Friday, August 2, 2013

Pigrimage (2) 朝圣之旅

 

完成了一个完满及充满恩宠的圣妇亚纳朝圣之旅后,我们在隔天,七月28日星期天,到浮罗山背的耶稣圣母堂参加早上10时的主日弥撒。

我们遇见了一群来自古晋的朝圣客,由许中新兄弟带领。

耶稣圣母堂主任邓英伟神父热烈的欢迎我们大家,还在弥撒中介绍给他的教友认识。当天是华语弥撒,不过有两首歌曲是由伊班兄弟们以他们的语言唱出。

弥撒后,若瑟兄弟特地安排了“槟城喇沙及水果”午餐。这个时候,因为榴莲季节已过,所以没有著名的槟城榴莲招待,但喇沙及其他的水果可真是一级棒!

午餐后,我脱队留在浮罗山背,追随我的“浮罗特别行程”,而大队则继续他们的行程,到升旗山及市区游玩。

在老朋友,也是浮罗山背老居民的张鉅明兄弟的带领下,前往离开教堂不远的一个山上榴莲芭。

榴莲芭主人伟贤兄弟带领我们绕园参观。榴莲芭地处山上,可以远眺到槟城市区的景色,包括槟威大桥,飞机场等地。可惜当天烟霾所阻,远处美丽的景色看的不是很清楚。

到了傍晚,我参加了一个非常特别及期待的活动 - 圣母圣像到访教友家庭。

这是一项十年一次的活动,至今已有大约近百年的历史了。目前的出游,是从5月26日开始,到12月15日结束。圣像每天将到访一个家庭,总共受访的家庭超过200个。

我是在当地的教友“麦可左思”(叶为骠)兄弟的邀请及安排下,才有幸的参加这个十年一遇的重大团体活动。

当天受的是陈老先生家庭。

晚上8点整,超过百位的教友已经集合,在数位资深的年长教友带领下,以客家话开始诵经。

群众的祷声洪亮,悦耳动听,确实是难得的一次体验。

这是浮罗山背天主教团体的一个重大活动,许多远地的乡亲都会尽量的回来参阅。目前在沙巴古达服务的本地人叶为聪神父,就是专程调整时间,更改机票,赶回来迎接圣母到访他家。

浮罗山背是个传统的天主教教友集居地,居民们还保持着蓬勃的信仰,过着基督团体的生活。圣母像到访家庭的传统活动,就是保养着这个坚强信德的活动之一,希望能够继续的保持及发扬下去。

祈祷集会结束后,主人家热情的准备了丰富的晚餐招待大家,促进团体的共融。陈先生的其中一位女儿亚加大,非常友善热情的给我们送上食物,让我们吃得饱饱的,也因他们的热情,我也认识了一些新的朋友。

隔天,有与队友们会合,共同去拜访安贫姐妹修会管理的老人疗养院,然后就离开槟城,继续第二段的旅程。

巴士到了加影后,我依依不舍的像他们说再见,而他们继续的南下,到马六甲及新加坡游玩,然后在八月二日星期五,才乘搭飞机从新山返回加拿逸。

这是一个难忘及充实的旅程。我很荣幸的能够成为伊班兄弟姐妹团队一份子。

一切荣耀及赞美归于天主。阿门。 

(更多照片 Facebook)

(录影 on Youtube)




After a blessed pilgrimage to St. Anne's Sanctuary at Bukit Mertajam, we went to Church of Holy Name of Mary at Balik Pulau on Sunday, July 28 to attend 10:30 am Mass.

We met a group of pilgrims from Kuching led by brother Philip Hii.

Fr. Martin Then welcomed all of us warmly and introduced to his parishioners during the Mass. Two Iban hymns were sung by Iban pilgrims during the Mass.

Joseph has arranged "Penang Laksa & fruits" lunch after Mass. The durian season is almost over, so we did not get the famed Penang durians, but the Penang Laksa, Cempedak and Duku were fantastic!

After lunch, the group continued their journey to Penang Hill and the city tour while I broke off to pursue my "Balik Pulau special" itinerary.

I went with Francis, a local resident, to a friend's durian farm on a hill nearby. From the farm, we have a good view of Penang Island, including the Penang bridge, Penang airport and the city.

In the evening, an exciting event unfolded .... Visitation of the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary to homes in the Balik Pulau community.

This is a 10-yearly event, a tradition started almost a century ago. The current tour started on 26/5/2013 and ends on 15/12/2013, visiting a home daily and covering more than 200 homes.

I was invited by Michael Yip, a long time resident of Balik Pulau, to attend this event at 8:00 pm.

The host of the evening is Chen family.

At 8:00 pm, prayer started. The prayers (including Rosary) were chanted in Hakka, the dialect of the majority Chinese in Balik Pulau.

After the prayer, the crowd was treated to a buffet dinner by the host family.

It was a great and humbling experience for me. 

I joined my group on the next day and visited the nursing home run by the Little Sister of the Poor.

We left Penang Island at about 10:30 am for the next phase of the tour.

I bid them goodbye when the bus reached Kajang and they continue their journey to Melaka and Singapore before flying home on Friday, August 2.

It was a wonderful and fruitful journey. I am honoured to be one of the members among Iban brethren in this pilgrimage.

All praise and glory to God. Amen.

(More pictures Facebook)

(Video on Youtube)



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