The MISSION ROSARY

30th October - DMC community ended the month of October by praying together the Mission Rosary. As followers of Jesus we are called to be missionaries - bringing Christ's message to the whole world.

The mysteries of the Mission Rosary are: 1) Jesus is baptised; 2) Jesus proclaims the good news; 3) Jesus heals the sick; 4) Jesus offers the gift of life; and 5) Jesus teaches us how to pray.

The FIVE DECADES of the rosary have also five corresponding colors and intentions:

1) BLUE (sapphire) - for Australia/Oceana - islands in the blue Pacific;
2) GREEN (emerald) - for Africa - with its green forests and jungles; sacred colour for Muslim).
3) WHITE (crystal) - for Europe - spiritual capital of early Christianity - Rome.
4) YELLOW (topaz) - for Asia/Middle East where the sun rises and civilization began.
5) RED (ruby) - for the Americas: Latin America, USA and Canada.

Michael Q. Nguyen prepared for us the unique way of praying the Mission Rosary complete with powerpoint presentation, reflective taped songs, and pertinent meditations on the mysteries.

(Credits to Michael N. for his beautiful photo of the BVM).

DARWIN NOW IN ARGENTINA

24th October 2008 - “Hola a todos from the Tango country, Argentina!” thus (Br.) Darwin greets us all. Darwin is one of the DMC alumnus who left us early this year. He already arrived in his first mission assignment, Argentina-south.

His Provincial was not around when Darwin arrived. Days later while he was taking a nap (siesta), his Provincial knocked at his door and gave him a stack of books: the SVD handbook and directory of the SVD Argentina-South, all in Spanish. It was a strong statement that Darwin’s priority task was to learn the Spanish language.

(Photo shows Darwin with (Fr.) Manatar, an Indonesian, who also has just arrived).

Darwin’s first experience is that the community evening meal starts at 9 pm and ends almost at 11 pm. with lively interaction among confreres during meals. He thanks confreres in Australian who shared with him their personal mission experiences informally or in formal ‘mission talks’ on Mission and Cultures.’

Darwin is also now getting familiar with the local drink: mate. One sips it and passes it around to others to sip, too. It’s a ritual shared among family, friends and co-workers – a practice that transcends the barriers of ethnicity, class and occupation.

Darwin assures us that everything is new, exciting and he’s doing fine. He sends his personal greetings to everyone!

Don’t cry for me, Argentina! ~