Sharing: The First Two Months of the Last Semester

          Our classes begin on Feb 23 and I am in intermediate level 2.  There are intensive reading, extensive reading, listening, writing and conversation classes.  After several weeks, I finally sign up for optional classes on HSK preparation, Tourism, and several classes for bachelor degree program: Chinese customs, Chinese Contemporary Issue, Geography.

            One of my Chinese friends visited to my dorm on Mar 3 evening so I cancelled my plan to attend the Saturday Mandarin Mass.  The next day, after attending the Mandarin mass, I visited Sr. Mary Clare as I still have time before Mandarin RCIA classes.  She invited me to attend a Lenten season retreat for volunteers.  At first, I said I couldn’t attend the RCIA retreat on Mar 17-18 as I would have a regional meeting, but then she said it’s not RCIA retreat and it’s on Mar 11.  So, the next day, I said I can attend the retreat.  The article about the retreat can be read in:      http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.com/2012/03/sharing.html

            Gao Zai invited me to have supper in his house since last semester so finally I visited his house after class on Mar 22.  All of us were standing in front of the picture of the Last Supper when his grandfather led the grace before the meal.  He called me “修(xiū)女(nǚ)“   (=sister) and we had conversation about many things including his life story.  He, the fifth generation Catholics in his family, knew the work of Maryknollers in Meizhou in the old days.  After supper, we attended a Mandarin Mass in a parishioner’s house as there was a visiting priest from Shantou.   His grandfather introduced me to the priest who has two religious sisters.        

            Our Chinese Customs teacher assigned us to visit 小(xiǎo)州(zhōu)村(cūn)  （a Xiaozhou village in  大(dà)学(xué)城(chéng)University Town）.  There are a lot of ancient spots including Ming Dynasty Well, Oyster Shell House, Liangma bridge, several artshops and family temples.   Two Vietnamese, one Mexican and one Equadorian friends accompanied me to visit this place.  When I was waiting my friends, a cleaning service in our campus wants to throw my bread plastic besides me, I thought he would also throw my drink so I spontaneously let him know that I still wanted the drink (maybe because in the restaurant near our campus, we should watch our tray as the cleaning service sometimes will pick up our tray even though we didn’t finish to eat yet).  He said that he only wanted to throw the bread plastic and then we continue our conversation.  He became my mandarin “teacher” that morning and he still offers to have conversation whenever I am free.

            I went to Hong Kong on Mar 13-15 as we had regional meeting so I had a chance to attend the Fun Day at school held by Parents Teacher Association.  There were coupons to play games with prizes or buy snacks.

            The classes are in the eight weeks so it’s time for the midterm exam on Apr 11-15.  My intensive grade is 77.5, listening is 67, and extensive reading is 80.  It’s the first time that my conversation grade is higher than my reading-writing and listening grades. 

            I enjoyed the visit of Choi Tai tai, Sr. Annie, Erna, Hedar and his wife in several different times.  As Sr. Arlene visited Guangzhou, so I introduced her to Gao Zai as she understands sign language.  I only could amaze to see how did they communicate in sign language, I asked Sr. Arlene to ask several questions which I couldn’t get the answer due to our limited communication.  A Maryknoll Affiliates Richard Perez and I visited and prayed with two Filipino patients and their families in Modern Hospital and then the next day we visited Cathedral, Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel and took the boat ride back to our campus to see the evening view of Pearl River.

            There is Labor Day break on Apr 29- May 1 so I went to Hong Kong after the classes on Friday evening.  I met Richard Perez in Kowloon Tong MTR station as he wants to donate for the baby of Vivian (http://www.mklsisters.org/blog/2012/02/09/i-led-our-prayer-together/) before he leaves for USA the next day.  Vivian called me when I was in Lujiang Guangzhou MTR to send off Richard, so I called Vivian upon arriving dorm.  She said her baby was shaking that morning and previous days, I asked several questions as I also don’t know what can I do for her, finally I invited her to pray together.  She hanged up our telephone conversation as she received another call and promise to call me again.  I missed her call and when I called her back, she said that after our prayer, a woman called to give good news about the medicine/treatment for her baby and another call for hospital to inform her that her baby can have EEG the next evening instead of end May. Thanks be to God for the good news (and also for the donation).  She would call her friends to borrow money for the EEG, that’s why I asked Richard to help.  The baby is being hospitalized now.            

