聖安諾理與餅

http://flashon.com #148

在法國北部Amiens市的主教座堂，它的大門有許多雕像，其中一個頭戴禮冠的主教，手拿權杖，不過這權杖的底部，卻是烤麵包的大木鏟，上面還有三個大麵餅。這位主教是誰？原來在香港馳名的聖人。

香港最知名的聖人，若不計算那些什麼天主教名學校名醫院的名字，西餅店那位聖安娜都可以是數一數二。不過細心的人，會發覺這聖安娜的英文名字，不是St Anna，而是St Honore。用法文唸，H音不送氣，的確是「安娜」（要用廣東話正音唸no4，不是naa4）。不過不要被它的妸娜的招牌字體及馬蹄蘭誤導，這位 St Honore不是女性，而是男性，且是主教！

話說Honoré（正字有一撇，三個音安諾理）是法國Amiens 的第七任主教，7世紀人士。出身貴族家庭，自幼便充滿聖德。他謙抑自下，深覺不配成為主教，但奈何，終獲選上成為主教，聞說選中的那一刻，有一道奇異的光芒從天射向他呢。那麼，一個主教又如何成了麵包師傅的主保聖人？話說當Honoré獲選為主教的消息傳到他源生家庭時，他的乳娘不肯相信，（可能因為他小時候頑皮）。正當此時，乳娘正在烤麵包，她說Honoré當主教的不可能，就有如她手中拿著的大木鏟會變為樹一樣的不可能。（她手中的大木鏟，是烤麵包工具之一，用來把要烤的東西放入烤爐內。）她不經意隨手把木鏟插入地上，它頓然生根長葉變成了一棵黑桑樹，還開花結果。代表了一眾的麵包師傅（也包括西餅師傅）的烤麵包木鏟，竟成了奇樹，故麵包師傅都奉Honoré為主保。（有點像三行師傅奉魯班為大師？）

正如其他聖人，Honoré主教死後有很多人紀念他，祈求他在天主台前為世人轉禱，還說他死後行了不少奇蹟，以致越來越多人紀念他。例如一次的旱災，市民便求他轉禱；當時的主教下令舉行集會，把他的聖髑（即遺骨的一小部份）在城市大街小巷出遊。果然，很快便下起雨來！

於13世紀初，有一位叫Renold Theriens的麵包師傅，在巴黎捐贈了一些地皮，要興建一所小聖堂，紀念聖Honoré。就是因為這間小堂，那條路便叫Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré，是今天的巴黎名街，在這裡可以找到Lancôme的總部、Hermès 及Lanvin的旗艦店、日本以及英國和加拿大的大使館或官邸、豪華的Hôtel Le Bristol、內政部辦公室、還有Élysée Palace（曾作拿玻崙的政府總部，現在是法國總統府）。

15世紀，巴黎的烤麵包師傅在這St Honoré堂結盟成為公會。1659年，路易十四世命令全城的麵包師傅都要在5月16日守這St Honoré瞻禮，還要以他的名義為貧苦大眾捐贈。還有，有一種西餅叫St. Honoré cake，是今天在西餅學校具挑戰性的功課，那是圓形餅底加pâte à choux，上面加兩三件小的奶油泡芙，內裡是crème chiboust。

下次換領西餅時，你也許會記得西餅店名字背後小故事。的確，在細小事物中，天主也與人相遇。

Photo: Deena Prichep

糖果痴

http://flashon.com #147

我必需承認我有玩過Candy Crush，但我沒有上癮…（真的？）剛開始玩時，很快便受到吸引，因為容易玩，但也有挑戰性，也許眾多的Candy Crush迷都是因此而著了迷。為什麼開始玩這個遊戲？其實是乘坐地鐵時，看到不少男女在玩這個遊戲，打聽之下，原來叫Candy Crush，上網搜尋了一下，在好奇心驅駛下就下載了，親身體驗一下為什麼一排排的糖果可以吸引了這麼多人。

根據一些遊戲專家，Candy Crush成功的其中一個原因，是其聲音效果，不論是整列糖果被清掉的聲音，或是每一局完結的聲音。我猜我和其他人一樣，都認為那低沉的獎勵男聲說：Sweet!、Delicious!、Divine!、Sugar Crush!有一種近乎魔法的魅力（只恨自己沒有這種磁性的聲線）。

