Sharing: Altar Servers Gathering

With the help of several volunteers, the altar server coordinator and I organized an altar servers gathering at Holy Family Church on July 26.  The theme was “Letters to God” and was attended by 17 participants including the volunteers and parents.     

We had preparation meetings twice but it was changed a little bit on the day due to time limit.   It was raining around noon time so most of them came late.

Fr. Lu opened the gathering with a short talk and prayer, followed by watching the movie “Letters to God” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndW2e11Cm-s.  Fr. Lu read the description of the movie and I gave overview of the movie.

Mr. Xu asked them to write their reflections about the movie and Mr. Huang announced the best reflections, one boy and one girl to get the prizes.

Mr. Huang led the training on ringing the bell during consecration, followed by eating dumplings together in the back of the Church.

They wish to have more participants.  The last altar servers gathering was a training of altar servers’ duty.  

Hong  Kong, July 29, 2014

         

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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

Sharing: Second Youth Gathering at Holy Family Church

With the help of several volunteers, I organized the second youth gathering at Holy Family Church on July 12.  The theme was “Lay Spirituality” and was attended by more than 50 youth from different Churches in Shenzhen including the volunteers.  The Shenzhen Catholic Youth chat group, which was formed after the first youth gathering at Holy Family Church, helped to spread the news as it has 178 members from Shenzhen and neighboring cities and increased to 191 members after the second youth gathering.  

We had twice preparation meetings.  Ms. Liang, with the help of her friend and an English teacher, translated the summary of the Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People “Apostolicam Actuositatem” http://www.statucson.org/sites/statucson.org/files/LT%20Times%20-%20Summary%20Apostolicam%20Actuositatem%20-%20Decree%20on%20the%20Apostolate%20of%20Lay%20People.pdf into Chinese. 

The registration was begun at 1:30 p.m. but several youth arrived around 12:00 a.m.   While waiting the gathering, we showed the pictures from the first youth gathering with background music “Hope of the Dawn” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xwBCL1V8_0). Ms. Lin compiled the pictures and prepared the PPT of the flow of the gathering.  Fr. Lu delivered his welcoming speech after teaching the song “主啊，差遣我 “ (=Lord, send me, http://www.56.com/u31/v_NTg2OTY5ODg.html).  He played the guitar while led us to sing “主啊，差遣我 “ as our opening prayer.  

Mr. Dai led the ice breaking game and then I informed them that we would watch the short movie “Historic and Genesis of Second Vatican II” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOCJLb_6a_E) in mute mode while listening to the summary of the Decree “Apostolicam Actuositatem”  which would be read by Mr. Liu and Ms. Xu.

Fr Lu led game on concert.  Here is the link of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXACkozIWPo&feature=youtu.be.  Ms. Liu led the small group discussion, followed by group discussion led by Mr. Liu.  Everyone on the group should introduce himself/herself before presenting the small group discussion.  Mr. Wu led the evaluation and survey of the outing/pilgrimage.  Fr. Lu summarized the gathering before dinner in small group.

Several youth attended the anticipated Sunday Mass by sitting together on the front rows, several youth were volunteering for the Mass, and several youth went home especially the ones from other Churches.  All the small group sharing was paste to the cross and brought forward during the offering of the Mass.

Most of the participants wrote“很好“(=very good) and”非常好” (=great) on the evaluation and wish to have more youth gatherings because they can meet more youth, learn and share about faith. 

Here is the link of the pictures: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Kn

Hong  Kong, July 15, 2014

         

Sr.Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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

Sharing: 2014 National Election/Pemilu (Legislatif dan Presiden)

  

            Sehubungan tidak pastinya jadwal keberadaan saya di Hong Kong, maka saya memutuskan untuk mengikuti Pemilu 2014 lewat pos.  Saya mendaftar langsung ke Konjen RI di Hong Kong meskipun Konjen membuka fasilitas untuk mendaftar lewat sms. 

            Setelah mengikuti pelatihan kepemimpinan di tahun 1995, saya terdaftar sebagai anggota Partai Demokrasi Indonesia.  Saat itu, bukanlah hal yang umum bagi seorang penyandang status triple minoritas: keturunan China, wanita dan Katolik, menjadi anggota partai politik.  Sayangnya saya hanya punya kartu anggota, saya tidak pernah datang ke acara-acara partai karena kesibukan pekerjaan pertama setelah lulus kuliah.  Karena beberapa kali pindah rumah (Jakarta, Tulungagung, Surabaya, dan Mojoagung sebelum ke USA dan Hong Kong) akhirnya kartu anggota itu terselip entah dimana.   

            Dengan adanya peristiwa 27 Juli 1996 dan terbentuknya PDI Perjuangan, maka partai pilihan saya adalah PDI Perjuangan.  Seingat saya, saya tidak pernah golput atau setidaknya tidak pernah punya niat menjadi golput.    

