Sharing: Aug 2018 Youth Gathering Holy Family Church

Several volunteers of Holy Family Church and I organized a pilgrimage to Wei Zhou Island on Aug 16-19, 2018.   

Forty three participants from Shenzhen including Fr. Joseph Lu, seminarian Joseph Lin, several volunteers and I left Holy Family Church on Aug 16 morning.  Fr. Joseph Lu led the prayer followed by singing together.  Ms. Chen was the MC, Ms. Huang led the ice breaking games and Ms. Luo led the prayers during the trip. Mr. Liu and Mr. Cai were the photographer and videographer while Ms. Liang and Mr. Wu took care the meal and accommodation.  Several volunteers wore my design T-shirt “Love.”
     

After around 10 hours bus ride, we arrived at Zhanjiang-Guangdong Province.  After supper, we attended the evening Mass at Zhanjiang Cathedral.  One of the parishioners gave short introduction about the Cathedral,  (http://directory.ucanews.com/dioceses/china-zhanjiang/197).  Bishop Paul Su and Fr. Joseph Lu concelebrate the Mass, while several youth to be the reader and cantor of the responsorial Psalm.   Bishop Paul Su praise the reader and cantor.

Due to the typhoon, our ferry was delay for six hours so we stayed longer in Zhanjiang. We went to Beihai-Guangxi Province around 3 hours by bus after lunch.  Fr. Joseph Lu celebrated Mass at Beihai Cathedral.  Fr. Wang gave short introduction about the Diocese (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Beihai).   

After seventy minutes of ferry ride, we arrived at Wei Zhou Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weizhou_Island).  Several passengers got sea sickness. 

We attended morning Mass celebrated by Fr. Mo and Fr. Lu.  Our youth was the reader and cantor at Mass.  After breakfast, I led the session on “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.”  I asked Ms. Chen to read the Chinese version of “Seven Key Words of Working Document of 2018 Synod of Bishops” and asked seminarian Joseph Lin, Fr. Mo and Fr. Lu to share their vocation journey. I closed the vocation journey sharing by sharing my vocation journey besides sending the scan of my sharing on the book “My Teens, My Angels” to this pilgrimage group chatting.  I prepared several questions for small group sharing and asked them to write a letter to Pope Francis. Please don’t be surprise to see they looked at their cell phones during sharing because I posted the working document and the questions for the small group sharing on this pilgrimage group chatting too. We left for St. Mary’s Church after the session.  Both Churches were tourist destinations.  Fr. Lu left for Shenzhen before lunch.

After lunch, we split to 4 groups to see around.  Our group went to Crocodile Hill and Shiluokou.  Fr. Mo invited Seminarian Lin and me to have supper with two sisters and the parish council.    Fr. Mo was assigned to Wei Zhou Island (not always stay in the island) two years ago.  There was a priest, first after twenty years, prior to him for two years.  All the villagers and several villagers in surrounding village are Catholics but many of them are not practicing Catholics.  Several of us ride the electric motorcycle went around the island.

Fr. Mo asked us to be the reader, cantor and choir for the Sunday Mass.  He and the parishioners praised the reader, cantor and choir.  The sister, parish leader and several parishioners sent us off by singing several songs.  

We have smooth ferry ride on the way back to Beihai.  After 12 hours bus ride, we arrived in Shenzhen.  

I stayed in Shenzhen several days prior and after the pilgrimage to have pilgrimage preparation meeting, attend the Feast Day Mass of Assumption besides visiting parishioners.  I also visited my relatives in Quanzhou on Aug 10-14, 2018.  I have two great grandnieces from my paternal auntie, who was left in Quanzhou when my paternal grandparents moved to Indonesia.   

Here is the link of the pictures:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/11848830@N02/sets/72157694758078770/

Hong  Kong, Aug 25, 2018

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: 2017 Trip to Northeast China

I left for Jilin on Nov 8, 2017 by direct flight from Shenzhen around 6 hours.  Fr. Xu senior picked me up at the airport and then we went to the seminary by car.  