                                          

Hong Kong, May 1, 2012

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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

Sharing: The Second Winter Break

           My sisters and I had our community retreat on Jan 26 – Feb 1 at Maryknoll Society House in Stanley.  Sr. Claudette LaVerdiere, MM lead the retreat based on her newly published book “On the Threshold of the Future: The life and Spirituality of Mother Mary Joseph Rogers, Founder of the Maryknoll Sisters”.  We had talks on Presence of God, Contemplation and Action, Unity and Diversity, Individuality and Common Good, Obedience, Nobility of Soul, and Ecce Ancilla Domini besides the beginning correspondence history of Mother Mary Joseph and Fr. James A. Walsh, MM.  Fr. Bill Galvin, MM also gave talks on the two founders of Maryknoll: Fr. James A. Walsh, MM, Fr. Thomas F.  Price, MM, the author of Lend Me Your Hands, the how-to-do-it Book for the lay apostolate: Fr. Bernard Meyer. MM, Fr. Francis X. Ford, MM who started the mobile missionary apostolate of two-sister convent system in Kaying-China in 1923, and Fr, John J. Considine, MM.   

            I attended the Margaret Silf Spirituality Conference on “Question of Faith” and “The Challenge of Change” held by Xavier House  http://www.rc.net/newyork/layspirits/MargaretSilf_bio.pdf.

          We had Maryknoll Lunar New Year celebration, a join celebration with Maryknoll Society on Feb 5.  There were 27 Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers and Sisters including Sr. Claudette LaVerdiere, MM and Fr. Kevin Hanlon, MM from USA.

           I attended the talk of Sr. Claudette for the secondary school students and then enjoyed the breakfast in the school canteen.

            I enjoyed the visit of my cousin Santi and her husband from Singapore and also my visit to baby Nara.  Fr. Regie, SVD, Fr. Lukas, SVD and I visited the former place of Saint Joseph Freinademetz in Saikung http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Freinademetz on Feb 14 morning and then in the afternoon, Fr. Lukas, Retha, I visited Nan Lian Garden http://www.nanliangarden.org/home.php?eng

            I visited our sisters Macau on Feb 15 and then went to Guangzhou for the registration on Feb 17 morning.  Toto, SVD and I visited Trappistine Sisters, Fr. Dominic, SJ and Fr. Domingos in Macau.  It’s quick registration so I could go back to Hong Kong in the afternoon as we have regional assembly on Feb 18.  I had breakfast in Zhuhai, lunch in Guangzhou and supper in Hong Kong!

                                                      

Hong Kong, April 30, 2012

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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

