Anastasia of Maryknoll: Easter Letter 2019

"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 30^th anniversary of sacrament of initiation.