The seventh edition of the ‘Asian Mission’ initiative, which this year had as its motto “prepared for the mission; prepared for peace” was comemorated last February. This Catholic event brought together 50 participants, including eight young people from Japan, five from South Korea (more specifically from the diocese of Daejon), and the rest from the Philippine parishes of Nampicuan, San Fabian and Malasiqui, with 30 of these young people being part of the group ‘Servants Missionary Youth’.
On Saturday, 22nd February, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang presided over the inauguration of an exhibition that takes a deeper look at the pastoral work that has been carried out by Saint Joseph the Worker Church in Iao Hon neighborhood, over the last 25 years. With this initiative, Macau’s youngest parish aims to make itself know to believers, both inside and outside of the Special Administrative Region.
The Church’s scriptures for Ash Wednesday seem to present to us a perplexing contradiction. Consider that the Old Testament prophet Joel insists that the Lord’s people present their faith publicly: “Blow a trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation. ” Further, the Apostle Paul testifies that we are “ambassadors for Christ”—that is, public representatives to the culture concerning the identity of the Lord. Contrast both these texts with the words of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel, which seem to indicate that public presentations of the faith are unseemly and what is required for authenticity in our expressions of religious devotion is that they remain private and unseen.
As Pope Francis reminds us, “A pilgrimage is not just a journey in search of a place; it is also a journey of the heart.”
The Jubilee Year is a time of extraordinary grace in the Catholic Church, offering an invitation to renewal, forgiveness, and spiritual growth. Declared by the pope, this special year includes the opening of the Holy Doors in Rome and other pilgrimage sites, symbolizing the path to God’s mercy. Pilgrimages undertaken during this sacred time are profound acts of faith and devotion, helping us step away from the ordinary and journey toward God in both body and spirit.