幸好，我沒有上癮，雖然我也試過在唸夜禱後打機，自己騙自己再玩多一局，到最後發覺閉上眼睛仍看到五顏六色的糖果，便知道是泥足深陷的先兆，不得不逼自己把Apps刪掉。

Candy Crush是一個頗直接的遊戲，目的是測試眼手的本能反應有多快，反之，另外一些遊戲如數獨，著重推理，講求理性及邏輯，而Candy Crush則在乎眼睛對顏色、形狀、線條的反應，比較著重情感。我不敢說Candy Crush膚淺，但要我為「把三顆相同的糖果放成一直線」的遊戲去尋找人生意義，我無論如何也寫不出，（唯一可以說是三是個神聖數字，因為天主是三位一體）。

畢竟，Candy Crush，或以前的Angry Birds，或未來佔同樣位置的遊戲apps，甚至你可以包括數獨，這些林林總總的遊戲的其中一個重要功能，就是讓人暫時離開現實。現實真的有這麼殘酷，需要脫離嗎？生老病死，悲歡離合，工作、家庭、社會等壓力及怨氣，總是使人透不過氣，暫且躲入虛擬的糖果店、或到空曠地方用彈弓發射無翅小鳥打擊小豬、或是埋頭於九個九宮格內，是都市人的選擇。

有人會抗議，娛樂、藝術、甚至宗教不也是使人暫時離開現實的城市策略？我想問題不在於暫且避現實的痛苦，因為大家都心知肚明，痛苦只可以暫且避免，不能永遠解決。至於方法，打機、看電影、看書、看聖經、看演出等，都只是方法；問題是這些方法，能否使人有力量，重返現實。藝術及宗教在「暫時離開現實」之餘，還詰問人生的問題，使人反省，挑戰人的價值觀，啟發人有新的眼光去重新面對現實，而其他則是娛樂，只提供短暫的官感快樂而已，儘管那是多麼有教育意義的娛樂。

地鐵扶手電梯的安全廣播，叫人抓緊扶手、攜帶大件行李時用升降機等之餘，現在居然提醒大家不要瞪眼盯著手機。原來不論是玩Candy Crush或與朋友Whatsapp等，都已構成了行動安全的威脅。為我來說，我聽到的廣播，深度意義是叫人重返現實，抓緊時機，不要停留在官感娛樂的麻醉。

家．拿大

http://flashon.com #146

天主教的出家人，可以回家省親：我們修會的規矩，一年有二至三周的假期，不少兄弟利用農曆新年的時候回家探望家人。我自己的家人早已移民去了加拿大，（只有哥哥回流歸港），姨媽伯父表兄弟姊妹都四散美加澳，所以要去看家人，就得要遠行。

八年已沒有「回來」加拿大。我不直接說回加，因為我不是楓葉國人士，而我的加國移民資格因為我為了修道而留在香港，早被取消，故此加拿大不是我的家，但加拿大是個親切的地方，因為不但有我的家人，而且我在這裡唸中學大學共五年，故我青年時代的朋友也在這裡。

這次加拿大的探親，也是我的休息，沒有刻意去做遊客式的觀光，只去了安大略省立美術館看了個名叫 “David Bowie Is” 的展覽，是他40多年藝術生涯的一個多媒體回顧；同時也看了一次現代舞，全是minimalistic 的音樂伴奏，看著那扭轉的身驅，跳躍的舞姿，聽那呢喃誦經似的音樂，一盡視聽享受之樂趣。

趁機會看了一些老朋友，更有一位是十多年來都未有碰過面的。上次見面他是以移民身份來加讀書，拿到國籍後，回流去了中國工作，結婚生子，轉眼就十六年了。年過半百，仍決定放棄優薪厚職，寧可不做專業人士，從廈門搬到多倫多，在職業階梯從頭來過，只是為了兩個孩子的將來。父愛之偉大，我以作他朋友為榮。

在加拿大，其實最重要的都是家人，所以只有特別交情的才會約出來見面，其他則電話問候聊天就夠了。在這邊廂的家人，最親的是母親和妹妹，上次看到媽媽是兩年前在香港，今次她很明顯的老態龍鍾，時常不自覺的把頭往前斜斜側垂。下機後，步入家中，迎面出來的是個「老婆婆」，百般滋味湧上心頭。不過我自問，看到年紀老邁的母親，到底我難過什麼？是歲月如何不留人？還是老化了的是自己的媽媽？

