三月六日的下午,我和太太抵达了台北。当天天气凉爽,气温在16度摄氏左右。
这趟台湾行,除了探望在台北的加尔默罗玛利亚杨金燕修女外,我们将会到台中,去拜访当地的圣母军团员旧相识。
三月七日,也就是一年另四个月後,我们再次踏足座落在台北市深坑天鵝乡,一座小山上的加尔默罗圣母隐修院。
虽然是个修道的出家人,远方的亲友到访,是件令隐居的杨修女感觉温馨及高兴的事。
隐修院在四旬期,通常都不接见外宾。杨修女来自马来西亚,平时很少亲友到来探访,院长也体谅到来自国外的访客,所面对的订购机票及时间上安排等困难,所以特别允准我们在这四旬期里,到来探望杨修女。
天鹅乡的加尔默罗山修院,没有丝毫的改变。从门前远眺,仍然是默默的座高望低,仿佛是在默观着门前流过的时光及小溪的水,逝去的岁月及世俗的荣华富贵。
我们把修女家人及加影朋友的问候,及一些物品,亲身的转达及交给了修女,让她体验到家乡的温暖亲情及友情。
三月八日,我们来到了台北总主教公署,向洪总主教及廖修女说声“哈啰”问候。前任总主教秘书魏小姐,在我们到来前几天,已启程前往美国深造,遗憾不能亲自向她送行。我们见到了替代她的马秘书,同样的是友善热情,而且还有点像是魏秘书的姐妹呢!
平易近人的总主教,吩咐了他的司机李先生,载送我们到台北西站,乘搭国光客运巴士,开始了我们的台中之行。
午后一点半,巴士抵达了台中的中清路,等待我们的是伟强、丽芳夫妇及静芷姐妹。他们热情的笑容,已经告诉了我,台中之行必定是一趟难忘之旅!
细心的丽芳,早已为我们准备了美味的道地小吃及水果,作为我们的午餐。
2012年的马六甲圣母军交流会,我们在晚上的休闲时刻,通过电话,与台中的伟强兄弟联系,让他知道我们对他想念之情。挂电话之前,我们一群人高喊着:“你不能过来,我们就过去找你吧!”
就因之一句话,江湖之情。。。不,应该是主内兄弟之情,在去年年尾,伟强的干儿子,汶莱的杨子云,与我联络,准备订飞机票,实现台中之行。
子云全家五口,在三月七日,抵达台北,直接就取道前往台中。三月八日,我们在晚上会合,正式开始了台中行。因为孩子的随行,伟强特地为他们一家准备了与我们不同的行程。所以,在台中的一个星期里,我们将会分道扬镖,跟随不同的路线及地点。
很高兴的见到台中圣母军区团前任团长淑清姐妹及守宽兄弟。好几年不见了,他们风采依然,还热情的接待我们,确实非常感动。
2003年第十二届马新汶圣母军交流会,原本是在五月尾,假台中及彰化举行,但因当时『煞士』传染病警报响起,而被迫改期到2004年。这段事故,在圣母军交流会的历史上,加上了一点传奇。
当时的主办单位,面对的挑战及困难,确实是难以想象;但他们的勇敢及坚强的意志,一年后,把台中交流会成功的主办了,留下一段令他们感到自豪,也令人津津乐道的事迹。
这次我重回旧地,心中充满了喜乐及欣慰。
我们台中的行程,在静芷及伟强的安排下,按部就班的展开。这行程将会带领我及太太到许多神圣的地方 – 教堂,朝圣地;认识好多新朋友,包括神父、修女及圣母军友;观赏到美丽的风光及景点;饱尝了许多道地的美食!
抵达台中的第一天,就马上开始了多姿多彩,多吃多饮了。
( 更多照片Facebook)
题外话:
“Like” 是社交媒体Facebook 最常用的一种表达符号。不过,我常常见到很多时候,用之不当,啼笑皆非。
就如LOL 这个网上术语。儿子告诉我这个故事:一位朋友,在面子书上告知朋友,我的婆婆在某日某时去世了,我们都很伤心,愿她灵魂安息。
马上就有朋友的回应了。有些留言,大致上都是如节哀顺变,RIP 等等。 有位朋友则留言:lol ....
莫名其妙!我的婆婆去世了,虽然是年老,但也不应该对我大声欢笑!后来,经其他朋友告知,原来这位留言lol 的朋友,以为lol 就是Lot of love....(大意是很多的爱给你 - 我会以爱来支持你度过这悲痛期)
LOL 确实是: Laughing out loud
同样的,有人告诉你,我的某某人去世了,你放个like 赞,难道你是幸灾乐祸,很高兴的见到我的亲人去世吗?
同样的,有车祸,天灾,不幸的事情的讯息或照片,很多人都按赞。。。
(其实我也知道他们的用意是:谢谢你告诉我们这个讯息,但却用之不当,到不如不按赞来的好)
Wei Qiang (second right), Jing Zi (third right), Li Fang(first left) 伟强(右二),静芷(右三),丽芳(左一) |
Love and love (LAL) Taiwan.
March 6, My wife and I arrived at Taipei in the afternoon. It was cool 16 °C.
Our trip to Taiwan was to visit Rev. Sr. Maria Yong at Carmelite Monastery at Shenkeng, Taipei, and also fellow legionaries and friends in Taichung (Central Taiwan).
The next day, March 7, about 16 months from our last visit, we set foot again on the front gate of the Carmelite Monastery again.
Sr. Maria Yong was overjoyed to see us.
We brought warm greetings and wishes from her family in Sibu and friends in Kajang.
Carmelite Monastery usually disallowed visitors during the season of Lent. However, the Mother Provincial taking into consideration of Sr. Maria being a foreigner (Malaysia) and not often to have visitors, allowed us to visit her during Lent.
The next day, we called on Archbishop of Taipei, Most Rev. John Hung and Rev. Sr. Leow at the Archdiocesan office in Taipei.
We met Archbishop's new private secretary Miss Ma, who replaced Cindy Wei who has gone to United State for further study.
The friendly Archbishop dispatched his driver to send us to Taipei West station, thus started our exciting journey of Taichung (Central Taiwan).
The bus ride from Taipei to Taichung was safe and comfortable.
We were met and welcomed by our fellow legionaries Wei Qiang and wife Li Fang, and Jing Zi. Their warm smile heralding our wonderful journey in Taichung.
The caring Li Fang has our lunch package ready.
Francis Jong, godson of Wei Qiang, was in Taichung too with his wife and 3children.
In May 2012, at Melaka Annual Legion Fellowship, we talked to Wei Qiang through phone that since we have not see him and his wife for quite a number of years, we will visit them in 2013.
As promised, we were happy to make this trip to Taichung, meeting not only Wei Qiang, but also many fellow legionaries whom we have not meet up for years.
The 12th Legion Annual Fellowship was held in Taichung in 2004. I was joy-filled and grateful to God for being able to re-visit Taichung once again after almost 10 years !
The first day of arrival was already fun-and-food filled!
(More pictures in Facebook)
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