Easter Letter 2012

Dear all,

Happy Easter!
May the Risen Lord fill you with peace and love

This is an Easter Wednesday and here are my experiences during Holy Week 2012 as my Easter letter.
I attended Mandarin Ash Wednesday Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel Shamian. The chapel was full with parishioners including several Indonesian students.
As there was school break on Mar 31 till Apr 4 due to sweeping the tomb festival (清(qīng)明(míng)节(jié) ), I went to Hong Kong and attended the Indonesian Palm Sunday Mass at Christ the King Chapel. There were around 260 Indonesians attended the Mass.
One of my friends wrote in her facebook that she was in Hong Kong so we met the next morning and then I went back to Guangzhou. It’s a moving moment as we prayed together with her families. It’s a holy coincidence as I seldom read status of my friends in facebook due to limited time outside mainland China.
After having lunch with several friends from Vietnam, Italy, Madagascar, and Spain on Apr 4, we attended Mandarin Chrism Mass in Cathedral. The priests renewed their priesthood promises and Bishop Joseph Gan consecrated the chrism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrism.
I attended the Indonesian Holy Thursday Mass in Indonesian Consulate General. The hall was full with the Indonesians. Later on, there was a Eucharistic Adoration.
As I had afternoon classes, I attended Mandarin Good Friday Liturgy in Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel Shamian with two Indonesians and two Mexicans students. Three of us skipped our writing classes. We started with Mandarin Way of the Cross, Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion. Later on, there were Indonesian Good Friday Liturgy, English Way of the Cross and Mandarin Way of the Cross.
Four Indonesians and I visited and prayed with several Indonesians and Filipino patients and their families at Fuda hospital on Saturday morning. One of them was in ICU after a surgery so two of us went to the ICU after negotiating with the nurse that we would be with the patient only for ten minutes. I attended Mandarin Easter Vigil Mass in Cathedral with three students from Colombia and Mexico. After Mass, I met several friends from Italy, Vietnam and Spain. The Cathedral was full till the back side, many parishioners should stand during the Mass. Fr. Tom hold the Easter candle walked to the back of the Cathedral and then went back to the altar with around 100 baptismal candidates. It’s a moving moment even though I only could see from afar. After the baptismal ceremony, the newly baptized wore the white gown, were anointed with the oil and then received Holy Communion. Before Mass, one of my Chinese friends in RCIA classes asked whether I would be baptized so I said I was baptized long time ago. While waiting the green light to cross the street, a young woman asked me whether I just attended the Mass. As I said yes, she shared her life stories, how God answered her prayers through the intercession of Mother Mary. She said several times “很(hěn)奇(qí)妙(miào)” Later on, I know it means “wonderful/fantastic”. She was baptized last year even though she used to go to Protestant church. She gave me her business card and continued to talk until we arrived in the platform of subway. A new Chinese friend in Easter. I enjoyed the Easter boiled egg and cake from friends upon arriving dormitory.
My friend and I attended English Easter Sunday Mass in St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, which was re-opened last Feb. The Chapel was built in 1909 and closed during Cultural Revolution till 1996. Last year, the diocese renovated the Chapel after being used as a hostel. The majority of the parishioners are Filipino and the first Mandarin Sunday Mass would be started in the afternoon. After Mass, we had lunch in a restaurant nearby and desert in the evening. I had a chance to meet several Indonesians in the afternoon.
Holy week this year was colourful in languages and experiences. I gave a short reflection on suffering and kenosis based on Palm Sunday readings for St. Theresia’s prayer cell and then listened to the suffering of the people I met during Holy week. I tried to reflect on the redemptive suffering of Christ http://www.catholica.com.au/peregrinus/015_pere_130906.php. I know I only can pray for all of their suffering so that they still can see hope amidst their suffering, hope to the Risen Lord who suffered and died on the cross.
In this time of Easter season, I recalled the quotation of Anthony T. Padavano, Christmas to Calvary, p. 15 (1): When we begin a life journey with Jesus we must go all the way with him if we would find ourselves. We need not only Christmas but the cross in order to understand Christmas and in order to be given Easter. We are companions of this child and the crucified savior. If we feel unworthly, we must remember that Jesus, in his birth and in his burial, in the virgin’s womb and Calvary’s tomb, reverses all expectations. Easter is a return of Christ to those who felt unworthy but who did not stop loving. We come as wise men and women to the manger, as disciples to the cross, as an Easter people to the empty tomb.

Guangzhou, 11 Apr, 2012



Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: The Power of Healing Prayer on Ovary Cyst

Here is the story:

It can be read also at:

http://maryknollmagazine.org/index.php/magazines/305-missioner-tales

Sharing: I Led our Prayer Together

Here is the story:
http://www.mklsisters.org/blog/2012/02/09/i-led-our-prayer-together/