媽媽和妹妹同住共處，是相依為命，還是互相窒息？答案又不是那麼簡單的二選一。比如，媽媽有個遲睡遲起的習慣，（是以前身為職業女性的她從不會的），當然，退休生活，優哉悠哉，不用計較，但偏偏妹妹是早睡早起的，這便做成些少磨擦。本來能夠有一所合適退休者之家，為雙方是最好的辦法，但就算找到這樣的，能否負擔也是問題。

看到別的老人家，如何吹噓往年英姿，如何嘮嘮叨叨，一句「想當年」如何掛在口邊，總覺得不甚耐煩；但如今在我面前的這位，是以前在教育界中能呼風喚雨的瀟灑女強人，亦剛好是自己母親，我卻變得忍耐無比到連我也吃驚。畢竟，是母親先對我表達忍耐，身教言教使我明白什麼是有容乃大。

此刻看著艷麗無比的紅楓，頓覺天主造化奇妙，一想到紅楓日子有限，雖感無奈、無力、也無助，但幸好我仍相信一切盡在上主手中。

（寄自多倫多）

Photo: McMug Mc

姨媽

http://flashon.com #145

姨媽

家母有三位姊姊，那麼理應就是三位姨媽，但是我們兄妹仨卻有四位姨媽，第四位是堂姊的堂姨媽。她也是我們一家人生命中的一個人物，因為我們自小就有她在我們家做飯洗衣服，不過她並不是傭人，只少我們是這樣理解。回頭想起來，其實她擔當了家務助理的角色。因為父母倆都是職業人士，故此我們有需要人負責家務，況且她家在附近，而伯父一家人移民前，她也是為他們一家幫忙家務，所以她就在我們家中出現。

直接稱呼她作「姨媽」，不像母親的姊姊們，按排行冠以數目，是沿用堂家姊的叫法。我們小時候，因為這種親戚關係，我們便要學懂不可對待她像傭人。家務助理和傭人分別在哪裡？也許前者純粹是做家務，傭人有點像現在的外籍傭工要全天候負責伺候。比如：放學回家，肚子餓、口渴，就要自己動手開冰箱找東西吃及倒水，父母常提醒我們：「姨媽不是來服侍我們的」。長大後，才明白這一切都是長輩的教導，凡事得靠自己，我們不是個富裕家庭，才沒有工人來伺候。

不過，姨媽的「秘密身份」是在她去世後，在另一個長輩口中才知道。原來，說她是伯母的堂姊，只是個說法。她自小就在伯母家長大，不過不是親戚，而是廣東人所謂的「妹仔」，就是比傭人待遇更差的近身婢女，坦白點說，近乎奴隸。不過，在香港因為有英人看不過眼，為反對妹仔制度，成立了反對蓄婢會，在幾經爭取後，在1923年香港通過了《禁婢新例》。伯母她們一家來港後，不能再有妹仔，便以遠房親戚身份，留在伯母家。她比伯母大幾歲，故與伯母感情相當好，替婚後的伯母做家務管孩子，直至伯父舉家移民，姨媽便來我們家。

姨媽有自己的家庭，每天早上來我們家，晚餐後才回到自己家。姨媽看著妹妹出生，故對她特別好，曾經惹來我不少的妒忌。雖然姨媽是文盲，但富有創意。一次，要在嬰兒床頭放一個吊掛的玩具，當大家都想不出主意如何弄時，是姨媽用了個土方法，用繩子及棍子把玩具撐起來。記得母親曾稱讚她說，若果她有機會唸書，一定名列前茅。

姨媽很盡忠，很愛護我們，我還記得她做的豉油雞和「鬼馬牛肉」，是如何美味可口，雖然現在我什麼肉類都不吃了。少年姨媽的故事我從來都不知道，也沒有問過。我還記得那天聽到原來她不是血緣親戚時，頓然覺得她是個大時代的小故事，什麼賣兒賣女去當妹仔的辛酸，輾轉來到香港等等，雖然不是可歌可泣，但總算見證了歷史。不過，雖然說是個小故事，但在天主心中卻不然，每個人尚在母腹中，就已得到天主按名字的召叫，都是祂計劃的一部份，問題是我們有沒有合作而已。

姨媽合作了。

當你不再是「你」

Flash On #144

看見別人家裡有腦退化症【阿兹海默症、老人失智症】的病患者時，總是覺得無比惋惜。當我自己家裡有親人患上，更覺得身受其苦。我有一位八十多歲的姨母，幾年前，她仍堅持獨居，結果聽說她隨便讓陌生人探訪她，開車迷路後，棄車徒步走卻仍找不到路之餘，連車子都遺失了；幾經辛苦，旁邊的親人才說服她入住安老院。

