有一個 PowerPoint 檔案想同大家分享 , 請到我的網站一看:
(需要三分鐘下載)
http://www.49ners.org/PPS/LordPrayer.pps
.
2009年5月24日星期日
Booklets and CDs
Let's give Eric and Grace a big hand for getting these great booklets for us. Help yourself and pick up whichever you like when you come on Wednesday.
For next class, please stay behind after confession for further announcemnet. Thanks.
2009年5月23日星期六
Winnie and Gus' wedding Ceremony
To all RCIA students, mentors and families:-
You are cordially invited to celebrate
The wedding of
WINNIE and GUS
On Saturday afternoon,
June 13th
At 2:00
Canadian Martyr's Catholic Church
followed by a reception in the Church hall
2009年5月20日星期三
My Parish - 堂區與我
Notes for this week
今週筆記
_____________________________________________________
For those who are absent today, please download this survey, fill it up and give it to me next class.
今天缺席的同學，請下載此問卷、填寫並在下堂交回。
2009年5月11日星期一
Chapter 3 - ‘Where is Jesus?’ (By Christine and Samuel)
When I regained consciousness, I was in UBC Hospital. I knew nothing about VGH. I knew nothing about the past 7-10 days. I could only faintly remember some ladies asking me repeatedly; “What is your name? What is your birthday? Do you know where you are?”
I was transferred from UBC to GF Strong Rehab Centre where I was trained to stand, walk, move my hand and fingers. I was discharged in about two months.
We sold our house and Christine insisted buying another with a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor so that we could accommodate Yvonne when she came home on the weekend. There was not too much choice in the market with the required feature. We decided very quickly on a house. We realised after we moved in that the house was so close to the Church.
In autumn 2008, Yvonne fell very sick, not speaking, not swallowing, totally exhausted. She was hospitalised. Her bed was next to an old Chinese lady whose son visiting regularly. The son was a Christian. He was very kind saying prayer, telling stories of Jesus, and explaining patiently in both Chinese and English to Yvonne. Suddenly Yvonne asked the Christian very clearly ‘Where is Jesus?’ The man was stunned: ‘w..h..y….. she could speak?’
The doctor confirmed Yvonne suffered blood infection. The nurse had difficulty taking her pulse and body temperature, as they were both so low.
That evening I went home, idly sitting there, my head was blank. Suddenly, I jumped up when the phone rang. It was Veronica; she dialled the wrong numbers that night. I chit chat with her about Yvonne’s conditions, and I asked her if Yvonne could be baptised. She said she would find out.
The next day when I visited Yvonne after work, Father Paul baptised Yvonne at age 26 in hospital bed. Veronica became Yvonne’s God mother.
Yvonne recovered from her blood infection. She is attending Sunday Mass, rain shine or snow, on wheelchair.
I was transferred from UBC to GF Strong Rehab Centre where I was trained to stand, walk, move my hand and fingers. I was discharged in about two months.
We sold our house and Christine insisted buying another with a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor so that we could accommodate Yvonne when she came home on the weekend. There was not too much choice in the market with the required feature. We decided very quickly on a house. We realised after we moved in that the house was so close to the Church.
In autumn 2008, Yvonne fell very sick, not speaking, not swallowing, totally exhausted. She was hospitalised. Her bed was next to an old Chinese lady whose son visiting regularly. The son was a Christian. He was very kind saying prayer, telling stories of Jesus, and explaining patiently in both Chinese and English to Yvonne. Suddenly Yvonne asked the Christian very clearly ‘Where is Jesus?’ The man was stunned: ‘w..h..y….. she could speak?’
The doctor confirmed Yvonne suffered blood infection. The nurse had difficulty taking her pulse and body temperature, as they were both so low.
That evening I went home, idly sitting there, my head was blank. Suddenly, I jumped up when the phone rang. It was Veronica; she dialled the wrong numbers that night. I chit chat with her about Yvonne’s conditions, and I asked her if Yvonne could be baptised. She said she would find out.
The next day when I visited Yvonne after work, Father Paul baptised Yvonne at age 26 in hospital bed. Veronica became Yvonne’s God mother.
Yvonne recovered from her blood infection. She is attending Sunday Mass, rain shine or snow, on wheelchair.
2009年5月9日星期六
Chapter 2 - The Guardian Angel (By Christine)
I phoned 911 and the ambulance arrived in 5 minutes. The ambulance examined Samuel for a minute and told me: ‘ma’am, your husband looks like having a stroke. Let’s go to VGH.’ I replied doubtfully: ‘VGH?’ I was thinking why not Richmond General Hospital which was 5 minutes away. He said: “VGH, trust me, Follow me.’ I said ‘Okay’. The ambulance crossed all the bridges; the traffic was very light because it was a long week end holiday morning.
