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PEÑAFRANCIA FESTIVAL 2018 – On its twentieth year in Macau
PHOTO: Batingaw in Flickr
– Ross Belle Balatbat
The Peñafrancia Devotees Association in Macau (PDAM), under the spiritual direction of Fr Alejandre Vergara, SOLT have organized the novena Masses for the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the principal Patroness of the Bicol Region in the Philippines. The devotion comes from Salamanca, Spain where the Blessed Virgin is venerated as Virgen de la Peña de Francia in honor of her birth which is celebrated on September 8. In the Philippines, however, the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is celebrated on the Sunday after the octave of September 8. Thus it usually falls on the second or third Sunday of September
CIRCULAR
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
According to the weather forecast, the super typhoon “Mangkhut” is expected to hit Macao this weekend. I wish to appeal to all to pay attention to personal safety and to take extra measures in face of the impending storm. I would also like to invite you all to offer your prayers for the Macao community. May the Lord Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary bless our city to lessen the threat of the storm.
SE CATHEDRAL – St Padre Pio English Community
Recently, the English speaking community of the Se Cathedral was elevated to form its own pastoral team and program. The community has chosen St Padre Pio as its Patron. The English speaking community of the Se Cathedral is composed primarily of Filipinos, some Indian nationals, Koreans and some other English speaking parishioners who usually attend the 5:00 PM and the 6:30 PM Sunday Masses at the cathedral. It is not an entity independent of the Cathedral, but an integral part of it. It is formed to create a welcoming environment for the English speaking groups in the Cathedral who belong to different nationalities and cultures. The pastoral thrust of this Faith-community is to reach out to the other English speaking nationalities to form an actively worshiping family.
CATHEDRAL CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF THE BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
On September 8, Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Feast Day of the Cathedral, Bishop Stephen Lee administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 12 young people, thus enrolling them into the ranks of soldiers of Christ. (Photos by Ivan Leong)
ASSOCIATION OF MACAU CATHOLIC SCHOOLS – Honoring the mentors
The Association of Macau Catholic Schools held this year’s Teacher’s Development Day on Monday, 10 September 2018 in the afternoon at the Multisport Pavilion of the Macau Polytechnic Institute. More than 2,000 persons attended the event which signaled the official beginning of the academic year for twenty-six Catholic schools serving more than 10,000 students.
The ceremony was presided by Macau Bishop H.E. Stephen Lee, and graced by the presence of Macau Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Dr Alexis Tam Chong Wen, Liaison Office Secretary-General Wang Xindong, and Macau Education and Youth Affairs Bureau Director Lou Pak Sang.
CHANCERY NOTICE
CN/7/016/2018
In response to the pastoral needs of the Diocese, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang makes public the following arrangements:
1. Fr. Francisco Xavier Chan Pou Chun ceases to be Assistant Parish Priest in St. Anthony Parish.
OUR LADY OF FÁTIMA AND SACRED HEART OF JESUS – Restoration of two Cathedral statues completed
Photo Caption: Final inspection before finishing the restoration of Sacred Heart of Jesus statue
– Benedict Keith Ip
After more than eight decades since 1930, two important statues in the Cathedral – Our Lady of Fatima on the right and Sacred Heart of Jesus on the left (facing the altar) – have already been restored. Both of them will be back on the altars before the Feast day of Cathedral on the 8th of September (Saturday).
MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY SISTERS CELEBRATE FEAST OF ST MOTHER TERESA
– Benedict Keith Ip
The Missionary of Charity sisters celebrated the Feast of Saint Teresa of Calcutta (widely known as Mother Teresa) on Sunday, 9th of September at 9:30 AM at the Casa das Irmãs Missionárias da Caridade, Ilha Verde. The Holy Eucharist was presided by Fr Joseph Chow Pak Fai. In his homily, he praised the works and deeds that Mother Teresa had offered throughout her life, and reminded the participants to learn from Mother Teresa’s attitudes of charity and love for one another.
DISCOVERING TRUE HAPPINESS THROUGH A SUMMER SERVICE CAMP
Instead of spending summer on sightseeing tours in exotic or touristic destinations, twenty-two students and professionals decided to use their holiday time as volunteers in an outreach program in the Philippines from August 3 to 17, 2018 organized by Hon Lam Education and Research Association (HERA) with the support of Galaxy Entertainment Group. This service camp to help the needy was the sixth camp organized by HERA since 2015. The idea of the service camp is to provide an experience for youngsters in lending a hand to those families and children who have materially less in life. The volunteers for this summer’s camp came from Macau, Japan, Hong Kong, Spain, America, Kenya and the Philippines.