            Saatnya pemilihan Presiden 2014.  Melihat dua calon yang ada, tidak sulit untuk menentukan pilihan.  Jokowi.  Saya sempat share beberapa link di facebook tentang calon yang ada, termasuk surat terbuka Rm. Magnis Suseno, SJ   https://www.facebook.com/notes/welcome-to-agus-pribadi/surat-rm-magnis-tentang-pilpres-2014/696550417061592.

            Surat suara Pileg sampai di biara tepat waktu sedangkan surat suara Pilpres belum sampai di biara walaupun sudah tanggal 5 Juli siang.   Akhirnya saya memutuskan untuk datang ke TPS di Victoria Park pada 6 Juli sore.  Saya sampai di lokasi TPS sekitar jam 16.40, cuaca masih panas sekali.  Panitia mengumumkan dengan pengeras suara di dekat pintu masuk terluar, yang membawa surat undangan bisa langsung menuju ke TPS, yang tidak membawa surat undangan diminta mengisi formulir validasi (warna kuning) dan antri masuk ke TPS.   Panitia juga mengumumkan berkali-kali bahwa pintu masuk akan ditutup jam 17.00 (tertera di surat pemberitahuan).  Saya berhasil melewati pintu masuk bagian dalam (dengan tulisan Pemilu Presiden 2014: Pintu Masuk) dan antri di TPS no. 13.  Salah seorang panitia berbaju bebas meminta mengisi formulir validasi berwarna pink, ketika saya tanya alasannya, beliau menjawab tidak tahu.  Saya tidak mengisinya meskipun sebagian besar antrian di depan saya membawa form validasi berwarna pink.  Sebelum saya masuk ke TPS, Panitia mengumumkan penutupan pintu masuk (bagian dalam) karena sudah jam 17.00.  Saya sempat terharu ketika mendengar salah seorang BMI mengatakan bahwa seumur hidup belum pernah mengikuti pemilu, tetapi kali ini ikut memilih karena Jokowi, yang diiyakan oleh pemilih di sebelahnya. 

            Saya masuk ke TPS 13, menunjukkan kartu identitas Hong Kong saya kepada petugas validasi berkaos abu-abu (seingat saya ada 4 petugas, ada laptop).  Petugas memilih “tidak terdaftar” di formulir validasi warna kuning saya, jadi saya info kalau saya sudah terdaftar tetapi surat suara belum sampai,  ditanyakan ke petugas pemberi surat suara di meja satunya (di meja ini ada dua orang pemberi surat suara, dua orang yang menghitung jumlah orang yang masuk ke bilik suara dan satu orang lagi), petugas pemberi surat suara meminta saya menunggu surat suara, jadi saya bertanya kalau surat suara terlambat bagaimana, dijawab ditunggu saja, tetapi lalu dia mengatakan bahwa dia percaya saya tidak akan mengirimkan surat suara lewat pos dan meminta petugas validasi memasukkan saya ke kelompok DPTLN (?).  Ada 5 bilik suara, pemilih hanya boleh membawa surat suara ke dalam bilik suara, tas diletakkan di luar bilik suara, di dalam bilik suara sudah disediakan paku untuk mencoblos.  Setelah memasukkan surat suara ke kotak suara, menandai jari dengan tinta, pemilih bisa keluar dari TPS.  Dari data Panitia Pemilu Indonesia 2014 – Hong Kong, ada 23,856 pemilih, artinya dengan 13 TPS x 5 bilik suara x 8 jam x 360 detik, setiap pemilih  menyelesaikan pilihannya dalam waktu kurang dari 7.84 detik). 

            Setelah keluar dari TPS, artinya jam 5 lewat, saya masih sempat berfoto bersama beberapa BMI lalu berjalan keluar lokasi.  Saat itu masih terdengar teriakan (dari panitia) agar yang membawa undangan secepatnya masuk lokasi TPS.  Saya melihat beberapa orang berfoto bersama dengan menunjukkan undangan.  Keesokkan harinya, saya cukup kaget ketika mendengar Pemilu di Hong Kong ricuh karena ratusan orang tidak bisa menggunakan hak pilihnya.    

            Puji Tuhan bahwa hasil quick count Pilpres 2014 siang ini, 52.54% suara untuk Jokowi-JK  http://news.detik.com/pemilu2014/quickcountpilpres, meskipun masih harus menunggu hasil penghitungan dari Komisi Pemilihan Umum.  Sebagaimana dikatakan Jokowi dalam deklarasi kemenangannya, “Ini adalah kemenangan seluruh rakyat Indonesia.” (http://www.lensaindonesia.com/2014/07/09/deklarasi-kemenangan-jokowi-pidato-politik-di-tugu-proklamasi.html)

             

Hong Kong, Jul 10, 2014

           

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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

P.S. 11 Juli 2014: Ternyata surat dari PPLN dikirim tanggal 30 Juni dan  sampai di kantor sekolah 4 Juli dan mungkin diantar ke biara 7 Juli karena sabtu minggu libur.  Saya baru kembali ke Hong Kong 9 Juli, hari ini saya buka suratnya, ternyata isinya undangan untuk mencoblos bukan surat suara.