There are 53 seminarians from 17 dioceses and CDD in the seminary.  Two of them were at the workshop in Hong Kong 3 years ago). 

Fr. Qian, the rector of the seminary, showed me around the seminary and introduced me to several guest priests and sisters, who are teaching in the seminary.   

I edited the power point presentation on “Evolution and the Primacy of Love” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yk-a66swN8 ) and translated it into Chinese so I asked Sr. Martha, an alumnae of Maryknoll China Project who is working in the seminary, to edit part of it.   

 Fr. James, MM celebrated the English Mass on Saturday morning and then taught English classes for the seminarians.  I met two Korean sisters, who are studying Chinese at Beihua University and teaching Korea language at the seminary.  Fr. Qian showed me the Jilin Meteorite Museum (http://beijing-travels.com/attractions/jilin/jilin/meteorite_museum.html) and invited me to eat the specialty of northeast “jiaozi”.  Br. Joe, MM came to the seminary Saturday morning to teach English in the morning and went back in afternoon to visit me.  Ms. Wang Wei invited me for hot pot dinner.  

Fr. Wang and Fr. Qian brought Sr. Wen and me to the train station as we would take the same train.  Seminarian Roger, who was at the workshop in Hong Kong 3 years ago and graduated this year, picked me up at Changchun station.  We had lunch with Fr. Bai, alumnae of Maryknoll China Project, and several youths.  I had a chance to share my vocation story with them.  I attended the English Mass at Changchun Cathedral, which was celebrated by Fr. Brian, MM.  There were three Indonesian university students attending the Mass.   After Mass, Ms. Yin, the leader of the Catholic youth, accompanied me at the rectory and shared her experiences as the leader of the group for the last three years. Seminarian Roger accompanied me to the train station after treated me for dinner.   

Deacon Xu picked me up at the Shenyang train station and brought me to the convent of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Fr. Han celebrated Mass the next morning.  He invited me to lunch with Fr. Li, who was at the workshop in Hong Kong three years ago and was ordained last August, and deacon Zhang.  Deacons Xu, Teng and Qiao, who were at the workshop in Hong Kong three years ago and invited me for their priesthood ordination on Nov 15) accompanied me to move to the hotel near the Cathedral as arranged by the diocese and then went to Marshall Zhang’s Mansion (https://www.topchinatravel.com/china-attractions/marshal-zhang-mansion.htm) and had a local specialty dinner.  

Deacon Xu asked Sr. Xi, studied in Taiwan with Maryknoll’s scholarship, to accompany me for the rest of my visit.  We had a short visit to the seminary and convent and then went to Shenyang 9.18 Museum (https://www.topchinatravel.com/china-attractions/918-historical-museum.htm) and had lunch together.  Fr. Shaun, MM invited Fr. Roger, Sr. Heidy (both are alumnae of Maryknoll China Project) and I for a BBQ dinner. 

Archbishop Paul, alumnae of Maryknoll China Project, celebrated the priesthood ordination Mass of five deacons at the Shenyang Cathedral.  The Cathedral was full, sit and stand, front and back. There were 89 priests concelebrated the Mass.  Three of the newly ordained priests are the only child in the family and one of the three is a convert.  I met Fr. Peter, MM before the Mass.  I was moved during the sign of peace among the priests.  Sr. Xi arranged me to sit on the aisle of the first row of the sisters' section.  There was a buffet lunch at the basement of the Cathedral for the newly ordained priests, their family, priests and guests, which was prepared by the parishioners. 

Fr. Du and another Fr. Li, were at the workshop in Hong Kong three years ago and were ordained priest last August, visited me at the hotel.  

Fr.  Peter, MM invited Fr. Rodrigo, MM and I for dinner.  Fr. Rodrigo, MM was not feeling well so he couldn’t join our dinner with Fr. Shaun and attend the ordination.

