By: Sr. Ma. Fidelis Ong PDDM
Sr. Fidelis Ong, a missionary in Taipei, Taiwan, was born in town of Abuyog, Leyte in 1947. She’s the eldest and the only daughter of the eight children of the Cresencio Palaña Ong and Rufina Modesto Realino, both from Abuyog. She enrolled at St. Michael’s College, Iligan City, which was run by the Columban Fathers at that time. Then later on it was given to the care of the religious of the Blessed Virgin Mary (RVM) sisters. Fr. Frances Carey, SSC, became the Dean of College. She completed her studies in 1969.
She says: “Seems to me that my attraction to religious life originally was to be a ‘priest’. That is why maybe I was called to this vocation with a Priestly zeal, the Pious Disciple of the Divine Master.”
Knock Knock
Every Easter and Christmas, this parish is always graced with new members. There is always a group of adult baptisms and entrants to the catechumenate. Before baptism there is a long preparation which is called the catechumenate. The drama is that, the candidates are asked to stay outside the closed door of the church. When the mass starts, they knock at the door, the celebrant priest entering by the sanctuary from the sacristy hears the knocking, walks toward the main door of the church while the entrance hymn continues. Then he opens the door from the inside and asks: “What do you want?” The catechumens respond: “We want to know Christ and learn from Him!!!” Then the celebrant priest would say: “Come in and welcome, God bless you.” And the candidates follow the celebrant priest marching together with their sponsors and catechists going toward the front seats. Then the celebrant starts the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Leave after Gospel
After the reading of the holy Gospel, before the homily, one of the catechists stands to call each candidate by their names (still the pagan names) to go in the front of the altar for a blessing. They stand before the priest and make their solemn promises. The priest blesses them and hands them a certificate for entrance to the catechumenate. Then led by their catechist, they go out from the church for their catechism. They do this every Sunday morning at the nine o’clock Mass. They only join the beginning of the Eucharistic Celebration, until the reading of the Gospel, then they leave. Because they are not yet Christians.
Period of Trial
Most of them are very busy business and professional people. So they can come to church only on Sunday.
Therefore the catechists have to adjust themselves, to see to it that they will not miss the Mass on Sunday. There are six masses anyway here every Sunday.
After the long period of laborious catechism, the catechist can recommend, but the priest has to ask the catechumens whether they are ready or not, or willing to receive the sacraments of Baptism.
The Big Day
Last Easter Vigil, April 1994, we were graced again with 13 adult baptisms. The oldest 75 years old and the youngest was 16 years old. The following day Easter Sunday there were another 3 adults and one infant baptism. It all indeed in great JUBILATION!
Trial
The rite of baptism here at our Lady of China Church id not like that in the southern area where tribes are still existing, They have indeed a special celebration of their own, using their own customs and own costumes.
Joy in the Heart
What is special for me here is that, they are “Chinese and adult.” They are grown up. I can see visibly from their countenance the feeling of joy, the feeling of belongingness as member of Christ Body, the feeling of joy having received new names, Joseph, Maria, Teresa, Paul, and Peter are the names they like most. They are also happy and proud at being dressed in white baptismal vestments and veils which we, PDDM sisters prepared. They are delighted too to receive big decorated-lighted candles and the Holy Bible and others items such as rosaries, crucifix and medals. And of course the simple and delightful snacks.
Renewed Sisters
I, myself and everyone experiences the feeling of joy, the joy of Easter , the joy of new life and as the new Christians make their baptismal vows to love God and to love their neighbor we, the faithful, renew our vows made long ago.
“The church asks for the long and careful preparations for the Baptism. We, in the Philippines must ask ourselves if the ignoring of this by us is one of the causes of so many problems on the Filipino Church.”