as it was well structured with opening and concluding retreats and an eight-day Ignatian retreat in the middle. 

Although the life in the Ateneo campus was pleasantly away from the harsher realities of life in the out, the time in EAPI was tailored for ample exposure to the struggles of the less fortunate. A visit to the informal settlers area in Navotas and my personal involvement with the mission projects of the Claretians and Franciscan Missionary Sisters in Manila was helpful in identifying my responsibilities. 

The generosity and commitment of the ordinary people is a huge lesson which no university or institute would teach and has often put me to shame! How little have I done! How much more am I called to be! 

Certification on completion of the Course in EAPI
by Fr. Peter Pujol, the Director of EAPI 

During our Missioning Mass on 30 November, Fr. Antonio SJ, the President of the Jesuit Asia Pacific Conference, wished all the participants "Couragio"! 
That's what I aspire for! But for the time, thanks to my Community in Hong Kong for sparing me for the past six months and thanks to EAPI for accommodating me for the past four months!  

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Claretian Day Celebration in Taiwan 

21st October 2017 marked a unique day in the life and mission of Claretian Missionaries in Taiwan. The Claretian Community in Taiwan ventured herself into dedicating the whole of this year (2017) for helping the recipients of our missionary service know more about the Claretian Congregation, its founder-St. Anthony Mary Claret, its various missions and missionary initiatives around the globe etc. 

Thus, beginning from the month of May until October, we dedicated each month for various themes and programs, such as, prayer of initiation, pilgrimage, Power-Point Presentation on the Congregation and her mission, Claretian movies, Marian Spirituality etc. 

As a culmination of the whole celebration, on 21st October 2017, we had a joined Claretian Mission Day Celebration at Keelung Assumption Church, with a distinct participation of nearly 150 of our well-wishes from all the missions and parishes we are rendering our services-such as, Keelung, Ruifang, Qidu, Wulai and Zhonghe Aboriginal Pastoral Centre. The final day celebration enormously made an impact on everyone to know mutually and particularly our missionary commitment in this region.
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2^nd International Choral Festival, Macau

The second edition of Cantata Macau will be plugged in on December-6, 2017. Eight choirs from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Mexico and Philippines, will flood the Cathedral and Saint Lawrence vaults with their distilled musical extravaganza for 4 days in a row. The highlight of the event is the Grand Concert on 8^th December at 7.30 pm in the Cineteatro, Macau.

Add caption

The Cantata Macau, the International Music Festival Macau started last year with an intention to offer an alternative signification to Macau, which is known to the world as a land of casinos. 

Paradoxically, the negative synonyms showered on this city do not suit the natives of Macau who generally, cherish their religious identity and enjoy what is holy. The Music Festival is an attempt to redeem this sublime past of Macau.
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