Archbishop Paul invited Fr. Peter and I to have breakfast outside after the daily Mass at the chapel.  He just celebrated his 25 years of priesthood ordination so he gave us the rosary with his name.

Sr. Xi, Fr. Peter and I went to the convent to meet Sr. Fabian, alumnae of Maryknoll China Project and the Superior General of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, and had lunch at the convent.  Sr. Asisi drove us to the hotel to drop Fr. Peter and then went to the airport as I would return to Shenzhen.              

I gave away books as usual.   I am grateful for their warm welcome, hospitality, and the opportunity to meet and hear stories of so many people during this trip. 

Here is the link of the pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11848830@N02/albums/72157688744360501

Hong Kong, November 21, 2017

         

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: Cyber Ministry

As my previous sharing, I started a group chatting ministry in 2014 by sending faith information to QQ and Wechat group chatting.  I joined around 12 group chatting with total members around 1,200 people by Dec 2014.  Little by little, I joined more group chatting and now I join more than 80 group chatting with total members more than 30,000 people.  I don’t know exactly how many people read the faith information that I sent.  For sure, there are many people join several group chatting, I can’t send faith information during their prayer and reading the Bible and not all the members read the information.

          Here is an article about my cyber ministry: http://www.globalsistersreport.org/blog/gsr-today/sisters-do-18-surprising-ministries-23956

Hong Kong, September 8, 2017

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: 2015 Pilgrimage to Shanghai, Taiyuan and Qingdao

 Mrs. Eliza and I went to Sheshan Basilica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheshan_Basilica), Shanghai on Sep 10, 2015.  It’s located inside the Sheshan Forest Park.  Around half of the Basilica is closed from the visitors but one of the volunteers graciously led us to the Our Lady of Sheshan statue (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Mother_of_Sheshan), which is placed on the left hand side of the altar.  Another volunteer led us another Church in the lower part of the hill as I want to give a way booklets to the Sister and the Seminary compound. 

          Our next stop was St. Ignatius Cathedral Shanghai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Ignatius_Cathedral,_Shanghai).  Unfortunately the Cathedral was under renovation so we went to the Chapel at the Diocesan Centre.  

      We also went to Waitan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bund) and enjoyed the Xiao Long Bao (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaolongbao).

          Fr. Duan was our host during our stay in Taiyuan.  We went to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrow, Dong Er Gou (http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/shrines/China/China-OL-Sorrows.html); the Church in the Liu He Village, which is the biggest Catholic Village in China (95% Catholics with total around 7,000 parishioners); the Church in Gu Cheng Yi Village (which was the hometown of two of Martyr Saints of China) to meet Fr. Meng, whom I met in Hong Kong; the family of Fr. Liu; the Church in Feng Xi Village to meet another Fr. Duan, whom I met in Hong Kong, Br. Xing’s family, the Church and the ex-convent of Beata Maria Assunta Pallota, FMM (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Assunta_Pallotta) in Dong Er Gou Village; traditional house of one of the parishioners,  which was built in Yaodong type (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaodong), and a grape farm.  We arrived just in time for the Sunday Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace (http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/shrines/China/China-OL-Grace.html) in Taiyuan dialect.  One of the pilgrimages walked without shoes for the 3-5 km station of the cross from the bottom hill to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace and it’s a common practice in the old days even though the road was made of small stones.  Half of the pilgrims sit on the floor as the pews are not enough for the Sunday Mass. There are around 800 parishioners in one of the village Churches but only around 100 parishioners are still in the village, mostly elderly, because the rest of parishioners moved out to the city.  There are only half of the parishioners are still in the other village Church.  It’s rather a common reality for the Churches in the villages in China as the impact of urbanization.  There are several Churches along the way.    

 We went to St. Michael Cathedral Qingdao (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Michael%27s_Cathedral,_Qingdao), which is one of the Window of Qingdao, on Sep 14.  The entrance fee is RMB 10.00 with several exception e.g. elderly.  When we said that we are Catholics, we got exception too.  Fr. Feng and two sisters were at the entrance counter when we left.   There were around 20 couples had their pre-wedding pictures in front of the Cathedral.  We also went to Small Qingdao, Television Tower, Zhong Shan Park, Huang island, Zhan Bridge and enjoyed the seafood including the Star Sea.