Renungan 2012: Hari Minggu Palma

(Bacaan Mrk 11: 1-10, Yes 50: 4-7, Fil 2: 6-11, Mrk 14: 1-15:47)
Hari Minggu ini adalah hari Minggu Palma, yang menandai dimulainya Pekan Suci, yang meliputi Minggu Palma, Kamis Putih, Jumat Agung, Sabtu Suci, Minggu Paskah.
Lewat bacaan prosesi daun palem, kita mendengar bagaimana Yesus naik keledai memasuki kota Yerusalem, dielu-elukan sebagai Dia yang datang dalam nama Tuhan oleh orang-orang yang melambaikan ranting-ranting hijau dan menghamparkan pakaiannya di jalan. Keledai dalam budaya Timur adalah simbol binatang damai, seorang raja akan menunggang kuda bila akan memulai perang dan menunggang keledai bila datang dengan damai. Karenanya masuknya Yesus ke Yerusalem dengan menunggang keledai ini melambangkan kedatanganNya sebagai Raja Damai. Di beberapa tempat bahkan sampai sekarang, ada kebiasaan untuk menutupi jalan yang akan dilalui seseorang yang dianggap dihormati dengan kain atau karpet. Yesus juga mendapat perlakuan yang sama karena orang Yahudi berpikir bahwa Yesus akan memaklumkan diriNya sebagai Mesias tetapi Yesus menolak untuk dimaklumkan sebagai Mesias sebagaimana gambaran mereka tentang Mesias, yaitu sebagai Raja yang penuh kuasa, yang membebaskan mereka dari penindasan, kelaparan dan pemimpin yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Dalam bacaan tidak disebut pemakaian daun palem, tetapi dalam tradisi Yahudi, daun palem adalah lambang kemenangan. Sesudah Minggu Palma, daun palem disimpan dan dibakar tahun berikutnya untuk digunakan sebagai abu untuk Rabu Abu. Warna liturgi minggu ini adalah merah, warna darah, yang melambangkan kurban penebusan Kristus, yang digenapi dengan memasuki kota Yerusalem, untuk memenuhi kisah sengsara dan kebangkitanNya.
Yesus sudah mengetahui tentang penderitaan yang akan dialaminya di Yerusalem, sebagaimana dalam Mat 10: 33-34, tetapi karena ketaatanNya pada kehendak Bapa, maka Dia berangkat juga ke Yerusalem. Dalam bacaan pertama kita mendengar tentang ketaatan seorang hamba Tuhan, yang percaya bahwa Tuhanlah yang menolongnya dan tidak akan mendapat malu. Beranikah kita taat kepada kehendak Bapa sepenuhnya, yang tahu rancangan terbaik untuk hidup kita? Kalau kita melihat kejadian-kejadian yang dialami Yesus secara terpisah, kita mungkin tidak mengerti rencana Allah di balik kisah sengsaraNya, seperti halnya kita mungkin tidak mengerti ada begitu banyak penderitaan di dunia ini.
Ketaatan Yesus sampai mati di atas kayu salib berbuah karunia nama di atas segala nama sebagaimana yang kita dengar dalam bacaan kedua. Kekristenan selama seratus tahun terakhir berkisar 33 persen, artinya satu dari tiga orang di bumi adalah orang Kristen (entah Katolik, Protestan, Orthodox), sedangkan pada tahun 2010, jumlah orang Katolik berkisar 17.5 persen dari populasi dunia, yaitu sebesar 1.196 bilyar.
Dalam Injil Markus kita mendengar tentang rencana pembunuhan Yesus, pengurapan Yesus, pengkhianatan Yudas, Perjamuan Paskah Yesus dengan murid-muridNya, penangkapan, pengadilan, kisah sengsara dan kematian Yesus. Alasan penyiksaan dan penyaliban Yesus oleh pemerintah Ramawi adalah seperti yang tertulis di salibNya, yaitu pengakuanNya sebagai Raja orang Yahudi, meskipun KerajaanNya bukan dari dunia ini.
Lewat Minggu Palma ini, kita diajak untuk menyadari bahwa hidup kita mengambil bagian dalam hidup Yesus, ada penderitaan-besar dan kecil-meskipun sangat mungkin, tidak sampai mati di kayu salib. Bahwa kita dipanggil tidak hanya untuk bersorak-sorak menyambut kedatangan Yesus seperti orang Yerusalem, tetapi juga untuk meringankan penderitaan sesama sehingga Kerajaan Allah datang di muka bumi; sebagaimana yang kita doakan dalam doa Bapa Kami, lewat panggilan perutusan kita masing-masing, lewat ketaatan kita kepada kehendak Bapa.

Untuk bisa taat, kita harus bersedia mengosongkan diri. Jean-Marie Howe dalam “Cistercian Monastic Life/Vows: A Vision,” p. 367, (7) mengatakan …Tidak cukup kalau hanya terbenam dalam…kehidupan. Kita harus membiarkan diri kita dibajak sehingga alur diri kita menjadi semakin dalam, sehingga bumi kita menjadi semakin lembut. Ini adalah saat dimana diri kita dipahat, saat membajak diri ini adalah pengosongan diri (kematian yang harus mendahului hidup yang baru, kelahiran kembali) dan pengosongan diri tidak mudah. Ketika kita menjadi terbuka, rahmat dapat tercurahkan…
Yesus memberi Hukum terutama, yang pertama, Kasihilah Tuhan, Allahmu, dengan segenap hatimu dan dengan segenap jiwamu dan dengan segenap akal budimu dan dengan segenap kekuatanmu. Kalau kita akan naik pesawat atau kereta api yang sudah terjadwal, tentu kita berusaha untuk tidak terlambat kalau tidak ingin membeli tiket yang baru. Apakah kita juga tepat waktu dalam memenuhi kewajiban kita sebagai orang Katolik: menerima sakramen-sakramen Ekaristi dan Pengakuan Dosa, berpuasa dan berpantang, dll. Minggu ini adalah minggu terakhir kita bersama-sama dengan Gereja melakukan pertobatan, tentu pertobatan pribadi bisa dilakukan kapan saja sepanjang tahun.
Yesus juga memberi Hukum terutama, yang kedua, Kasihilah sesamamu manusia seperti dirimu sendiri. Paus Paulus VI mengatakan kalau kita menginginkan perdamaian, bekerjalah untuk keadilan. Bagaimana kita bertindak dengan adil terhadap orang-orang di sekitar kita? Bagaimana kita melihat orang lain yang berbeda agama, suku, ras, pekerjaan, dll? Bagaimana kita membawa damai ketika terjadi pertikaian dan perbedaan pendapat? St. Theresa Avila dalam Puri Batin mengajak kita untuk melihat kelemahan kita sendiri dan membiarkan orang lain dengan hidupnya sendiri: karena mereka yang hidup dengan teratur seringkali terkejut dengan segala sesuatu, dan kita belajar pelajaran penting dari orang yang mengejutkan kita. Beliau juga mengatakan Penampilan luar dan tindakan kita mungkin lebih baik dari mereka, tetapi ini, meskipun baik, bukanlah hal yang paling penting; tidaklah beralasan bila kita mengharapkan bahwa semua orang akan mengikuti jalan kita, dan kita harus berusaha untuk tidak mengarahkan mereka pada jalan rohani yang mungkin kita sendiri tidak tahu…Adalah lebih baik untuk…hidup dalam keheningan dan harapan dan Tuhan akan memperhatikan milikNya.
Bagaimana kita berusaha untuk menjadi pribadi yang semakin sesuai kehendak Allah, menjadi wajah Kristus di saat ini dan di sini? Ada yang mengatakan mungkin kita adalah satu-satunya wajah Kristus yang pernah dilihat oleh orang-orang tertentu, jadi jangan lewatkan kesempatan langka ini!

