澳門全民核酸檢測 - 2021年8月5日 - 7:25 - 9:25

 I could have waited till today to undergo the nucleic acid test. But I do not feel regret about the two - hour waiting in a long queue. Instead, I find it rather rewarding.

I compliment myself for having got the courage to join a queue that stretched the entire length of a side street with its rear end at the head of the street on the opposite side. Seeing the line moving forward steadily at intervals gave me confidence in the service of the medical staff. I was also patient enough to chat with the woman in front, trying to pacify her and make her forget about her daughter- in- law, who was supposed to have joined her with the baby grandson by then.

While waiting in the small lobby, I appreciated the setting for the snaking queue with space for a few stools provided for the needy. I was also impressed by how the staff members went about their duties in the face of increasing pressure from the applicants who kept coming in.

Needless to say, what was going on in the big hall where the administration of the nucleic acid test was taking place was everything we hope for regarding speed and efficiency.

Yes, without the long wait, I would have just hurried past without bothering to observe the people involved in this mammoth operation. Most importantly, I would not have been convinced of my ability to endure the lengthy queuing time, which had been my greatest concern on account of my knee weakness.

Years later, I will still be able to recall with pride my experience of overcoming a rare challenge and of Macau's struggle to survive an uphill battle against the pandemic crisis.

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#澳門全民核酸檢測

#2021年8月5日

#7:25 - 9:25

Make our earth a wildlife friendly place - Movie review : Spread your wings

 

Much impressed by a short video I had once watched about a team of flying geese, I booked a ticket for the film “Spread you wings” (孤雁和你飛) at the first chance. While confirming the truthfulness of the description of the geese’ inborn behaviour as depicted in the video, the film gives me great joy in learning that more government support combined with greater human efforts will lead to success in wildlife conservation. 

The film features the attempts of Christian, an ornithologist, to save the lesser white-fronted geese, an endangered species, by guiding a team on a flight to Norway, from which they are expected to fly back on their own on a new migration route to where they were hatched, thus learning to avoid industrial structures such as airports, powerlines, hunters and light pollution on their annual migration’s flight path. 

It can be classified as a science fiction film showing interesting details about the use of imprinting techniques to make the cute goslings get used to and then attached to Christian and Thomas, his 14-year-old son, seeing them as their parents. It is fun watching the grown geese following them wherever they go, even on a flight. The way they are trained to escape from human hunters provoke bursts of laughter among the audience.

 The airborne story is also dramatically grounded on touching details. Much attention is drawn to a remarkable change in Thomas when he witnesses the baby geese emerging from the cracked eggs. As he holds one of them in his hands, naming him and speaking gently to him, his face beaming with joy, he has become a loving father, a complete contrast to the grumpy computer addict he used to be. He displays the same fatherly tenderness when he puts into his bosom a scared goose which has strayed off the track. Thomas’ mother, previously strongly against her son’s flying a plane, is later seen blowing flying goodbye kisses to him and screaming her heart out at the sight of the returning ultra-light aircraft! 

Even the non-environmentalists are captivated by the beautiful visuals the film displays. It is fascinating to watch the geese flying alongside the ultra-light aircraft gliding across the sky and, in some places, over crowds of watchers, awestruck and mouths agape with excitement! From various perspectives captured by drone, the film provides stunning aerial views of sparkling seas, green forests and mountains often highlighted with scenes of the sunrise and sunset.

 Sound effects also play a fascinating part. The scene of the geese in flight alongside the small plane is empowered by delightful music, giving the impression that both the human pilot and the birds are enjoying the freedom afforded by nature. On the other hand, the tempestuous noise of thunder and lightning highlights the danger in which the flying team is trapped. When at last the plane tears itself out of the storm clouds and starts gliding slowly towards safety, the audience feel pacified by very soothing music. 

All in all, “Spread your wings” is an enjoyable enviro-friendly, fact-based family film recommendable also to teachers for a lesson on wildlife protection. In fact, the story of the joint effort of the father and son tells the world that there are things we humans can and should do to make the earth a more wildlife friendly place. The West Indian proverb “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children” is a good reminder of our need to protect the environment for the sake of the future generations.

A Lesson on True Discipleship

 

 

As my Sunday school students are due to receive the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation in May, I have been pondering what more I can do for them in these remaining weeks. I am particularly concerned about enhancing their understanding of the need to be strengthened and bound more firmly to Christ in response to the call to a life of true Christian discipleship. And, to my great delight, they have recently been blessed with a related learning opportunity.

 

It was an activity known as “the Modern Man’s Way of the Cross” organized by the “Association of Lay Catholics in Macau”. It took place on the morning of Good Friday and involved a long walk from Flora Garden up a flight of winding stairs to the Guia Hill Muncipal Park, where five spots had been appointed to serve as the respective five stations. When I got the invitation for my students to take turns to carry the wooden cross on the Way, I worried about their lack of interest as teenagers had been used to the comfort of an air-conditioned environment. Fortunately, I managed to recruit nine volunteers.