 Here is the link of the pictures: https://www.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Wx&emid=shareprintviewer&linkid=link.

          I am grateful to Mrs. Eliza for her invitation for this pilgrimage to see the beauty, devotion and dynamic of several Churches in the northern part of China.

Hong Kong, September 21, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: The Seventh Youth Gathering of Holy Family Church

Thirty four married and single youth, five couples, a boy and I went from Holy Family Church to Maria Rosa Mystica Sanctuary 玫瑰山庄 (Mei Gui Shan Zhuang) Fuzhou on May 28 9.00 p.m. by bus.   Fr. Lu gave blessing before we left.  It took around 13.5 hours from Shenzhen to the sanctuary including three hours rest in a resting area because it was prohibited to drive at 2.00 – 5.00 a.m.  Upon arriving, Ms. Lin assigned everyone’s room.   I discussed the agenda with Sr. Zheng before lunch.

Fr. Chen, who is working in Fuqing, visited me before the group and I walked up for station of the cross led by Mr. Liu and Mrs. Zhang.  Two young women from Shantou came by high speed train to join our pilgrimage.    A group from Handan was praying when we arrived in the Church so we prayed together with them. Sr. Zheng gave explanation about the Sanctuary to both groups and then we walked to the statue of Our Lady of Rosa Mystica and then had dinner.  We gathered in the class after dinner for self-introduction and ice breaking games, followed by praying the rosary in the chapel led by Ms. Zhuo.  Several youth expressed their appreciation for this pilgrimage and wish there will be more youth gatherings in the future.

I asked Fr. Meng through Sr. Zheng to celebrate the Mass according to the Prayer book prepared by Hong Kong Diocese for World Day of Prayer for Church in China.  In a letter to Chinese Catholics in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his hope that the liturgical feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians on May 24, might “become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China.”

  I invited a youth group from Fuzhou to join our program on Saturday morning.  Ms. Lin of Fuzhou led our morning prayer according to Breviary, which is available on the application of cellphone and then Mr. Lin gave introduction about their group followed by introduction about our youth group by Mr. Wu.  Ms. Luo read the message of Pope Francis for the 49^th World Communications Day https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/papa-francesco_20150123_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html, while showing the closing Mass of Asian Youth Day 2014 in mute mode.  I asked Br. Stephen to translate it to Putonghua as no Chinese version is available on the internet.  Then the group watched a Putonghua version of short video “Look Up” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY.             Mr. Liu led the small group sharing, followed by big group sharing including showing the drawing of their small group sharing.  I arranged their sitting arrangement upon entering the classroom so that couples would sit together and there would be one Fuzhou youth and four-five Shenzhen youth in one table and then two tables had the small group sharing together. I also gave short summary followed by praying together prayer to the Holy Family composed by Pope Francis.  Before having lunch, several of Shenzhen youth picked up holy water while several others and I had conversation with the youth from Fuzhou.  

It’s heavy rain around 11.30 a.m.  Thanks be to God it’s stopped around 12.30 p.m. and we left for Ningde, around 2 hours by bus, followed by 20-30 minutes on a van going up to mountain.  We prayed for a while in the Church and then walked up to pray and pick up holy water in one of the cave led by two sisters and a guide.  It’s known as Bishop Peter Sanz and Jorda’s cave (白主教洞 Bai Zhu Jiao Dong, http://translate.google.com.hk/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.santopedia.com/santos/san-pedro-sanz-y-jorda&prev=searcho, he was one of the 120 Martyr Saints of China canonized on 1 October 2000).   One of the sisters gave explanation about Bishop Peter Sanz and Jorda before going down for dinner.  We arrived in Xiamen around midnight.  

