Community welcome 团体欢迎

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the liturgical period heralding the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day. It is also the Sunday that the Catholic churches hold the Rite of Acceptance to welcome faith inquirers (RCIA candidates) into the parish community.

At 10:30 am Mandarin Mass, we have 12 candidates being welcomed into the community. They have completed 5 months of the required 10 months faith formation and expected to be baptised on Easter in April 2009.

I have been involved with the RCIA (Christian Initiation of Adults) for more than 15 years. It is always a gratifying moment to see the inquirers taking the first step* towards becoming a member of the Christian community. They are the precious gift of God to the community.


今天是降临期的第一个主日。这是一个准备耶稣的到来的礼仪期。在这个星期天，天主教会举行了收录礼，欢迎慕道者（学习天主道理）进入教会的团体。

在加影圣家堂十点半的华文弥撒中，我们欢迎 12 位慕道者进入我们的团体。他们已经完成了十个月信仰培训旅程的一半（五个月）。他们将会在明年四月的复活节接受圣洗圣事，成为天主的孩子（天主教徒）。

我参与慕道班成人信仰培训的工作也有十五年了。每一次看到这些慕道者参加收录礼，朝向成为这团体成员的第一步*，是最安慰开怀的事。他们是天主赐给团体的珍贵礼物。

*Rite of Acceptance is first of the many rites in RCIA process.
*收录礼是慕道过程许多礼仪中的第一个。