Sharing: 2014 Retreat for Priests

I arrived at Maryknoll Society House Stanley with 3 priests on June 15 night, while 8 priests arrived earlier than us.  They would attend the retreat at Maryknoll Society House Stanley on June 16-21. There were 17 priests attended the retreat.

  I asked Mr. Kevin Lai of Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Marriage and Family to give a talk.  They really appreciate his talk and one package of books, booklets, etc.  They wish him to give training in their places. 

The retreat was started June 21 evening and was led by Fr. Pierre Lam, MEP, who is the Vicar General and the spiritual director of Holy Spirit Seminary Hong Kong.

I assigned every priest to a small group of 4 or 5 priests, so there were 4 groups.  Each group will take turn to be responsible for chapel (celebrants, reader, leading the song, adoration, morning and evening prayer: the office and Angelus) and for dining room (leading prayer before and after meal, helping to wash the dishes and setting up the dishes).   Each group eat at the same table during the retreat.  It’s a silent retreat with two conferences everyday, private sessions are available during the day.  I am also available as an assistant spiritual director.  One priest met me twice and I ended the session with prayer together.

Cardinal John Tong came on Thursday night. He gave a short talk and a red envelope including to me.

Fr. Pierre was the main celebrant on Friday because he should leave right after conference on Saturday.  He led the adoration and reconciliation rite followed by sacrament of reconciliation in the evening.  There is an instrumental music during meals.

During the last conference on Saturday morning, all of them do appreciate this retreat and wish there will be another retreat next year.  They formed a group chat to keep in contact. They expressed their gratitude for my help and Maryknoll during Saturday Mass. 

Sr. Joseph Lourdes found a new chasuble in one of our closet so I gave away as a prize. 

Last year Fr. Lu asked me to arrange a retreat for this year so I arranged this retreat based on his schedule.  Fr. Lu left Thursday morning as he got toothache besides a commitment in the parish on Friday.  I just wonder and thank God for leading me to arrange this retreat for more priests through the request of Fr. Lu even though he should left early.   It’s the second retreat for priests that I arranged.  Last year, there were only 4 participants including Fr. Lu.  It was also based on his request.

Most of them left Stanley on Saturday right after lunch, several of them went around Hong Kong and stayed till Sunday morning. 

Hong Kong, June 25, 2014

         

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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

Sharing: Trip to Northeast China

Srs. Fabian, Heidy, both alumnae of Maryknoll China Priests and Sisters Program, and Anjia picked me up at Shenyang airport on June 8 late evening. It’s around 3.5 hours flight from Shenzhen. 

Sr. Heidy showed me around the building the next morning.  It’s a 5 floor building for convent of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, retreat house, vestment production and nursing home.  I went to the Cathedral and one of the biggest wholesale stores in Shenyang before lunch and then to the Seminary in the afternoon.  It’s a 6 floor building.   

  I went to Fushun on June 10.  It takes around 1 and a half hour from Shenyang to Fushun for RMB. 12.00. Fr. Hu picked me up at Fushun bus station.  After lunch, we went to two Churches and then to the convent of the Sisters of Sacred Heart of Jesus.   Mgr. Raymond Lane, MM and Sr. Veronica, MM founded this congregation in 1941. There is a big picture of both them and statue of Our Lady of Maryknoll in the entrance.   I had a chat with Srs. Bosco (alumnae) and Teresa, both are in the Leadership Team, before joining their evening prayer, Mass and supper.  Sr. Matthias (alumnae) asked me to introduce myself to the community and then Sr. Bosco showed me around the compound: convent, retreat house and farm (vegetables, pig, and chicken for their own consumption).  We visited the recreation room of the novices and then had a chat with them including sharing my vocation story.    

I went back to Shenyang by bus on June 11 and then visited the Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty in the afternoon. There was Farewell Mass and Dinner for Fr. John.  There were more than 10 concelebrants besides the seminarians, sisters, and members of English community.  Archbishop Paul was the main celebrant. 

Ms. Wang and I went to Changchun by train on June 12.  It’s around 1 hour twenty minutes ride by high speed train.     

Archbishop Paul was the main celebrant for the ordination of 3 deacons of Jilin Diocese. There were more than 65 concelebrants.  The Church was full packed both the pews and aisles.  I met Sr. Martha (alumnae) during lunch. I went to Jilin seminary with the group, Cathedral and the light and water show at the river.

I met Sr. Wang of Sisters of Holy Family then went to train station to catch the train to Changchun airport as I would go back to Shenzhen.  It’s half a hour high speed train ride for RMB. 22.50.                 

I am grateful that finally I made the trip to northeast China, which was arranged by Fr. Brian. I was moved to experience how they appreciate my visit.  All of the communities wish me to stay longer.   The weather in Shenyang, Fushun and Jilin were not as hot and humid as Hong Kong; the meals are different with the southern part of China; they use Putonghua for daily conversation.  When I woke up for the first morning, it’s so bright outside, but the alarm on the table was still 4.30 a.m., I checked my cellphone and it’s 4.30 a.m!       

Here is the link of the pictures: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2J6

Hong Kong, June 20, 2014

         

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

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