After breakfast, we left for the pier to go to Gulangyu Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulangyu_Island.  We were on the 10:30 a.m. ferry and had free time upon arriving on the island.  Several youth and I had lunch together and then went to the Church, which was closed.  We went back to Xiamen around 2.30 p.m.   We prayed the rosary and sung several praise and worship songs on the way to Shenzhen and arrived in Shenzhen around midnight.

It’s a blessing to plan and join this youth pilgrimage to see their devotion, their youth spirit, their joy, and their care for one another.  Mr. Wu did a lot of things before and during the pilgrimage including making sure nobody will be left behind by dividing the group into small groups and set up a group chatting in we chat which is still continue till now.  Here is the link of the pictures (from several cameras and not in order): http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Re

Here is sharing from two participants of the pilgrimage:

这次活动我觉得非常好！因为前几年一直工作的原因，错过了好多好多的教会一些活动，团体的交流。天主对我们每个人的召叫不同，然而天主用特别的方式召叫了我，让我又能重新认识祂；可是我的信仰并没有多坚强，也没有多深刻的认识，所以我需要更多的去聆听他人的分享，以及亲身的体验；朝圣就是最好的方式。因为朝圣能加深我们，或者更好的说能够让我们寻找到内心的信仰。我一直都希望能去朝圣，因为朝圣真的能坚固自己的信德，加深我们对主耶稣基督的认识；因为我的信仰一直都在原地，没进也没退，所以我更加渴望；我感谢天主，让我有了这一次，也是第一次亲身的体验这次朝圣之旅，是的，我的收获真的好多好多。而且在今年我也有了更多的机会参加教会的活动和跟其他弟兄姐妹交流分享，这就是天主美好的安排。当然也希望能参加更多的朝圣啦！ 下一次的朝圣之交流希望去看望麻风病人，在周六和周日。      

《爱的见证》

我曾经像一只小小飞鸟，飞跃在这蓝天海上，穿梭在这城市之中，我无时无刻彷徨无助，找不到可以倾诉的地方，在这里（玫瑰山莊，白主教洞）有一双慈爱的双手正等着我，来拥抱我，让我的内心一切得到释放，让我的心不在受外面的世界干扰，在这里安静，慈祥，柔和是一般人无法想象的，主我要走向你给我预备的地方…………………

 天主的恩典无处不在，天主的爱时时充满着我的心，来到玫瑰山莊已经是第二天的早上10点多， 经过800多公里的长途跋涉，坐了十多小时的路程终于到达我们第一站，山莊的美丽优雅的情景早已洗去我的疲惫和劳累。我们找到了修女，在修女的安排下我们各自找到房间暂时休息。玫瑰山莊的招待所，简朴，整洁，每个房间挂着天使塑像，安静，和谐接待我们远道而来的客人。吃过午饭后我们稍作休息，下午3点30分开始进入玫瑰山莊天主的圣殿，此时我心情很激动很期待也很敬畏。我们如约来到玫瑰山莊的大门口，出现在我眼前的先是一栋楼房，上面写着天主是爱的字样。门口旁边有个块石板记录着玫瑰山莊的发展史、

我们顺着门进去，开始拜苦路，一处，二处就这样一处一处往上走，我们要走向天主的圣殿，我们要重新纪念耶稣为我们受苦的历程。当我走到第四处时，我忽远忽近听到圣母温柔的声音，听似歌声非似歌声在这安静的山谷回荡着，小信德的我开始还不相信这个是不是真的，我又用心听，当我第二次听到这个声音时，我不在疑问了，只是在心里默存着继续往前走，走到第六处：圣妇为耶稣拭面时我的心很痛，不是因为我们顶着强烈的太阳照射而痛，而是想着耶稣为我们的罪过，情愿被钉死在十字架上，而我们还不知悔改，为了自己的私欲无情的一步一步逼着一个无罪的人走向死亡，走过每一处，我的心像荆条鞭打着一样痛，历历在目，深深伤痛，想想我们的耶稣何等的痛苦，罪人啊，悔改吧，这个强有力的声音一直触碰着我的灵魂深处…..悔改吧…….