在安老院，她越來越快樂，因為她忘得徹底。

我去看她時，她當然搞不清我是誰，我要自我介紹是她妹妹的兒子，雖然她客氣的緊握著我的手，好像認得我，但她只是說很面善。她聽到我說一起去飲茶，她就一臉雀躍，我說在走廊外等她換衣服，結果等了快10分鐘仍沒有動靜。悄悄開門，看她坐在床上，無所事事，她反問我要找誰。

第一次親身接觸腦退化症，是我們的前任院長。我剛入會時，安多尼弟兄是院長，他嚴肅但親切的外表，給我一種叱吒風雲的印象。十年後，無論多叱吒風雲，他都要入住安老院。後來大病一場，從此就什麼話也不說。後來，他連飯也不能自己進食，我逢主日去看他時便負責去餵他。每次我考他我的名字，他都是點點頭；問他我是否主教，他也喃喃地說是。那時我最渴望的，是再次聽他用他那很重的湖南口音說我的名字，可是一次也沒有。叫名字其實代表人際關係中的很微妙的部份。關係是由兩個人組成，而名字代表了人的個體。當聽不到名字時，直覺是自己已不在對方心中，這也許是最令人傷感的原因。

每次臨離開時，我總是和他一起唱拉丁文的聖母歌。他什麼說話都不會了，卻聽到熟悉的調子，居然隻字不漏地背唱Salve Regina。我說劃十字聖號，他也可以自己劃：因父及子及聖神之名。這是深度的修道生活的內化？還是一切都只是機械化了的自然反應？

最新關於姨母的消息，說她開始大小便失禁，需要成人紙褲，聽到這裡，心中不禁難受。雖然失禁或需要穿成人紙褲，並非姨母首創，但她是我眾多親人中的第一位。對這種事情難以接受，是完全可以理解。嬰兒不會照顧自己，要包尿布；小孩子的toilet training是成長的重要階段，因為這是獨立化的過程。難怪成人的失禁或穿紙褲，是一種尊嚴的打擊。

姨母忘了自己的妹妹是誰，名字欠奉之餘，還錯認她是自己的媽媽（我的外祖母）。不過，據聞她心情不錯，總是笑臉迎人，外表的愉悅，透露了內在的自在。只是旁邊的親人，需要諒解才能接受這種情況。記憶在人生中很重要，是連接現實的鑰匙；連聖經也說祈求天主不要忘記我們。能夠放下記憶的包袱，好好地活在當下，也許這就是腦退化的對世人的啟示。

時光隧道：以往的YAHOO BLOG…

關閉了的YAHOO BLOG，（有許多MEANING AND THE CITY）可在這裡閱讀：
http://blog.xuite.net/brotherwilliam/hkblog

掉進iPad的廣告中

http://flashon.com #143

這個夏天，探訪了中國農村的一間教堂，我本來去是要訪問幾位修女，剛好遇上教堂兒童暑期道理班，修女們都忙，要我稍等一會。此時，一批不到十歲的孩子打羽毛球作樂，樂在其中，挺可愛的，我本能地從背包掏出iPad跟這群小天使拍照；我指給他們看他們的影子被捕捉了，他們便開始注意我，走過來圍著我，要看個究竟。

看到畫面上有他們的樣子，還會動的呢，便即時起哄，頓時間，一大群小孩都吸引過來了。哈，原來平板電腦的好處，就是讓照片清楚與多人一起觀賞，不用瞇起眼睛看照相機後的小小螢幕。iPad的另一個好玩的地方，就是它只有一個按鈕，光是在螢幕上擦啊擦，就可以控制。小孩子看到我就是這樣擦，就能轉出下一幅照片，感到有興趣，爭先恐後來擦過痛快。

至於影片，示範了一次如何按圓圈中的三角形就可以播放，小孩子馬上學會。他們按完又按，擦完又擦，好不開心。後來，我告訴他們我有好幾個挺有趣的應用程式，一個是考考眼手協調的彈珠迷宮，一個是繪圖，幾乎不用示範，他們就能用手指塗鴉起來。想不到，他們最喜歡的，卻是Candy Crush。

