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How Chinese-Filipino Catholics rely on God’s grace, as they pray for better times

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Photos and text by Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<p>Shortly before the first COVD-19 lockdown in 2020, Mary the Queen Parish in Greenhills, San Juan was still able to celebrate the Lunar New Year in the traditional festive way. </p><p>Since 2021 however, the new year celebration has been subdued with most opting to attend Masses online as the threat of infection persisted.</p><p>This 2022, a good number of parishioners visited the church for the lighting of the first incense on New Year’s eve and physically attended the Eucharistic celebration to welcome the Year of the Tiger, which includes the Ancestor veneration rites at the end of the Mass.</p><p>It was in 2014 when Mary the Queen began an Inculturated Chinese Mass to allow devout Catholic Chinese to welcome the lunar new year with the liturgy infused with English readings, Chinese songs and old traditions. </p><p>Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, main celebrant of the Inculturated Mass, says the context of this year’s celebration is really the pandemic. </p><p>Although many mark this most important Chinese festival focusing on attracting luck, wealth and prosperity for the new year, he hopes that as people of faith, “Catholics should have learned to put our faith in the right place or the right person — God. Not to rely on superstitions but rely on God’s grace.” </p><p>During the pandemic, many have gotten sick or lost their loved ones, which made people realize “that we are subject to forces beyond ourselves and that reminds our surrender to God our creator.” <br/> <br/>As the Year of the Tiger begins, Dy underlined the lessons people could learn from the tiger, which according to Chinese mythology, symbolizes leadership, power and protection. </p><p>The noticeable marking on the tiger’s forehead — wang (王) — translates to “king,” considered to be the king of all the beasts in China. </p><p>“What the tiger represents — courage and eagerness — are the exact qualities people need as we learn to live with the virus, survive the pandemic and move on with our lives” he explained. <br/> <br/>Adding a stroke on the top of 王 (wang) makes it 主 (Zhǔ ) — which translates to host or “Master”, a reminder to everyone as to who is in charge and deserving of our worship our respect, our prayers. <br/> <br/>As the red banner at the church altar reminds people of their faith and not to rely on superstitions but instead on God: “Devoutly relying on God’s grace, joyfully hoping and praying for better times ahead in the year of the tiger.” </p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-5.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-6.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-7.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-8.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-9.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-10.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-11.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-12.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-13.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-14.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-15.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-16.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-17.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-18.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-19.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-20.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-21.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/01/01/cny-inculturated-chinese-mass-gcs-22.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Mary the Queen Parish opens its doors on the eve of the Lunar New Year of the Tiger to Chinese-Filipino Catholics for the lighting of the first incense on January 31, 2022.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Members of a Chinese-Filipino family pray before lighting their first incense for the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church in Greenhills, San Juan Monday night. The parish opened its doors on the eve of the Lunar New Year of the Tiger to Chinese-Filipino Catholics.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A red banner says: “Devoutly relying on God’s grace, joyfully hoping and praying for better times ahead in the year of the tiger” is displayed at the altar of Mary Queen Parish Church. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Members of a Chinese-Filipino family light their first incense for the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church on Monday night. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Incense is lit for the Lunar New Year. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A Chinese-Filipino couple lights their first incense for the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church in Greenhills, San Juan on Monday night.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A copy of the Lunar New Year Prayer is placed beside the incense bowl at Mary the Queen Parish Church Monday night.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Fr. Aristotle Dy, SJ, and Fr. Guy Guibolondo, SJ, arrive for the Inculturated Chinese Mass to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church on Tuesday.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Chinese-Filipino Catholics attend the Inculturated Chinese Mass.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Fr. Aristotle Dy delivers his sermon during the Inculturated Chinese Mass.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Members of the choir sing a Chinese religious song during the Inculturated Chinese Mass.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Chinese-Filipino Catholics attend the Inculturated Chinese Mass to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church on Tuesday. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Fr. Aristotle Dy presides during the Inculturated Chinese Mass.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Chinese-Filipino Catholics receive the Holy Eucharist during the Inculturated Chinese Mass to celebrate the Lunar New Year. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A lay minister holds a singing bowl during the Ancestor Veneration to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A man lights incense during the Ancestor Veneration rites.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Mrs. Uy leaves after attending the Inculturated Chinese New Year Mass at Mary the Queen Parish Church on February 1, 2022. Her daughter, Anabelle Uy-Braganza, expresses appreciation for having the opportunity to participate in the Inculturated Mass organized by Mary the Queen Parish as it brings in the dimension and integrates Chinese practices with Catholic faith, which teaches people how to understand and love their lives fully and make it meaningful by understanding their culture.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Anabelle Uy-Braganza assists her mother fix her mask after attending the Inculturated Chinese New Year Mass. Mrs. Uy physically attended Mass for the first time since the pandemic due to safety issues.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Anabelle Uy Braganza (left) expresses appreciation for having the opportunity to participate in the Inculturated Mass organized by Mary the Queen Parish as it brings in the dimension and integrates Chinese practices with Catholic faith, which teaches people how to understand and love their lives fully and make it meaningful by understanding their culture. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Mrs. Uy lost her husband of 60 years in 2020, which motivated her daughter Anabelle to pursue an MA in Pastoral Ministry with concentration on Family Ministry and counseling to help people experiencing grief.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A man distributes &quot;ang pao&quot; (red envelopes) after the Inculturated Chinese Mass to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Mary the Queen Parish Church on February 1, 2022.<cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Fr. Aristotle Dy interacts with parishioners after the Mass. <cite>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/02/06/19/merging-chinese-culture-with-filipino-catholicism">Merging Chinese culture with Filipino Catholicism</a></li></ul>

A priest underlines the lessons people could learn from the tiger, which according to Chinese mythology, symbolizes leadership, power and protection.

How Chinese-Filipino Catholics rely on God’s grace, as they pray for better times

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How Chinese-Filipino Catholics rely on God’s grace, as they pray for better times

Photos and text by Gigie Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 02, 2022 04:33 AM PHT

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Updated February 03, 2022 08:35 AM PHT

Read More:

Chinese New Year

Lunar New year

year of the Tiger

Inculturated Chinese Mass

Mary the Queen Parish

Chinoy

Filipino-Chinese

Chinoy community

Filipino-Chinese community

Fr. Aristotle Dy

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