 

Though the weight of the cross was shared by six carriers at each shift, the walk up the long staircase was quite strenuous especially with the scorching sun beating down. They were the first to arrive at the assigned station while the rest of the participants followed them in long queues at a snail’s pace. On account of the large number of participants, it was quite a few minutes before everyone arrived and a signal was given for the spiritual session to start. During the entire time, two of the carriers remained standing on either side of the wooden cross to keep it standing erect. Seeing their frowning faces, I kept praying that they would persist till the very end.

 

To my delight, they showed no sign of quitting. Neither did they complain about the task. Conversely, as I came to know later, the experience of the Modern Man’s Way of the Cross had turned out to be a treasurable spiritual lesson for them, a lesson no less inspiring than any I had taught them in the classroom. It was, in fact, a lesson on true discipleship.

 

By helping to carry the wooden cross, my students offered their service to the other participants, thus contributing to the accomplishment of the activity. This is one aspect of discipleship as Jesus has taught His disciples to serve one another.

 

In addition, a true disciple is committed to taking up his own cross and follow Jesus to the very end. By helping to carry the wooden cross that morning, my students were guided to enter into Jesus’ sufferings. The experience of the exhausting walk and the boiling sun has enabled them to understand better about the agony of Jesus and His selfless love for us mankind.

 

Most importantly, they were doing evangelical work, too, as they learned, probably for the first time in their lives, to proclaim their faith in public, bearing witness to Jesus Christ’s redemptive work. There were passers-by, for example, who would probably have asked curious questions about the procession and prayer chanting on loudspeakers. It is said that a true disciple will reach out to others, tell them the Good News and bring them to Jesus. My students were, in fact, doing this by participating in this activity.

 

I can conclude that in addition to the Catechism and Bible knowledge they have acquired over the past three years, my students will also benefit from life experiences like the above mentioned one. I, therefore, have confidence that they are adequately prepared for a new phase of their spiritual life and that God will continue to bless them with the ability to pursue on the path that will lead them closer to Jesus as His true disciples.

 

 

 

An amazing labour of love

 An amazing labour of love

On various occasions in recent years people who come to our church, Church of St. Francis Xavier of Mongha, for Sunday Mass may have been fascinated by a great number of decorative items displayed for sale on long tables in the church garden. The decorations are so artistically designed and skillfully made that they draw great crowds and it is often with great joy and satisfaction that the successful buyers take them home.

The articles for sale are the products of a makeshift factory, now known as the “Dream Workshop (夢工場)”. It is actually a small space occupied by a rectangular table in the lobby of our Parish Center. Most of the items for sale serve festive decoration purposes such as Christmas wreaths, Chinese New Year slogans and lanterns. There are also items with religious symbolism including Easter candles, baptism candles and even memorial crosses to be offered to the ancestors on All Souls Day. In fact, there are a wide range of products that appeal to parishioners who care to celebrate a feast day or a festive occasion with something of practical utility and of originality in design. Most importantly, they see it as an opportunity to help the needy as the items are all sold for charity.

Who are the makers of these fascinating articles? A team of about ten parishioners are seen sitting around the long table on Sunday and Saturday afternoons, often on weekday evenings, too, enthusiastically engaged in their work of painting, calligraphy, paper folding and mosaic tile crafting. Unwanted scraps are fashioned into beautiful homemade cards. CNY red packets, glued together in various patterns, are turned into artistic wall decorations, lanterns with red tassel pendants, and wind chimes with bells. The team is indeed greatly admired for their creativity and artistic talents. It is amazing how they turn discarded scraps into one-of-a-kind articles of tasteful beauty.

This is indeed a labour of love as the dedicated volunteers are willing to sacrifice some of their leisure time to help collecting fund to help the needy. Through their exemplary act of charity, they help spread love in the parish and beyond. And as some of the products bear a Bible verse label or a blessing quote, they serve to remind the users of God’s words, too. In this way the volunteers are somehow also contributing to the mission of evangelization.

In view of its growing popularity, the “Dream Workshop” is likely to increase productivity to meet the rising customer demand. Soon, this dedicated team will once again fling themselves into the production of Easter gifts. It is hoped that more people will be interested not only in the purchase of the products but will also join the dream team to get themselves involved in this amazing labour of love. 

All are welcome to the dancing floor

 As we tend to equate mobility decline with old age, a modern dance performed by a team of elderly people is beyond our imagination. But that is exactly what a storytelling dance show boasts.