老實說，像我這種年紀的人，對蘋果有一定的信心，覺得這品牌的產品令我放心到，可以雙手把平板電腦交給素未謀面的農村小孩，也沒有半點害怕。不過，說到底，iPad的interface做得超級user-friendly是真的，使人因此也變得友善起來：這個簡直是iPad的廣告故事。

從一條鄉村到另一條鄉村，雖然他們的暑期道理班早已結束，但小孩仍是一大堆。小孩在等大人在教堂裡面唸經祈禱。（在教堂中喃喃唸經祈禱是香港的天主教會見不到的：每天早晚兩次村民都到聖堂內誦經唸早晚課，男女分開左右坐，一大堆經文都朗朗上口背誦，不用神父主持，教友們自己帶領。）我不會唸那些經，在堂外閒著；面對一大堆小孩，我有了經驗，我不用開口說淡而無味的漢語，只要拿出iPad，就吸引了小孩，頓時笑聲此起彼落。

一位駝背大嬸從堂裡出來，看到底是誰用一塊發光的魔術板逗她的一群小孩那麼開心，原來這幾位都是孤兒，得到這位善良愛心媽媽接納到家裡，給他們家庭溫暖。閒聊之間，明白到這位孔貞蘭女士，在這個山西晉中祁縣九汲村已經很出名的，三十多年來家裡義務收容了三十來個殘疾男女棄嬰。她自己的孩子，成長在這種愛的氛圍中，自然都選擇了繼續愛的使命，一個去做了神父，一個當了修女。

沒有生命的iPad，讓人與人之間的距離拉近，令我能夠把笑容及笑聲帶回都市生活，更使我接觸到感動的生命故事。生命觸動生命，從此開始。

都市心靈綠洲

Flash On Magazine #142

如何可以在鬧市中一洗心神的塵囂？除了閉目養神、用音樂把耳朵塞住、或走入健身室做瑜珈，可否想過，香港這個國際都會，都有一些心靈綠洲？

雖然我是天主教的修士，但要列舉香港的心靈綠洲，我立刻想起中環黃金地段的聖公會聖約翰座堂。一步入這些新哥德式建築，頓然有一種心神安然的感覺。儘管堂外花園道車水馬龍，裡面有古色古香的木長櫈，配以很亞洲味的藤製的靠背及座位。我仍是中環人時，喜在中午午休時入內稍作默想，或去聽座堂舉辦的午間音樂會，真的可以洗滌心靈。任何時間去St John’s，都不乏遊人在內看那描繪香港歷史的玻璃窗畫，或充滿寓意的地上階磚。座堂北面的空地，地面上畫了個像迷宮的「明陣」，不怕路人看的話，可以嘗試走走看。老實說，聖約翰有一種的welcoming是很難得，任何人要入內看看坐坐，都無需預約，這種歡迎walk-in，其實代表了上主的歡迎。

第二個我會列舉的心靈綠洲，是鑽石山的志蓮淨院及相連的南園蓮池。從地鐵站步出來，越過山門，就進入淨院的庭院。真的很愛那仿唐的全木建築，光是這樣木造的空間，就使人頓覺已經是一種境界。我去佛寺，當然不是參拜佛祖，而是去沾染那安寧的靈氣，與院外的荷里活廣場，截然是兩個不同的世界。雖然這個宗教與我的不一樣，但一樣注重精神文明，都能給予心靈慰藉。

第三個的心靈綠洲，我會選天主教的聖母無原罪主教座堂，同樣是逾百年的仿哥德式建築，雖然她躲在堅道明愛中心後面，沒有那樣讓人看到。不多人知道，在那屏風大廈後，是天主教在香港的總部，正如教會社會福利事業，成為了教會的公共面貌。步入教堂內，就被那悠長尖拱劵的迴廊、聖像、玻璃畫所營造的神聖氣氛所吸引。在教堂中心，在主祭台上，吊了一個手繪的十字架，上有耶穌受苦像，背面有一棵生命樹。在兩旁的小祭台，分別有聖心祭台、聖若瑟祭台、專為紀念列任主教、及敬禮中國殉道聖人的小祭台。值得一提的是，座堂的各玻璃窗，都是教會聖人，但有兩幅現代的玻璃窗，分別刻有中國及香港教會歷史人物。

其實心靈綠洲，不一定要是與信仰攸關，非宗教類的心靈綠洲，可能算起來，會比宗教場所更多。第一個想到的是香港藝術館，雖然它樸實的外表不怎樣代表到館內典藏的豐富。要得到心靈滋潤，不一定要與宗教相關的展品，光是看常設展，也可以領略到心靈的舒暢，因為每一位的藝術家，不論其信仰是什麼，都是心靈大師，因為在創作過程中，他們都在發揮心靈寶貝。所以藝術館的大門，都邀請人進入心靈的空間。

聖保祿堂候洗者退省2012年

聖保祿堂候洗者退省2012年

I don't see what you see?

LISTEN

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?"
"No I don't," said the little lamb.
"I don't see what you see.
"You're a wind who blows in the night
"And you don't have the power of sight.
"And you don't have the power of sight."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Maa-ahh-ahh-ahh!"
"Maa-ahh shepherd boy?"
Did you hear what I said
Maa -aa
Do I have to say it again?
Do I have to say it again?

Said the shepard boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?"
"I know a lot more," said the king.
"Because I went to college.
"I am smart and you're a silly fool,
"Who didn't finish high school."

"Who didn't finish high school."

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
"I don't want to hear this song again!
"Won't you please stop singing?
"This song is dumb. It shall not be sung!
"If you do, you ought to be hung!
"If you do, you ought to be hung!"

CLOSING OF THIS BLOG

I don't think anyone is reading this. So I might as well close this blog once and for all and rely on FACEBOOK to share my thoughts.

http://www.facebook.com/brotherwilliam

God bless!

Feast of Corpus Christi

Normally on a Sunday I would "say a dry-mass" at this priest-less mission in Sqi, a tiny cluster of dwellings of the Atayal people. But today being the Feast of Corpus Christi, it is the patron feast for the mission in Fuxing, and the parishioner from Sqi would go. So I was going to have a Sunday off. But our Provincial Minister is in Assisi for the General Chapter at this very moment, and he was supposed to show up at graduation of one of our high school too. Since he is no St Anthony so bilocation is out of the question. The Vicar Provincial asked if I would be interested. I was not interested at all. But at the end I changed my mind and decided to go because no one else could show up on his behalf. As part of the communiyt that runs Franciscan schools, I think I should share some of the responsibilities.
The graduation ceremony was very - homely? More like a Christmas Talent Gala with awards and prize giving in between, rather than graduation ceremony with entertainment in between.
Out of pure naivety, I actually prepared an A4 full page speech. I was told to be expected to say something. I remember when I was a teacher at SJSS, how graduation ceremony was done so I prepared my speech - till midnight.
I left the friary to go to the venue (not at the school) early in the morning. After getting off from the Highway, it has taken me 20 minutes to drive around the block to find the venue. I thought I would arrive in good time to be prepared. Well, at the end, as the representative of the Chairman of the School Management Board, I gave some prizes. I gave a very short version of my talk -since there was no podium and really by that time, I realized it was not appropriate for me to be preachy. The Vicar General of the Archdiocese came - on behalf of the Archbishop. He gave a little sharing and that was enough preaching for the day.
My reflection: why on earth would a Catholic School schedule graduation on Sunday morning?
I had to go to mass last night so I could go to this Speech Day this morning. I wonder if the Catholic principal or the teachers would do the same.
Some of the guests wore suit and tie. But not the teachers. The teacher who led singing the national anthem was wearing a polo and black slacks. Yes, smart casual but inappropriate according to my books.
When I was asked if I might leave early, I said surely. But it took me another 10 minutes to find my way back to the interchange.
On coming back, I had to take Raphael to the HSR station. I was tired and hungry and after more driving, I quickly devoured the dumplings for lunch and took a nap. At 3, I took Lorenzo and Francis Mary to a retreat house where they would be doing a week long guided retreat.
I dropped in to see our friars in Taishan - got my habit mended by an aspirant who was gifted in using the sewing machine.
After vespers, at dinner, I was introduced to Debbie Wang, an American who has this great heart wanting to do evangelization work for the Chinese in the Diaspora. Wow - a lay woman missionary! She even wanted to start a school to train other missionaries to do the same thing!
So after supper, I had a long talk with her and was just amazed by her zeal. God surely has a way to save His people. Debbie could speak wonderful Mandarin and her ministry is called Queen of China Ministries.
When I came back, there were so many cars that I couldn't get back to the exit lane and I missed my exit. So an extra 10 minutes on the highway. No wonder I am tired today....

A song in Indonesian (Bahasa)

I am sure you all know this song...

Reff :Semua bunga ikut bernyanyi
Gembira hatiku
Segala rumput pun riang tia
Tuhan sumber gembiraku

Semua jalan di dunia menuntunmu ke surga
Desiran angin nan mesra mengayunmu ke surga—Reff
Semua lorong di bumi haruslah kau jalani
Bersama dengan sesama menuju pada Bapa—Reff
Semua pematang swah menanti telapakmu
Derita ria bersama meringankan langkahmu—Reff
Semua roda hidupmu mendambakan imanmu
Di perjamuan abadi Bapa sudah menanti—Reff

That's "All Flowers will Sing" - almost all Catholics in Hong Kong know this song in Chinese.

I believe originally it is in Spanish.

This Indonesian version comes from our Indonesian friars whom I met in India during our recent seminar. Funny how translated songs (not matter how well / badly translated) can be a means for trans-language communion. The other related experience was when I met an Italian friar who sang Do-Re-Mi (from Sound of Music) in Italian. Since then I have come across this song in Japanese and Mandarin too!

Do-Re-Mi in Mandarin-Chinese (sung to me by a Taiwanese friar)

多唱歌兒快樂多
淚就不要掉眼淚
蜜你真是太甜蜜
法我有個好辦法
嗦你不要太嚕嗦
啦把煩惱拋開啦
嘻我對你笑嘻嘻
一起唱歌快樂多

A Japanese sister told me that THEY had a Japanese version too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaeOgi2rGO8

Stone, paper, scissors - no one wins....

came across this at The Writer's Almanac of 22 April 2009
Wayman is a Canadian poet. The poem is on justice using a favourite childhood game as inspiration.

Paper, Scissors, Stone

by Tom Wayman

An executive's salary for working with paper
beats the wage in a metal shop operating shears
which beats what a gardener earns arranging stone.

But the pay for a surgeon's use of scissors
is larger than that of a heavy equipment driver removing stone
which in turn beats a secretary's cheque for handling paper.

And, a geologist's hours with stone
nets more than a teacher's with paper
and definitely beats someone's time in a garment factory with scissors.

In addition: to manufacture paper
you need stone to extract metal to fabricate scissors
to cut the product to size.
To make scissors you must have paper to write out the specs
and a whetstone to sharpen the new edges.
Creating gravel, you require the scissor-blades of the crusher
and lots of order forms and invoices at the office.

Thus I believe there is a connection
between things
and not at all like the hierarchy of winners
of a child's game.
When a man starts insisting
he should be paid more than me
because he's more important to the task at hand,
I keep seeing how the whole process collapses
if almost any one of us is missing.
When a woman claims she deserves more money
because she went to school longer,
I remember the taxes I paid to support her education.
Should she benefit twice?
Then there's the guy who demands extra
because he has so much seniority
and understands his work so well
he has ceased to care, does as little as possible,
or refuses to master the latest techniques
the new-hires are required to know.
Even if he's helpful and somehow still curious
after his many years—

Without a machine to precisely measure
how much sweat we each provide
or a contraption hooked up to electrodes in the brain
to record the amount we think,
my getting less than him
and more than her
makes no sense to me.
Surely whatever we do at the job
for our eight hours—as long as it contributes—
has to be worth the same.

And if anyone mentions
this is a nice idea but isn't possible,
consider what we have now:
everybody dissatisfied, continually grumbling and disputing.
No, I'm afraid it's the wage system that doesn't function
except it goes on
and will
until we set to work to stop it

with paper, with scissors, and with stone.

"Paper, Scissors, Stone" by Tom Wayman from The Face of Jack Munro.

Poem by Billy Collins

came across this from The Writers' Almanac for today. What a delightful poem that helps me to appreciate the arts. I will use it in the future....

Introduction to Poetry

by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Engineering Conversions (bad jokes...)

- 2000 pounds of Chinese soup: Won ton

- Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement: 1 bananosecond

- Weight an evangelist carries with God: 1 billigram

- Half of a large intestine: 1 semicolon

- 1000 aches: 1 megahurtz

- 453.6 graham crackers: 1 pound cake

- 1 million-million microphones: 1 megaphone

- 1 million bicycles: 2 megacycles

- 365.25 days: 1 unicycle

- 2000 mockingbirds: 2 kilomockingbirds

- 10 cards: 1 decacards

- 1 millionth of a fish: 1 microfiche

- 10 rations: 1 decoration

- 2 monograms: 1 diagram

- 8 nickels: 2 paradigms

- 2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital: 1 I.V. League

- 100 Members of Parliament / Senators: Not 1 decision

Missionary one day...

