"The Easter eggs symbolizes our ability to break out of the
hardened, protective shell we've surrounded ourselves with that limits our
thoughts and beliefs. As we break open our hearts and minds we discover a
transformation to new, life enhancing thoughts and beliefs." Siobhan Shaw
Happy Easter! Selamat Hari Raya
Paskah! 复活节快乐!
May the Risen Christ continue
to bless us with joy and peace!
How was your
Easter celebration? Hope this letter
finds you joyful and healthy.
Please find below my sharing as my
Easter letter.
There
was long procession from ground floor to Holy Family Church at second
floor of the building on Palm Sunday morning mass.
The Church was full for the Holy Thursday Mass.
After the Mass, there was time for private adoration in the Church then the
Blessed Sacrament was reserved at the temporary small chapel. It was
the meeting room, which was cleared up and decorated to
reserve the Blessed Sacrament. Several parishioners stayed overnight.
Several
other parishioners come and go for adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament
since early Friday morning. It is a customs in mainland not to eat
breakfast for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The Stations of the
Cross was held at 2.00 p.m. followed by Liturgy of the Word, veneration of
the Cross, and Holy Communion. The Blessed Sacrament was returned to the
temporary small chapel after Holy Communion and the altar was stripped
again. Several parishioners still come and go for adoration till Saturday
afternoon. I just realized that several parishioners don’t eat meat on Holy Week.
Four persons,
adults and babies, were baptized during Easter Vigil Mass. Fr. Lu asked me to taught one of the candidates for baptism around one a
half hour before the Mass began. I didn’t
agree for her baptism but it went on. When the Fr. Lu
sprinkled the holy water, the parishioners hold the snacks or fruits or candies
up to get the blessing. Everyone got an
Easter egg and every family can get a bottle of holy water as it’s the time to
get a new holy water. There were around 700-800
parishioners attended the Mass. 
The
parishioners got another Easter egg during Easter Sunday Mass. There were around 600-700 parishioners attended the Mass. Several youth invited both Fr. Lu and I for
lunch followed by making a short video for two volunteers, who will marry in
her hometown.
That’s all about my Easter with
parishioners of Holy Family Church Shenzhen. It was a
moving, peaceful and joyful Easter celebration.
Now, several short updates about the first four month of
2019.
I uploaded a Lenten Campaign for Jinde Charities as my We chat profile. Here are my several activities with the
parishioners: youth gathering at St. Therese of Lisieux Church https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2019/03/sharing-march-2019-youth-gathering-at.html, youth gathering of Holy Family Church https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2019/04/sharing-mar-2019-youth-gathering-of.html, Guangzhou O2O for single Catholics https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2019/04/sharing-apr-2019-guangzhou-o2o-gathering.html and Lenten retreat https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2019/04/sharing-2019-lenten-retreat-of-holy.html, pilgrimage of Fr. Zhao and the parishioners of Star of the Sea
Chuch Hong Kong.
I attended the certificate
presentation ceremony both at Stanley Prison and Lo Wu Correctional Institution
with PFA members besides continuing to visit inmates both in Lo Wu
Correctional Institution and Tailam Center for Women in Hong
Kong.
While in Hong Kong, I also attended the
Course for the New
Missionaries, farewell for Mgr. Ante Jozic, South West Deanary Lunar Gathering,
Catholic Religious School Council Lunar New
Year Gathering: Talk on "Spirituality of Icons" and Tea Buffet, Our Lady of Maryknoll
Hospital Retired Staffs Gathering, Hong Kong Young Sisters Gathering， Lecture on “The doctrine
of original sin: historical origins and contemporary theological reflection, Symposium on Humane Vitae, which was organized by Diocesan Pastoral
Commission on Marriage and Family, Maryknoll Convent School Spring Homecoming Lunch besides community
feast day celebration; went to Hong Kong Flower
Show; led a recollection for SVD Community on the Feast of Annunciation, which
was my 30th anniversary of sacrament of initiation.
I had the opportunity to attend Maryknoll Asia South Gathering in Hua
Hin-Thailand https://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2019/02/sharing-2019-maryknoll-asia-south.html
Hong Kong, April 24, 2019
with love and prayer,
Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s help each other to live less waste living for a
better world.