回忆耶稣的苦难，我们走完了十四处，经过耶稣受洗的约旦河（大水池）我们也像重新洗礼一样获得重生的感觉，迈向教堂，玫瑰山莊外形是欧式风格的形式，庄严，美丽，肃目在山的中间，门前布满各种花种的玫瑰花，迎面清香扑来，使人顿时清新精神。我们有序进入教堂，我首先看到的是头顶上的大十字架，它诉说多少爱，多少恩典，多少人间的沧桑，见证着这里一个又一个奇迹，主，我爱你，这是发自内心的声音。感恩赎罪的天主交流的工具（祭台）呈上我们一个个祈祷，呈上我们的喜怒哀乐，呈上我们的生命。见证着爱在这里，在这里你遇到主了吗？领受主的恩宠了吗，体会到圣母妈妈代祷的力量了吗？这时我献上的是：主，我在这里，你来指导我的一切，我要在你内生活，在你爱内生活。修女带着我们祈祷，天主，圣母，这时与我们同在，圣母显示了自己，祭台旁边的圣母塑像后面出现了一个似手的形态张开手臂护佑着整个教堂，我又开始小信德了。心想着这又是什么，我时不时抬头仰望着，不敢想太多。 修女开始讲解山莊的来历和经历着各种考验，发展成今天的规模，修女说她在等我们上来的时候，她感觉到有一股强大力量从下面上来，有圣神一直护佑着上来，而她在教堂里面等的时候，也有困惑，有个意向就是等一下，等一下，原来天主都有安排，人不能随便揣摩天主的意念。了解山莊的由来，深深感觉天主的伟大，圣母的伟大，耶稣为了我们的罪过死在十字架上，圣母不辞万里，历尽艰难来到我们中国，把救恩带到中国，把恩宠分给我们中华每个子民，我们却怀着各种心态来回应天主的爱，还继续着伤害天主的爱，何等罪过。当修女讲解结束后那双大能的手消失了。天主要与我们同在不需要太多的语言，用我们的心神来领受天主的恩宠。

爱不需要语言，用行动释全天主给我们的爱。万福玛利亚，你充满圣宠主与你同在……

愿主的名何其伟大，何其伟大。愿你的慈爱保佑中华大地，愿你大能手臂保佑我们信友

阿门！

Hong Kong, June 3, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Christmas Letter 2014

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

              First of all, I want to wish all of you:

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

May your days be filled with peace and joy during Christmas season

and throughout 2015!

How was your Christmas celebration? 

I am still volunteering at Holy Family Church Shenzhen on Saturdays till Tuesdays except if there are community activities or workshops in Hong Kong so I spent Christmas in Shenzhen.  Besides regular activities, I also organize youth gatherings, couples gathering and altar server gathering with the help of several volunteers at Holy Family Church.  

       An Advent wreath, with two purple candles, one pink candle and two white candles, was placed in the altar as we began the Advent season.

       Fr. Lu, several parishioners and I attended Mass for the feast of Immaculate Conception at the Immaculate Conception Church, followed by dinner.  There was reserved seat during Mass and reserved dinner table for the sisters.

       Starting third Sunday of Advent, several parishioners decorated the church in the evening.  Several of them went directly from work without having supper and stayed till around 1.30 a.m., so they had supper at church.  One of the parishioners and I decorate both the front and back stairs.  I sent Christmas gift from Fr. Lu to one of the families who are on financial difficulties. 

