Day: February 8, 2025

THE COMMEMORATION OF THE VIRGIN OF DONG LU – Our Lady of China and the Lunar New Year

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The Catholic Diocese of Macau welcomed the Year of the Snake this Wednesday, January 29th, with the observance of the feast of Our Lady of China. The commemoration of the Virgin of Dong Lu on the first day of the Lunar New Year is a liturgical tradition exclusive to the local Catholic Church. Elsewhere in the world, the solemnity of Our Lady of China falls every year on the day before the second Sunday of May. But how important is Marian devotion to Chinese Catholics? How did Our Lady of China become an integral part of the Lunar New Year celebrations in Macau? Andrew Leong, head of the Department of Catholic Theology at the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy of the University of Saint Joseph, explains.

NEW CHOIR FOR MACAU CATHEDRAL – Couples for Christ Choir celebrates 18th anniversary

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Starting from February, a new liturgical choir will animate and support English and Tagalog language Masses at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady. The Padre Pio Choir was formally introduced on Sunday, February 2nd. On the very same day, the Couples for Christ Choir, Macau’s oldest English language ensemble, commemorates its 18th anniversary.  

JUBILEE YEAR FOR INDIA’S UNDERPRIVILEGED – Recognition of their Human Dignity

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For the untouchable caste of southern India, known as Dalits, this Jubilee Year represents renewed hope in the recognition of their human dignity and another attempt to break the spiral of discrimination and exclusion to which they are usually subjected. Perhaps during this Jubilee period, they could try to counter the caste mentality embedded in Indian culture and seize the opportunities that may arise within society and the Church, on an equal footing with other citizens. At least, this is the opinion of Franciscan priest Fr. Nithya Sagayam OFM Cap, secretary of the Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCST) of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of Tamil Nadu.