Friday, December 28, 2018

Christmas Letter 2018



Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Christmas is a season of hope, a season of love, a season of blessings.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru!
圣诞快乐!

How was your Christmas celebration? May the best gifts of Christmas be yours: The gift of love. The gift of hope. The gift of joy. The gift of peace. The gift of happiness. The gift of Jesus! (Kate Summers).
       I left for Holy Family Church on Dec 22, 2017 ready for preparation for Marriage class but nobody could attend it so I organized things here and there.  I attended the Fourth Sunday of Advent anticipated Mass besides the Sunday morning Mass the next day. 
           Several volunteers decorate the Church, set up the inspection machine on our Church’s door, receive donation, and sell religious articles at ground floor besides being the fire safety team and parking team.
       There were around 600 people (based on seating capacity only) for the 7.30 p.m. Mass inside the Church and hundreds people were watching through the big television on the outside ground.  Mr. Cai prepared slideshow of last year Christmas Masses pictures with karaoke style Christmas song.   There were around 500 people for 11.00 p.m. Mass.  Several of them are neither Catholics nor attend Mass regularly. After the first Mass, there was a procession of the Baby Jesus statue from ground floor to the manger followed by prayer time in front of the manger for the parishioners.  There were performances in between the two Masses: the Sunday’s School children and youth choir followed by the visit of Santa Claus.       
     There were around 500 people for both Christmas Day Morning and Evening Masses.  Mr. Zhang invited Fr. Lu, several parishioners and I for lunch. It’s not a public holiday in China.  There were seven babies baptized by Fr. Lu on the Christmas Day evening Mass.  According to a parishioner, she attended several Masses a day (even four times for Sundays: anticipated Mass, morning Mass, Mass at other Church and evening Mass) with the hope to get more grace.  I told Fr. Lu about it with Fr. Lu so he gave clarification about it during the homily of evening Mass.
Besides visiting families either at their homes or hospital, I still organize youth gatherings of Holy Family Church Shenzhen (http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/08/sharing-aug-2018-youth-gathering-holy.html) besides preparing for Holy Family Feast Day.
     I still continue my cyber ministry through group chat and blog.  Total members of the group chat, who receive the information, are more than 30,000 persons (of more than 80 group chats), who are living in several cities.  I am still uploading my missionary journey on my blog http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com and the page views of my blog reached more than 207,000.
          With the help of several donors, I help several sick people through the We Chat of Jinde Charities.
           Here were my several activities after Easter 2018 (several activities were written on my Thanksgiving Letter: http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/11/thanksgiving-letter-2018.html): home visit to attend a family matter; trip to Quanzhou; visiting our two cemeteries; attending gathering of
Sisters by Focolare; SARS 15th Thanksgiving Mass; Graduation Mass and Ceremony of MCS Primary Section; Variety Show of Maryknoll Fathers' School; Cana week (http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/07/sharing-2018-cana-week.html); gathering of Retired Staffs of Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital; Spirituality Forum (http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/08/sharing-18th-spirituality-forum.html); Eucharistic Celebrations for
Perpetual Profession, Silver Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee of the Sisters of the

Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; being one of the jury of Indonesian Catholic Community Reading the Bible contest in Hong Kong; Thanksgiving Mass and Annual General Assembly Society of St. Vincent de Paul Central
Council of Hong Kong; Golden Jubilee of Sr. Marilu; Graduation Mass and Speech Day, Fun Fair, School Opening Mass and All Souls Day Mass of MCS Secondary Section; several talks organized by Hong Kong Diocese; pilgrimage to Israel (http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/12/sharing-2018-pilgrimage-to-holy-land.html); Conference on Teilhard de Chardin; 
tour to Shek Pik (maximum security) Prison; Winter Solstice Festival Celebration; Maryknoll Family China Christmas party, besides enjoying the visit of several friends from Indonesia.
As I am writing this letter, my heart are full of gratitude for all your support, love, hospitality, gift and especially your prayers during this year.  It’s been another year with a lot of God with me” experiences.
Here is the link of the pictures during Christmas at Holy Family Church:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/11848830@N02/albums/72157699175196900, 平安夜弥撒度盘  https://pan.baidu.com/s/19D7p7fsTrHBx373GhCB38g, 
   

Hong Kong, December 28, 2018
With love and prayers,


Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s help each other to live less waste living for a better world

Friday, December 14, 2018

Article: Christianity


(updated on Jan 3, 2018)

DEATH IN THE CHURCH: IS NEW LIFE AHEAD?

2.      From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians:

3.      Ron Miller: A Very Different Christian Story:

4.      national geographic writing the dead sea scrolls:

5.      History of the Bible - Who Wrote the Bible - Why It's Reliable ? History Documentary:

6.      The Real Jesus Christ (Biblical Documentary) | Timeline

7.      Amazing Proof of the Resurrection of Jesus Jesus Documentary HD


8.      The Real Face Of Jesus

9.      Flight Of Faith: The Jesus Story (Biblical Documentary) | Timeline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5p6061M34&t=1s

10. Bible Unearthed Discoveries of Old versions of the bible)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5RfScpEcZ8






Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Sharing: 2018 Pilgrimage to Holy Land



          The Holy Family Church arranged a pilgrimage to Holy Land for total 33 persons including Fr. Lu and myself.  Fr. Lu  invited me to join the pilgrimage so I asked to leave from Hong Kong after a Biblical Conference so we had direct flight Hong Kong-Tel Aviv on Nov 27.
Fr. Lu introduced me to our guide Sr. Jiang, who recognized me as I visited their convent in Baoding, upon arriving at airport.  She studied in Holy Land and had a pass to be a guide.
Here are our pilgrimage destinations:
2.   Mass and renewal of marriage vows of two couples at Cana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_Church_at_Cana)
4.   Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stella_Maris_Monastery)
7.   Capernaum Synagogue (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum)
9.   Boating in the Sea of Galilee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee)
10.       Mass at Church of the Primacy of St. Peter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Primacy_of_Saint_Peter)
11.       Mass at Church of the Multiplication (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Multiplication)
12.       Church of the Beatitude (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Beatitudes)
13.       Church of the Transfiguration (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Transfiguration)
14.       Church of the Resurrection of the Widow’s Son (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Resurrection_of_the_Widow%27s_Son)
15.       Mount of Temptation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Temptation)
16.       Yardenit Baptismal Site (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yardenit)
17.       Floating on Dead Sea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea)
19.       Church of Bethpage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Bethphage)
20.       Mount Olives (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives)
21.       Church of the Pater Noster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Pater_Noster)
22.       Chapel of the Ascension (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_the_Ascension,_Jerusalem)
23.       Dominus Flevit Church (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominus_Flevit_Church)
24.       Mass at Church of All Nations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_All_Nations)
25.       Church of the Visitation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Visitation)
26.       Church of Saint John the Baptist (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist,_Jerusalem)
27.       Church of the Nativity and Mass at Church of St. Catherine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity)
28.       Chapel of the Shepherd’s Field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_the_Shepherd%27s_Field)
29.       Chapel of the Milk Grotto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_the_Milk_Grotto)
30.       Prayer at Western Wall (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall)
32.       Way of the Cross (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Dolorosa)
33.       Mass at Church of the Holy Sepulchre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre)
34.       Abbey of the Dormition (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_the_Dormition)
35.       The Upper Room (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenacle)
36.       Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Saint_Peter_in_Gallicantu)
37.       Mass at Emmaus – Nicopolis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmaus)
38.       St. Peter’s Church Jaffa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Church,_Jaffa)

