austraLasia #2064

 Greetings for the Year of the Rat. China Province celebrates

HONG KONG: 18th February 2008 -- Happy Chinese New Year to the readers of austraLasia! It has been a long time since the last news coming from the China Province. 

    Salesian confreres in the China Province have just celebrated their Provincial Day on 16 February, the tenth day of the Chinese New Year. It is not merely a celebration of the festival, but also a celebration of brotherhood, in which God has called us to form a community. 

    The Provincial Day was held in the Salesian House of Studies, where the youngest (initial formation community) and the oldest (Braga House for the elderly Salesians) groups of confreres in the province resided. It was attended by more than 80 confreres, coming from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. 

    There were tours to the Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defense. In addition, a football match was organized with the brothers and scholastics playing against the joint team of priests in the afternoon. And, of course, the young Salesians won the day. 

    Cardinal Zen, Salesian bishop of Hong Kong , celebrated the Mass commemorating Saints Versiglia and Caravario. Fr. Simon Lam, Provincial, shared his new year wishes in his homily, hoping that other confreres would also take them as their wishes. Firstly, he would like to be a man of prayer. Secondly, he pledged to have a better control of his temper so that he would be more ready to listen to his confreres. Lastly, he encouraged everyone to extend their concern for one another in order to unite us together. 

    An abundant supper and lucky draw followed. Of course, we received the “lai shi” of Fr. Provincial and the Cardinal. It is a tradition of Chinese New Year that the elders give “lai shi” (a red pocket with money inside) to the younger one as a sign of blessing. The whole day programme was brought to an end joyfully with all the confreres singing “Jesus Christ, You are my Life.”

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Title: australasia 2064
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces CIN New Year of the Rat
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2064