News Archives - Page 8 of 51 - SAINT DOMINIC'S PRIORY

USJ Faculty and Staff Development Activity

As part of its ongoing Faculty and Staff Development Program, the University of St. Joseph in Macau organized a half-day activity on Friday, 29 September 2023 at the main campus. It was very well-attended
by the University staff: academic, administrative, support, research, and technical personnel, partly because it was a “compulsory training and development”; but also, because the topic chosen was a relevant, burning issue today, namely, safeguarding in the University.
The program started punctually at 9:30 a.m. The Rector of the University, Prof. Stephen Morgan welcomed the participants and addressed them with some opening remarks. Afterwards, the stage was given to Mr. Lau Sing (Serenity Training) who during the first two hours lectured the audience on “Safeguarding: How to handle and prevent workplace bullying and harassment.” Then, after a short
break, the session was resumed, this time with words by a representative of the CPSP (Corpo de Polícia de Segurança Pública), who illustrated the assembly on “Awareness of telephone scams and cyber fraud” based on real, recent data in the Macau area.
The activity came to an end with some short closing remarks by the Rector and with lunch generously provided by the University for all the participants. The attendance of the faculty members was facilitated by the University by cancelling beforehand the classes for the entire daytime of that 29th September; even in the evening, so as to enable the University Staff to celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival with their families and friends later in the day.
It was a fruitful gathering, perfecting matching the purpose of the program, namely, the promotion of camaraderie and development among the faculty and staff members of the University.

Solemn Profession

On June 21st 2023 two Brothers from the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary, Bro. Joseph Gabriel OP and Bro. Luigi OP made their solemn Profession into the Order of Preachers. Both of them just finished their institutional studies, at Saint Joseph University in Macau. The Celebration was presided over by the Prior Provincial, Fr. Ruben Martinez Ortega OP, at St. Dominic Priori, Macau. The celebration was participated by the Dominican Family in Macau, some USJ Faculty and staff members, and also by friends from the Burmese Catholic community in Macau

Easter Vigil 2023

On the 8th of April 2023, Saint Dominic’s Priory celebrated the Easter Vigil. This is the apex of the liturgical calendar and of all litrugical celebrations in the Church.

For the first time since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, the Priory has been able to celebrate this solemn feast with no pandemic restrictions or requirements. Thus, many of the faithful were able to come and keep watch for the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. After the Vigil, there was a reception with plenty of food and drink together with the faithful.

As the whole world is coming out of the pandemic, we hope and pray that celebrations like these become the norm once again. Since the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our Faith, may we all be credible witnesses of His Resurrection with our lives.

Lecture in Honour of St Thomas Aquinas 2023

On the 28th of January, the feast day of our brother St Thomas Aquinas, St Dominic’s Priory organised a talk in his honour. The speaker this year was our own brother fr James Dominic Rooney, OP who is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Hong Kong Baptist University. His talk was entitled “Not a Hope in Hell”. In the talk he gave a brief discussion on the relationship between Grace and Free Will as well as the possibility of Hell.

The Dominican Family in Macau was in attendance as well as some guests from the University of Saint Joseph, particularly the Rector, Rev. Stephen Morgan, and the Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Fr Franz Gassner. After the talk, there was celebration of Holy Mass for the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas and lunch followed.

The talk itself was quite enlightening and definitely caused some questions or thoughts to rise up in our minds. The gathering of the Dominican Family was a lively one since it is like a big family gathering wherein we gathered together and experienced each other’s company.

Eleven Brothers Receive the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte

It was a moment of great joy for the whole community that our beloved brother Prior Provincial
visited our Priory. Since his election as Prior Provincial, it was his very first time to have a canonical visit to us because entering Macau requires following strict regulations. Thanks to God
we were able to meet our brother in person. Taking his presence as a blessing, 11 of the student
friars received the Ministries of Lector and Acolyte in order to proclaim the word of God during
liturgical celebrations and to carry out the service at the altar as altar servers or as Eucharistic Ministers.

Here is the list of the brothers and let us share with you some of the pictures taken during the Holy Mass.

1. FR. CESAR LINO DE SOUSA XIMENES
2. FR. AGOSTINHO MENDOCA
3. FR. ANDRE PEREIRA
4. FR. JOSEPH GABRIEL HYODO SHUNSUKE
5. FR. INNOCENT HAN ZAW HTUN
6. FR. JOAO BAPTISTA PEREIRA
7. FR. GASPAR DE JESUS
8. FR. FRANCISCO ZIN KO LIN
9. FR. AGOSTINHO MAIA DOS SANTOS
10. FR. NATALINO DA COSTA
11. FR. JOSEPH HUNG NAING LING

Visitation of the Prior Provincial

The Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary, fr Ruben Martinez, visited Saint Dominic’s Priory during the month of November. He saw this visit as an opportunity to connect with his fellow brothers. He met with the brothers individually and shared in the life that they lived here in Macau. He also listened to their thoughts on the state of their own lives as well as of the community as a whole. The brothers were quite happy to see him and he himself was happy to see them as well. As a whole, his entire visit was a pleasant experience for everybody.