At VGH, a group of doctors and nurses were waiting for Samuel. A few minutes later, a doctor came and confirmed to me that Samuel suffered a stroke, the most serious type. His heading was still bleeding. The doctor said there was a new drug that needed to apply to the patient within one hour of the stroke. He checked the time when the stroke had likely happened and gave me a whole stack of documents to read and sign. I asked him what it was. He said: “if the drug does not work, he will die.” I asked: “Is there another drug?’ He said: “no”. So I signed the document as there was no alternative.
I was waiting in the lobby while Samuel was under treatment. At this time the ambulance came to say good bye: “Ma’am, don’t you worry, your husband is okay.”
I think the ambulance was my Guardian Angel leading my way to VGH, the world renowned Stroke Centre.
At VGH, a group of doctors and nurses were waiting for Samuel. A few minutes later, a doctor came and confirmed to me that Samuel suffered a stroke, the most serious type. His heading was still bleeding. The doctor said there was a new drug that needed to apply to the patient within one hour of the stroke. He checked the time when the stroke had likely happened and gave me a whole stack of documents to read and sign. I asked him what it was. He said: “if the drug does not work, he will die.” I asked: “Is there another drug?’ He said: “no”. So I signed the document as there was no alternative.
I was waiting in the lobby while Samuel was under treatment. At this time the ambulance came to say good bye: “Ma’am, don’t you worry, your husband is okay.”
I think the ambulance was my Guardian Angel leading my way to VGH, the world renowned Stroke Centre.
Hello from Hong Kong
I've been here in Hong Kong for 8 days now. I've enjoyed my time visiting with my brother and my new twin nieces tremendously, but other than that, I am looking forward to returning to Canada. I actually miss work!
As a newly confirmed Catholic, I am seeing Hong Kong from a different angle this time. I see people walking on the streets with their heads down, not making eye contact. I see them always plugged into their i-Pods or their mobile phones. The beeps and rings from these electronic gadgets have become the music of the city. I see giant billboards everywhere celebrating brand names. Models and actors are worshipped like idols. Medical clinics often have signs promoting skincare and weight loss programs. Materialism is the religion in Hong Kong. Don't get me wrong, this is nothing new to me. I've always known Hong Kong to be rather soul-less, but this time around, I am feeling the emptiness of the city even more. In a place packed with so many people, I feel alone.
A couple of nights ago, I had drinks with my cousin and her co-workers. These people barely talked to me the entire evening. I tried to make conversation, but I could tell that they did not want to have anything to do with a stranger. Perhaps I am of no use to them...? I find this to be quite typical in Hong Kong. People keep to themselves. It is troublesome to deal with strangers unless you are networking for your career.
Even at church last Sunday, I saw the same "disconnection" among people. When it came time to receive the Eucharist, there was no line-up. Instead, it was a mad rush to the front. I don't understand what the big hurry is, as the Mass won't be over until everyone has received the Eucharist anyways! Then I saw a young man cough, and the lady standing next to him stared at him with much disgust. I know people are paranoid about the swine flu nowadays, but evil-staring is no way to treat your brothers and sisters! Whatever happened to comraderie or brotherhood? It is not very evident in Hong Kong.
Today, I paid a visit to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Caine Road. I have never been there before, and yet I used to live in the Mid-Levels. I've travelled on Caine Road many times and have never seen this church. No wonder...it's nestled behind a bunch of buildings. This is quite ironic -- such a gorgeous place of worship is cocooned in the city, hidden from view. In a way, it is not very different from the way people in Hong Kong cocoon themselves from each other.
Inside the Cathedral, I was immediately overcome by a sense of relief, serenity and belonging. I looked at the Cross and it felt like coming home. I spent some time sitting in the area where one can adore the Eucharist. I was so ready to spend a few minutes with God. While sitting there, I overheard the priest giving a sermon, and he basically summed up my entire experience this time in Hong Kong. He said that people in big cities are increasingly disconnected from each other. There is less and less of a sense of community, and we live in dangerous times. He said that as human beings, we need to be recognized, not because of pride, but because this is a necessity of human nature. We cannot exist alone. The process of recognition can be as simple as making eye contact with someone you pass by on the street, because by doing this, you acknowledge the person's existence, and you make a connection, even if it is on a miniscule level. Recognition is also given when you hold the door for someone, or thank someone. However, if you choose to forego even these simplest of gestures, we then become more and more isolated, and our community will break down. Our souls will not be nourished. We will be a nation of zombies.
The priest went on to explain why it is not enough or alright to worship God on our own. He said that the Catholic Church has always been about community. We are meant to profess our faith together as a Christian family, and therefore, we should worship and pray together. Praying on our own, at home, is good, but it can never replace the Catholic community, the Church, which is an extension of Christ. As Jesus said He is the true vine, we as branches of His vine cannot survive alone or bear fruit on our own.
