The Associations of Religious Men and Women in Macau had an unforgettable Christmas Party on December 29 at St. Lawrence Parish premises. Over one hundred and fifty consecrated men and women from different religious Congregations celebrated Christmas informally with the singing of Christmas carols, a simple dinner – and much warmth and fraternity.
The unique affair started with the powerful Christmas Carol “A Hallelujah Christmas†(by Cloverton) rendered by our Dominican brothers and sisters. It continued with a prayer and a blessing. Thereafter, all present shared in the food and drinks brought by all the Congregations represented, and some generous donors.
The dinner was accompanied by Christmas songs sung in different languages. The most repeated was “Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad…†The most moving was the singing of the first stanza of “Silent Night†in different languages: Chinese, Portuguese, English, Spanish, Burmese, Vietnamese, Korean, etc. The harmonious variety of the traditional Christmas Carol was truly touching and meaningful: a great variety of languages united in the same musical notes – in the same faith in the born Jesus who continues to grow in our minds and souls! The event was indeed an encounter of a different kind: an encounter with the Born Child present in the hearts of all and an experience of fraternal and sisterly communion.
We said Good Bye to each other with “May you have a Happy New Yearâ€!
Good Bye 2014 and Welcome 2015!