It's almost 10 years since this was written. It's taken from our OFM worldwide newsletter, FRATERNITAS No. 45 - 07.1999. I still remember how I was astounded by the call. Since then, I have been thinking about missions. And I am still. Perhaps I should start seeing myself in Taiwan as a missionary?

"No one can stop the work of the Spirit"

Br. Giacomo Bini, speaking to the Provincial Ministers of Europe


In our franciscan vocation the Lord uses the most diverse circumstances and events to call us to Himself. Our journey takes place in a particular house, in a particular Province.

But the Lord has called us for the sake of his Kingdom, not for the sake of our Province.

Thus it was for the disciples in the days after Pentecost. Thus it was for Francis when he understood the nature of his vocation, after hearing the Word of God. Thus, too, for the first friars, still few in number; their "option for the lepers" took on a universal dimension of evangelization. They would go out to all the lepers of the world, not waiting until the lepers of Assisi were attended to first, the lepers of "one's own Province." We are not called to tend our own "closed garden" first, and only then to care for what is "outside!"

A local or provincial fraternity that is weighed down with too many things to do "at home," with too many personal projects - however good in themselves - loses out on its own vocation, which is to participate in the mission of Jesus: "Receive the Holy Spirit ... go out into the whole world!"

Many of our vocations are born from missionary experiences and missionary aspirations. Today, too, many young people carry in their hearts this desire/expectation which is failing to find expression. There are many friars, too, willing to take up again the itinerant path of evangelization.

The Order has initiated international missionary projects which are dying through lack of friars. In some areas of the world, of course, for various reasons, the Order's presence is declining. But does this allow us to betray our missionary evangelization? Are not the poor, perhaps, the most generous? Can a Minister Provincial, in the name of the needs of his Province, justifiably block a missionary call? Our Rule is clear: no one can impede the work of the Spirit!

Gurhkas, UK and HK

In Britain, the High Court is to begin hearing a test case brought by veteran Gurkhas from Nepal who've been refused permission to live in Britain. All foreign soldiers who've served Britain for at least four years are entitled to settle in the country, except Gurkhas who retired before 1997. They have to apply individually, and at least 1,000 have been refused - many on the grounds that their ties to Britain weren't strong enough.

Just makes me angry to hear the above news. It's so true that the British are so racist. Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders (and South Africans) too used to enjoy privileges that others in the Empire did not. These Gurhkas and also the presence of the large Indian / Pakistani community in Hong Kong were due to the fact that Hong Kong was part of the Empire. As HK returned to China, it was understandable if Gurkhas, Indians and the Pakistanis did not want to be part of this "new" country.

The UK should not forsake the Hong Kong - Chinese but even if they choose to forsake the HK- Chinese, they should respect these from the Sub-continent who came to HK just because of the British, not because of the Chinese. On the other hand, HK authority to welcome them to stay, if they choose to. China has always been multi-ethnic, as they claim. So why not having Indians, Pakistanis and Nepalese as official minority nationalities in China?

2008-08-22/23 楊梅天主堂的藝術靈修

楊梅天主堂的藝術靈修：成年人及年青人一起，為我是首次！

Shichien - a jolly good landscape architect

Could anyone believe that it has been TWENTY years, TWO DECADES since I started my post-grad studies at U of Edinburgh???
I was aspiring to be a landscape architect... a bit disillusioned with becoming a town planner, wanting to do more designing...
There I met Shichien Huang, a fellow student from Taiwan, Architecture graduate from 成功大學 - 2o years ago. At the top floor of Minto House, 20 Chambers Street, Department of Architecture, EH1 1JZ.... (I still remember the PostCode...!)

After working in Taichung for some years, she continued her career in the other China (Mainland), got married to a lucky man in Beijing and started a family there.

She came back to TW to visit her family (and really for the 20th anniversary of graduating from Cheng Kung University) and we met up one day to visit a wooden sculpture museum in Sanyi, County Miaoli.

She has now an adorable son, 7 years old.

I still remember one time, when she was mentioned by Dr Byrom (the director for the Landscape Architecture Programme at U of Edin) in her absence to a guest lecturer, the comment was: "Shichien [pronounced in a French way with the CH sounding like SH-- what a beautiful name - she must be jolly interesting person." Indeed, Shichien is jolly interesting and has been a jolly good friend all these years.