The show “TREETALK” (《一隅樹說》), produced by Comuna de Pedra, has a unique genre. The performance features a dance with a pile of wooden bricks serving as the only props. The dance begins with the performers standing in a circle, each holding a wooden brick in her hands. In turn they speak out loud, sharing about what they observe on the brick and what they imagine themselves doing with it. Gradually the performance evolves into a pattern of body movements as the performers walk about, moving the bricks up and down and at various angles, throwing their arms out at one moment and holding them back at the next. While one gets bricks piled up one by one in her folded arms, another has hers lifted off her forward-bending back. To the accompaniment of cheerful light music, the pace of the dance increases steadily until the movements come to a sudden standstill and the bricks are laid on the floor noiselessly.

The name being “TREETALK”, the highlight is the storytelling by the performers. Standing on the bricks, now flattened on the floor to form a makeshift mini-stage at the hall centre, each performer narrates her own story, mainly an unforgettable life experience that brings cheer to herself and to the audience. The final narration is that of the lead dancer, who elaborates her story with very graceful dancing steps amidst the bricks arranged in a way to simulate a three-dimensional layout plan of Macau.

Frankly speaking, “TREETALK” falls short of the expectations of the ordinary audience about a glamourous show. It takes place in the old-styled parlour of the Lou Lim Ieouk Garden without the attractions of a glittering backdrop, bizarre props and flashing stage lights. And, with the exception of two young professional dancers, the performers are aged between 65 and 74. From an economic perspective, therefore, the show seems unlikely to be a commercial success.

However, the concept behind it fills me with great admiration for the producer, the choreographer, the dancers and, in fact, for everyone involved in its production. According to Mr. Yonglok Ong, the choreographer, the seniors and the underprivileged are a marginalized community because their reduced mobility or loss of speech has led to their being misunderstood, boycotted and isolated. In fact, what they need is empathy rather than sympathy. Every one of them has a story to tell about his growth and struggles through life. They crave for the opportunity for these stories to be listened to.

The inclusive dance featured in the show “TREETALK”, regardless of age or ability, draws attention to the possibility of finding an answer to this need. It shows how art can move individuals to great heights and inspire one to create change and overcome challenges. Isn’t it amazing how the elderly performers balance themselves on the bricks, making movements inconceivable for people of their age?

The show “TREETALK” delivers a very positive message. There should be no social exclusion. Instead of being marginalized, the seniors and underprivileged are entitled to the right to express themselves through speech and body movements. In brief, everyone is welcome on the dancing floor.

Helping Students Connect with God through Nature

 

 

As it is the mission of a Sunday school teacher to bring his/her students into close contact with God, there is something more I should do in addition to Catechism and Gospel teaching. I have indeed been trying to engage my students in establishing connections between God’s World and His Word. This involves guiding them to develop an awareness of God’s presence in a non-academic environment and, most importantly, in Nature.

 

Recently, I have watched a short film about a flock of migrating wild geese. In the film the geese are seen to be moving in a V-formation with the leader flying in front at all times. By adopting the cooperation strategy, they manage to extract the maximum benefit and put in less effort. They optimize their energetic and cognitive performances during the yearly long‐distance travels by each playing the part of a cross-functional individual. They regularly change leadership and swap positions among the group members. Those flying in the rear will cheer for those at the front. When one member falls ill, two will slow down to take care of him until he recovers. They are tolerant of differences and face challenges through mutual companionship and support. It is evident that, divided, the wild geese cannot fly very far however hard they flap their wings. Together, however, they can travel great distances, soaring effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys.

 

The film ends with a remarkable question: Besides their behavioural adaptations, what else also contributes greatly to their marvellous performance? It is the wind! Scientists have discovered that when there is a tailwind, the geese can fly up high to where they will be whisked along faster. This, coupled with their team spirit, can help them accomplish their dream with better ease and greater satisfaction.

 

I have been much impressed by the positive message the film delivers. Though there is nothing associated with spiritual thinking, it makes me reflect on God’s presence in Nature. The wild geese’s instinctive behaviour and inborn skills are evidence of the wonders of God’s creation.

 

Likewise, their team spirit also initiates thinking about the Early Church at the time when the disciples sought mutual support and encouragement through community bonding. In fact, wind is one of the Biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit. Like the soft blowing wind, the Holy Spirit breathes life into the Church and all spiritual communities, strengthening the bonding and fellowship of the members as St. Paul says in the Acts of the Apostles: “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.” (Acts 4:32)

During one of my Sunday school lessons, I showed the film to my students and invited them to discuss in groups how the film inspired them spiritually and how the role of the Holy Spirit could be likened to the wind on which the wild geese depended for support and guidance. As expected, my students did not come up with very inspirational ideas, given their young age. My mere intention was to help them think a bit how God’s divine power is revealed in the very simple creatures we observe in our lives.

 

In brief, our students can benefit more from the Catechism and Gospel teaching if we can also guide them to think of God in Nature and to establish links between God’s World and His Word.

 

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