The Catholic Diocese of Macau is preparing to send at least 50 youngsters to Portugal to take part in the 2023 edition of the World Youth Day. The easing of the pandemic-related restrictions decreed by the local authorities, earlier this month, eliminates the requirement of a mandatory quarantine in a designated hotel – one of the aspects that worried the Diocesan curia the most.
It’s not a one-of-a-kind initiative, but it’s always a good example of a commendable cooperation. The Claretian community of Macau and a Buddhist meditation centre based in Saint Lawrence parish joined forces and organized a food distribution drive in December. The action benefited around 100 non-resident workers that were temporarily laid off by their employers.
The Church in China held a special place in the heart of Pope Benedict. He visited the Diocese of Macau when he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Bishop Stephen Lee asks the faithful to offer prayers in suffrage for the soul of our beloved Shepherd Pope Benedict.
On behalf of all the faithful of the Diocese of Macau, Bishop Stephen Lee expresses our gratefulness to our late Holy Father for his pastoral care and exemplary service to the Church.
The ending of the Covid-free safety bubble might also be a signal that it’s time for a further “stepping out” in other aspects of our life too. True love always requires the risk of leaving a safety zone behind. It’s a bit scary, because it exposes our vulnerabilities.
“Finally, let us meditate upon the Gospel, on the manger, on the love of Jesus, and of Mary, Joseph, the angels and the shepherds beside him, that is the joy of Christmas. In this Christmas and New Year, through the love and hope that the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ brings, we hope that the Diocese of Macau, together with Macau society, as well as our neighbors and the rest of the world, will recover economic prosperity, stability and happiness in people’s lives.”
The Senado Square will once again host, on Christmas Eve, a Christmas carol concert. Organized by the Diocesan Youth Commission, the carolling session aims to announce the good news of the birth of Christ and help spread what the true message of Christmas really is.
Christmas traditions are essential, especially when they act as a conduit to God. As Christians, we must always remember to make Jesus our focus and move away from the superficiality of the world.
The conclusions of the diocesan phase of the Synod of Bishops also explains the commitment to a broader communication strategy that is being adopted.
The Portuguese-language catechesis group at the Cathedral Parish recently organized a Christmas meeting at Cheoc Van that brought together about 80 catechists, children and their parents. The initiative, in which the 11th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Father Daniel Ribeiro was also celebrated, should set the pattern for future events of the kind, now that Macau has come to terms with Covid-19.
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