I couldn’t hold my tears at the Basilica of the Annunciation when I remembered that I was baptized on the Holy Saturday on March 25, 1989 and “Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38) which was the beginning of my vocation journey.
Fr. Lu decided to do baptism by affusion at Yardenit Baptismal Site but two young parishioners and I asked for submersion.
Each of of us got a letter from God and a piece of blank paper to write prayer to be placed at the Western Wall.   I wrote my gratitude besides petitions for the people I ministered to.
The eight Station of the Cross reminded me not to weep for Jesus, but weep for myself in the times of failing to do good and better (cf. Luke 23:28).
We met a Protestant group (with several Catholics) from Kalimantan so I was thinking to have a chance to meet an Indonesian that I know.  On the seventh day, I met the Indonesia Vice Provincial of Carmelites Fr. Hari at the Church of Visitation.  What a holy coincidence!  Another holy coincidence: this pilgrimage (Nov 27 – Dec 6) was in between a Biblical Conference (https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/12/sharing-11th-international-bible.html) and Biblical Lecture (Nov 22-26) and a Biblical Lecture, which was organized by Hong Kong Catholic Biblical Institute http://www.sbofmhk.org/eng/Aboutus/hkcbi.html on Dec 7-8.  Fr. Fedrieic Manns, OFM (Biblicum Studium Franciscanum in Jerusalem) gave presentation on “The Research of the Historical Jesus: the Fourth Quest” and “The Discovery of Magdala: its Importance for the Research of the Historical Jesus.”  I also had been watching several documentary on historical Jesus on Youtube this year (https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2018/12/article-christianity.html).

 I led several days of morning prayers and share my experiences besides doing English-Chinese translation during shopping time.  Fr. Lu was taking care the singing session during the trip.  Mr. Zhang was our group leader and the youth volunteer Ms. Liang was the organizer of this pilgrimage.
The tour agency arranged shopping trips to Dead Sea cosmetic shop and a jewelry shop.
Here is the link of the pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11848830@N02/
I am grateful for the opportunity to do pilgrimage to Holy Land, to visit the places of life and ministries of historical Jesus as a man for others. Fr. Lu and the parishioners are grateful for my accompaniment.

Hong Kong, December 12, 2018


Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s help each other to live less waste living for better world

Friday, December 7, 2018

Sharing: The 11th International Bible Conference in Chinese Language



The 11th International Bible Conference in Chinese Language was held in Jordan Valley St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School Hong Kong on Nov 22-26, 2018 by Hong Kong Catholic Biblical Association.  There were more than 200 participants from Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, USA, Australia, etc.  The theme was “Walking with the Word of God, Living the Faith, Love and Hope.”

The presentations were Cardinal Tagle on “Dei Verbum,” Bishop Ha, OFM on Walking with the Word of God, Living the Faith, Love and Hope, Fr. Tarsisius, SVD on “Rejoice and be Glad,” Fr. Mi on “Walking with the Word of God: Mother Mary’s Faith, Love and Hope,” Fr. Xu on “The World of God guides the Road to Holiness” and Fr. Cheng on “The Word of God Inspires New Evangelization.
Fr. Hilarius, CDD (my former senior high school principal) and three parishioners came from Chinese Community of St. Joseph Chapel Jakarta-Indonesia.  Both the Indonesian SVD Fr. Tarsisius and Fr. Abdon came from Taiwan. 
Fr. Huang Jin Long and Mr. Zhou Song Sen composed a nice theme song of this conference “The Light of Life.”  
There was small group sharing and outing for Sunday Mass during the conference besides the presentation on the ministries on Word of God by each diocese/delegate including by St. Paul Biblical Evangelization Institute in Zhao Xian-China.  Several small groups and I went to St. Joseph the Worker Church to attend the Sunday Mass, go around the Caritas Center and have lunch provided by parishioners.
It was a very good conference.  The Women Congregation in Hong Kong were invited to send two sisters to attend the conference for free.  Thank you very much!

Hong Kong, December 7, 2018



Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s help each other to live less waste living for better world