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Allow me to relive my experience of the opening of the Eucharistic
Congress and celebration of World Mission Sunday in Hongkong.
It was a graced moment for me to witness such a diocesan level of the
Eucharist and I would say also universal. It was celebrated by Bishops
Joseph Zen and John Tong with the priests of the Diocese. We were at the
stadium from 8:00am to almost 6:00pm.
The Filipinos OCW's did the first reading and the prayer-liturgical dance
of alleluia, the preparation of Gifts and the Our Father. We needed to
refine it and should come to dance together as one body. Just imagine 80
of them. We as PDDM as always want to give the best for the Lord.
I began preparing them at 8 in the morning by doing prayer in stillness so
they can dance coming from their center. This is so that they may realize
that there is only one Centre, Jesus, the Master, way, Truth and
Life and thus, they all can dance in the Godhead in Christ. Then we
practiced till almost one pm. We had a free lunch given by the
Liturgy Commission. It was a real experience as if a king was coming. It
was a beautiful picture wherein each one was doing his or her own
contribution. A group for the decoration was also there. It was like
Easter celebration in Rome. The Stadium was blooming with living and
colorful flowers. After the meal I prepared the reader. At the
beginning of the Mass, how touching it was. Fr. Law made a homage to our
domestic helpers thanking them for the service of evangelization and
mission they are rendering to the people of Hongkong. He was really
vibrating in thanksgiving and concluded with Sumainyo ang Panginoon.
I was so moved. Before the reading the commentator was saying a
filipina is chosen as a symbol of the service of evangelization they give
to Hong kong through their service of loving and caring for their
employers.
Then come the singing of Alleluia and they danced. This was done so
solemnly as one Body coming out from the four corners in
graceful homage to the Word of God. Their hands lifted up and waved
like palm branches greeting the Master as the Word.
Then the preparation of the Gifts was so meaningful brought by those which
modern world reject: the old, the sick in wheel chairs and this was
higlighted with another meaningful dance prayer.
Then came the Our Father. It was like a real coming home to the Father, we
were all there together -- the priests around the altar, then our filipina
dancers doing the gestured prayer with solemnity and dignity as one
body. I was so touched having seen it first when I was asked by Fr. Law to
refine the gestures a week ago and now they come out as one Body in
prayer.
Highlight of the celebration was before the bringing of gifts to the altar
when the young man who composed a
Eucharistic song
gave his witness . He told his story that they were buddhists before and
poor. A priest came to them to help them. They were touched by what he was
doing to them. They started by just visiting the Church. That was how it
began and they are now Catholics. He was even moved to tears when he
recounted his story.
These are only parcels of the mystery and presence I experienced during
this event.
I wish to relive them again with you to capture more openings that lead me to our
God.
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