Of course, we should always celebrate our individuality, but in modern times, perhaps there needs to be more focus on bridging these differences and building a sense of community. The strings on a violin each has a different tone, but it is not music unless they are played together. And if we are to become the Lord's instrument, we have to make more of an effort to reach out to each other.
I think I know why I'm longing to come back to Canada. I want to return to my community. I don't care about having the latest designer jeans or the whitening my skin. I want to return to my work where I can make connections with many people daily. This is what matters to me the most.
As a newly confirmed Catholic, I am seeing Hong Kong from a different angle this time. I see people walking on the streets with their heads down, not making eye contact. I see them always plugged into their i-Pods or their mobile phones. The beeps and rings from these electronic gadgets have become the music of the city. I see giant billboards everywhere celebrating brand names. Models and actors are worshipped like idols. Medical clinics often have signs promoting skincare and weight loss programs. Materialism is the religion in Hong Kong. Don't get me wrong, this is nothing new to me. I've always known Hong Kong to be rather soul-less, but this time around, I am feeling the emptiness of the city even more. In a place packed with so many people, I feel alone.
A couple of nights ago, I had drinks with my cousin and her co-workers. These people barely talked to me the entire evening. I tried to make conversation, but I could tell that they did not want to have anything to do with a stranger. Perhaps I am of no use to them...? I find this to be quite typical in Hong Kong. People keep to themselves. It is troublesome to deal with strangers unless you are networking for your career.
Even at church last Sunday, I saw the same "disconnection" among people. When it came time to receive the Eucharist, there was no line-up. Instead, it was a mad rush to the front. I don't understand what the big hurry is, as the Mass won't be over until everyone has received the Eucharist anyways! Then I saw a young man cough, and the lady standing next to him stared at him with much disgust. I know people are paranoid about the swine flu nowadays, but evil-staring is no way to treat your brothers and sisters! Whatever happened to comraderie or brotherhood? It is not very evident in Hong Kong.
Today, I paid a visit to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Caine Road. I have never been there before, and yet I used to live in the Mid-Levels. I've travelled on Caine Road many times and have never seen this church. No wonder...it's nestled behind a bunch of buildings. This is quite ironic -- such a gorgeous place of worship is cocooned in the city, hidden from view. In a way, it is not very different from the way people in Hong Kong cocoon themselves from each other.
Inside the Cathedral, I was immediately overcome by a sense of relief, serenity and belonging. I looked at the Cross and it felt like coming home. I spent some time sitting in the area where one can adore the Eucharist. I was so ready to spend a few minutes with God. While sitting there, I overheard the priest giving a sermon, and he basically summed up my entire experience this time in Hong Kong. He said that people in big cities are increasingly disconnected from each other. There is less and less of a sense of community, and we live in dangerous times. He said that as human beings, we need to be recognized, not because of pride, but because this is a necessity of human nature. We cannot exist alone. The process of recognition can be as simple as making eye contact with someone you pass by on the street, because by doing this, you acknowledge the person's existence, and you make a connection, even if it is on a miniscule level. Recognition is also given when you hold the door for someone, or thank someone. However, if you choose to forego even these simplest of gestures, we then become more and more isolated, and our community will break down. Our souls will not be nourished. We will be a nation of zombies.
The priest went on to explain why it is not enough or alright to worship God on our own. He said that the Catholic Church has always been about community. We are meant to profess our faith together as a Christian family, and therefore, we should worship and pray together. Praying on our own, at home, is good, but it can never replace the Catholic community, the Church, which is an extension of Christ. As Jesus said He is the true vine, we as branches of His vine cannot survive alone or bear fruit on our own.
Of course, we should always celebrate our individuality, but in modern times, perhaps there needs to be more focus on bridging these differences and building a sense of community. The strings on a violin each has a different tone, but it is not music unless they are played together. And if we are to become the Lord's instrument, we have to make more of an effort to reach out to each other.
I think I know why I'm longing to come back to Canada. I want to return to my community. I don't care about having the latest designer jeans or the whitening my skin. I want to return to my work where I can make connections with many people daily. This is what matters to me the most.
2009年5月8日星期五
Gospel Spreading
Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation (Mark 16.15)
你們往普天下去，向一切受造物宣傳福音。(谷16:15)
_____________________________________________________
Notes for this week
今週筆記
2009年5月7日星期四
Chapter 1 - The road to baptism of Yvonne, Christine and Samuel
Our son, Ian had already left home for almost 3 years. He left for to Hong Kong right after his graduation in 2002, found no job there during the Asian financial crisis, experienced all the difficulties of SAR in 2003 yet he decided staying on and not returning to Canada. Our daughter, Yvonne had also left home in 2005 when she suddenly gave up walking. Since then the Health Ministry sent her to a senior house and shared room with a 103 year old lady. Although the old lady was very happy with Yvonne’s company, Christine fought hard with the Ministry and eventually Yvonne settled in a foster family.