       There were so many people wanted to attend the 7.30 p.m. Mass on Dec 24 so the ushers should work hard to make sure that the Mass would be as solemn as possible.  The front and back of church and also the stair to the fourth floor were full packed.  There was a TV at the first floor to show lively the Mass.  Several of them are neither Catholics nor attend Mass regularly. The choir sang beautifully and there were nice Mass booklets for Masses on Dec 24, 25 and Holy Family Feast Day.  After evening Mass, there was a procession of statue Baby Jesus from first floor to the altar and then it was placed in the manger in front of the church.  The church was also full packed for the performance show, in between the evening and vigil Masses.  The children, Bible Study Group, Praise and Worship Group, Choir and one of the laywoman sang several songs.  The bookstore was moved to the first floor to have bigger space.   The Santa Claus threw candies after performance show.  I was responsible to give away the bread to the children before the Mass, sat with the children at the last row to keep them as quiet as possible and gave away their Christmas gifts.   The church, inside and outside, was full for the vigil Mass.  I sat at the back church with several persons for the vigil Mass.     

       The church, inside and outside, was full packed on Christmas Day Mass even though it’s not public holiday.  Forty mostly non-Catholic men and women sang three Christmas songs after closing prayer. A parishioner invited Fr. Lu, several volunteers, and me for lunch.   The inside church was full during Christmas Day evening Mass, even though it’s not the first Mass for most of them at this Christmas season.    Once in awhile, the parishioners will go to the manger to pray. 

       Here is the link of the pictures during Christmas celebration in Shenzhen : http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=a11b4020629da0676cdd16a80fdf8c46&sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2NZ

            I start a new cyber ministry through group chatting.  I ask three of the youth to send Youth Catechism, Canon Law, letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Chinese in 2007 and the explanation of that letter by Cardinal Zen to our Shenzhen Catholic Youth group chat, one number each day and then I forward it to eleven group chats.  Total members who receive this information are more than 1,200 persons (of 12 group chats) and living in several cities.  I realize that only small number of them may have time and interest read it but at least they know there are these materials.  A person asked what is the different of catechism and canon law and then just realized that she has a book of canon law in her book shelf.  Two persons asked me to join their group chat and become one of the resource persons.   I assume both of them didn’t know my state of life because they knew me from a group chat.  Several persons are grateful for this cyber ministry and ask to forward it to their friends.  One of the priests called me “网络导师“ (=cyber teacher).  One of the group chat member start to forward catechism to his group chat, one number each day.  Now, I join 21 group chats with membership range from more than 10 members up to more than 400 members and different age range.  I form three group chats: youth group volunteers, priests, and sisters. For sure, I didn’t read all their conversation and also only forward the information to eleven group chat because of there is membership duplication and the nature of the group chat.   I still continue to share my life and ministry to my blog and the pageviews reached more than 74,000. 

       While in Hong Kong, I am still visiting the inmates in both Lowu Correctional Institution and Tailam Center for Women and helping the Putonghua workshops at Maryknoll Society House besides being one of the financial team members of our region.  The Financial Literacy Program at Pathfinders ended last April.

       Here were my several activities after Easter while I was not in Shenzhen: Colloquium on Confucius organized by Maryknoll Society including trip to Qufu-China, trip to Shenyang, Jilin and Fushun to visit several communities and attend the farewell of Fr. John Vessey, Maryknoll Convent School Speech Day, National Election of Indonesia, Study Day on Aggiornamento in the Church and Vatican Council II, Feedback from our General Assembly delegates, Golden Jubilee of Sr. Joanna Chan, Annual General Meeting of Prisoners’ Friends’ Association, International Conference on Ignatian Spirituality, Memorial Mass for our China Region deceased sisters, Maryknoll Society Thanksgiving Day,  Briefing Session on the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization, besides enjoying the visit of Mrs. Selly and her family, Mr. Achun and his family, Mrs. Sharon, Mrs. Eliza, Mrs. Im, Mrs. Grace Kelly and her family, Sr. Joanna, Ms. Vivien Ng, Fr. Elmer and Mrs. Alice and also went home for vacation and retreat.

       And, last but not least, I want to thank you for all your support, love, hospitality, gifts and especially your prayers during this year.  It’s been a year of lot of “God with us” experiences.

                                                             

Hong Kong, December 26, 2014

With love and prayer,

         

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible