On 28th May, a group of 20 legionaries (members of the Legion of Mary) left Sibu, Sarawak, by plane bound for Kuching, then to Johor Baru. They were expected to reach their destination the following day. Another group of 21 would leave a day later.
Up North in Ipoh, three little sisters, aged 6, 2 1/2 and five months old baby, with their legionary-parents, grandparents and 15 others, traveling on board an express bus at night, expected to reach the same destination at 4:00 am the following day.
On 29th May, thousand of miles away in Taiwan, another group of 15 legionaries boarded a plane for the same destination.
There were many other groups from Penang, Seremban, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching and Brunei as well, were making their way to the same destination.
My wife and I, together with eighteen others, boarded a bus at Puduraya at 10:30 am on the same day and expected to reach our destination seven hours later.
Hundreds of us, taking various transportation and routes, journeying towards the same destination - NTUC Pasir Ris Resort in Singapore, for the 16th Annual Fellowship of the Chinese-speaking Legionaries from 29th May to 1st June 2008.
All in all, 350 legionaries participated in this annual fellowship with activities like spiritual talks, sharing, churches visit and sight seeing.
The Annual Fellowship was opened on 29th May at 5:00pm with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Singapore Curia Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Lee.
Archbishop Nicholas Chia, the Archbishop of Singapore was away in Rome to meet our Holy Father together with members of the regional Bishops Conference.
He sent his best wishes in his message : "May your participation in this Gathering draw you closer to our Blessed Mother and through her may you come to a closer union with Our Lord. .....I am sorry that much as I would like to, I will not be able to join in your celebrations as I will be in Rome...."
The first day of the fellowship was very warm and noisy. Every one was greeting one another with a warm smile, saying:"How are you? Thank and praise God, we meet again..."
(click on picture to enlarge)
五月二十八日，东马的詩巫，一群为数二十人的圣母军团员，乘搭飞机， 前往古晋转机，然后飞抵西马的新山。他们将停留一晚，然后在隔天继程前往目的地。另一组约二十一人，将在二十九号直飞目的地。
在西马北部的怡保，三位小妹妹，分别为六岁，两岁半及五个月的婴儿，跟随圣母军的父母，公公及婆婆，连同其他十五人，在晚上乘坐长途巴士南下，预定在早上四、五时，到达目的地。
在二十九日，远在千里外的台北，一群为数约十五人的圣母军团员，乘搭飞机，也是朝向同一个目的地前进。
在其他地区，如沙巴州的亚庇，山打根，斗湖，沙劳越的古晋，芙蓉，马六甲，新山，甚至汶莱等地，圣母军团员都一在同一时候，开始了他们的路程，出发到同一个目的地。
我和太太，还有其他十八位团员，在吉隆坡巴士总站，乘坐早上十时半的长途巴士出发，预算在七个小时之后，也抵达目的地。
这些圣母军团员，利用不同的交通工具及路线，都是朝向一个共同的目的地及目标：就是在新加坡职工总会白沙度假村，从五月二十九号到七月一号举行的，马、新、汶、台，第十六届华文圣母军交流会。
今年总共有350 人出席了这交流会。交流会的活动有灵修讲座，分享，拜访教堂及观光。交流会在二十九号傍晚六时，感恩弥撒过后，由区团神师李瑞茂神父主持开幕礼。
新加坡总教区的谢总主教，因随同本地主教团，到罗马拜会教宗，而不能出席。他通过贺词，祝贺圣母军在此举行，他说到：“愿你们藉此交流会的参与，拉近你们和圣母的关系，从而透过她，加强和耶稣的共融。。。。。我确是很抱歉，虽然我是极愿意出席你们这个集会，但我因公而身在罗马。。。”
交流会的第一天非常的热烘烘。每个人见了面，都展现了甜蜜的笑容，互相问候：“您好！真感谢天主，我们又见面了。。。”
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开幕礼
Opening ceremony
新加坡团员表演迎宾舞
Welcoming dances by Singaporean members
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