Yvonne was born with Prada Willi Syndrome, kind of gene disorder. One of the main problem in her young age was she could not control her appetite and tended to eat a lot and gained weight very fast. People with similar problem could gain weight up to 300, 400lbs easily. We were told the life expectancy was only 20, no medication; little information was available on their way of life after 20. Every 6 months we took her for medical check, every time the doctor and nurses would point finger at Christine and me scolding us if her body weight increased by more than 5 pounds in 6 months. Christine and I decided to apply strict control on food at home. We installed a lock on the kitchen door and kept the door locked all times. There would be no candy, sweet, chocolate, pop, ice cream, chips, nothing, absolutely nothing fancy or non-essential at home. There would be no birthday cake for birthday party, no exception even for 90 years old grandma. Ian was told he could have those junk foods at school or outside the house not in Yvonne’s presence.
It was a hot summer long week end in late August of 2006. Christine and I, the two still living in the house, decided to downsize and to sell the house. To put up the house for sale, we wanted to paint the backyard fence and the gazebo. I woke up around 5:30 am as usual, started climbing up and down the ladder fixing and painting the roof of the gazebo. Around 9:30am I suddenly felt very dizzy when I came down from the ladder. My whole head was spinning; I held again the fence and yelled to Christine who was painting on the other side of the yard. She came over and helped me into the house. She put me down on a chair and went to tidy the paint and tools lying all around the backyard. The last thing I could remember was trying to stand up, falling flat on to the ground, and becoming completely blackout.
In Samuel’s blackout, Christine would continue.
Yvonne was born with Prada Willi Syndrome, kind of gene disorder. One of the main problem in her young age was she could not control her appetite and tended to eat a lot and gained weight very fast. People with similar problem could gain weight up to 300, 400lbs easily. We were told the life expectancy was only 20, no medication; little information was available on their way of life after 20. Every 6 months we took her for medical check, every time the doctor and nurses would point finger at Christine and me scolding us if her body weight increased by more than 5 pounds in 6 months. Christine and I decided to apply strict control on food at home. We installed a lock on the kitchen door and kept the door locked all times. There would be no candy, sweet, chocolate, pop, ice cream, chips, nothing, absolutely nothing fancy or non-essential at home. There would be no birthday cake for birthday party, no exception even for 90 years old grandma. Ian was told he could have those junk foods at school or outside the house not in Yvonne’s presence.
It was a hot summer long week end in late August of 2006. Christine and I, the two still living in the house, decided to downsize and to sell the house. To put up the house for sale, we wanted to paint the backyard fence and the gazebo. I woke up around 5:30 am as usual, started climbing up and down the ladder fixing and painting the roof of the gazebo. Around 9:30am I suddenly felt very dizzy when I came down from the ladder. My whole head was spinning; I held again the fence and yelled to Christine who was painting on the other side of the yard. She came over and helped me into the house. She put me down on a chair and went to tidy the paint and tools lying all around the backyard. The last thing I could remember was trying to stand up, falling flat on to the ground, and becoming completely blackout.
In Samuel’s blackout, Christine would continue.
Mass for New Catholics 新教友彌撒
Location (地點):
Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richards St. Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3A3
Date (日期):
May 13th, 2009 (Wednesday)
Time (時間):
7:00 pm
View Larger Map
If you go by yourself, please arrive at 6:45 pm.
如自行駕車前往，請於六時四十五分到達。
If you go by carpooling, please arrive at Garrison Court, Richmond at 6:00 pm, and follow the list below to get on the car assigned to you.
如共乘汽車，請於六時正在列治文Garrison Court集合，並按以下表格上車。
View Larger Map
When we return to Richmond, please follow the list below to get on the car assigned to you.
回程時，請按以下表格上車。
Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richards St. Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3A3
Date (日期):
May 13th, 2009 (Wednesday)
Time (時間):
7:00 pm
View Larger Map
If you go by yourself, please arrive at 6:45 pm.
如自行駕車前往，請於六時四十五分到達。
If you go by carpooling, please arrive at Garrison Court, Richmond at 6:00 pm, and follow the list below to get on the car assigned to you.
如共乘汽車，請於六時正在列治文Garrison Court集合，並按以下表格上車。
Car # | Driver | Passengers |
1 | Keith Liu | Paul, Paul's Wife, Lisa |
2 | Mella Sze | Joyce, Eugenia |
View Larger Map
When we return to Richmond, please follow the list below to get on the car assigned to you.
回程時，請按以下表格上車。
Car # | Driver | Passengers |
1 | Keith Liu | Paul, Paul's Wife, Lisa |
2 | Daphne Tam | Joyce, Eugenia |
2009年5月2日星期六
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