Guangzhou, 29 Maret 2012


Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

P.S. Sebagian materi renungan ini merupakan terjemahan bebas dari http://en.wikipedia.org, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/holyweek/RC/palmsundayyeara.htm dan Community Christian Bible dan dibawakan untuk Komsel St. Theresia Guangzhou pada 29 Maret 2012

Sharing: 我的第一次普通话避静

叶修女告诉我说：。3月10-11日广州义工组安排了四旬期的避静。我原以为是3月 17-18日，所以我告诉她我不能参加参加慕道班避静，因为3月17-18日我有别的安排。然后她请我3月10-11日参加避静。我说我考虑一下，因为星 期六我跟印尼朋友们去医院看印尼病人，和他们一起祈祷。一天后，我告诉叶修女我要参加避静。
10号早上我们大概8点出发。除了叶修女和我以外，还有二十三位兄弟姐妹。从石室到博罗，我们一边唱歌一边看风景；一路上绿油油，很漂亮。
第一天，叶修女讲马尔谷福音5:21-43和诗篇23还有默想。吃完晚饭后，我们一起看电影《BEN-HUR》。
这是我第一次参加普通话避静，虽然很多词语的意思我不明白，可是叶修女说的很清楚所以我能掌握话题，因为她也讲圣经故事所以我更容易理解。在个人自我介绍 的时候，有的人介绍说，他很感谢天主，是主的恩赐使他们能认识天主。我也告诉大家，天主的安排比我想的更好和赐予给我更多的恩宠，就好像这次避静一样，我 没想到我能参加这个普通话避静，尤其在四旬期的时候；然后我又能认识很多很热情的教友，愿光荣归于天主。他能找他在我们身上所发挥的德能，成就一切，远超 我们所求所想的。
避静的地方很漂亮、很安静和很干净，修女做的饭也很好吃。这是我第一次喝汤不用汤匙，用不太标准的普通话聊天，因为大家都知道我是印尼华裔，所以都很照顾我。
第二天，我们在圣若瑟教堂一起参加普通话弥撒，然后听叶修女讲马尔谷福音9:14-29，最后轮流分享我们的避静感受。在分享中有些兄弟和姐妹还留下了感恩的泪水--感谢主无限的恩宠和眷顾。
午饭后，我们来到惠东梁化的耶稣圣心堂朝圣。本堂范神父和好几位教友已为我们准备好了客家饭和糯米酒来欢迎我们。回广州的时候我们也一起唱歌，除了我讲印尼的我们的天父 “Bapa Kami”，大家也一起轮着唱歌。
我感谢天主，也谢谢叶修女，能参加这个避静。感谢可以和兄弟姐妹一起唱歌、听课、祈祷、吃饭、洗碗、聊天，也感谢范神父和好几位惠东教友准备的晚饭。愿天主保佑大家。

P.S.This article was edited by 叶修女and can also be read in http://www.gzcatholic.org/info_Show.asp?InfoId=616&ClassId=49&Topid=0. The pictures can be accessed in: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2E9&emid=shareprintviewer&linkid=link5&cid=EM_sharview