GOD’S FAITHFUL AND PRUDENT SERVANT – Pope Francis and the miraculous image of the sleeping St Joseph
PHOTO CAPTION: A statue of the sleeping St Joseph at the Macau St Joseph Seminary. Photo by Fr Leonard Dollentas.
– Fr Leonard E Dollentas
When it comes to patron saints and intercessors, Pope Francis seems to play favorites. This has become apparent when many times he mentioned that he has special devotions to St Joseph and the Virgin Mary.
Hence, the Pope keeps a St Joseph statue in his office. However, the image that sits on his desk is no ordinary St Joseph image with his carpenter tools, with the child Jesus learning his trade or with a staff blossoming with the flowers of purity. This image, is a representation of St. Joseph that we are not accustomed seeing and having … St Joseph in slumber.
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)
TRUTH AND POST-TRUTH (1) – Fake news
PHOTO: meineresterampe at Pixabay
– Fausto Gomez OP
With many others, I am against what is called being “politically correct,” against fake news, against post-truth. In two pieces, I wish to reflect first on the invasion of “fake news” today and how to face it in the perspective of Christian faith. The second piece is on the truth that will make us free and happy – free to love.
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.
PREPARING FOR DEATH WITH ST ALFONSUS MARIA DE’ LIGUORI
– Aldo Maria Valli
In the first day of August, the Church remembers St. Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori (1696-1787), to whom I am attached for many reasons. He composed Tu scendi dalle stelle (You come down from heaven), the best known Christmas folk song, and to him is entitled the parish of which I have been part since I live in Rome. Also he wrote Preparation for death, a very useful work, because it reminds us that down here the only thing that matters is to prepare ourselves for life up there.
BITE-SIZE PHILOSOPHY (78) – Can we demonstrate the existence of a First Cause?
PHOTO:By Free-Photos at Pixabay
– Rev José Mario O Mandía
Can we demonstrate the existence of a First Cause? But first, what do we mean by “demonstrate”? To demonstrate is to show that something which we cannot directly know (i.e., a truth that is not self-evident to us) is true, using some truths that are more known to us.
