Happy Chinese New Year!
Happy Chinese New Year 2020! Since its inception 4,000 years ago, the Chinese Lunar calendar has a 60-year cycle which consists of five 12-year segments. The year 2020 repeats another 12-year segment with the year of the rat. And with the beginning of each New Year, there comes a great sense of joy and hope for what the New Year brings. At the Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission, our Chinese New Year celebration begins with Holy Mass at 10:30am on January 26th. This Eucharistic celebration gives our community the means of offering worship to God, in thanksgiving for all the blessings we have received in the past year.
After Mass has concluded, Chinese parishioners may participate in a solemn tribute to venerate ancestors. In Chinese culture, it is very important to respect our elders, both living and deceased. This special ceremony demonstrates how Chinese people pay their respect to their elders. As Chinese Catholics, we acknowledge that our families are a gift from God. Therefore, the respect which we give to our parents, grandparents and ancestors are ultimately directed to God our Father in heaven.
Chinese New Year celebration is never complete without the traditional giving of hong pao or “red envelopes”. Just as parents give their children hong pao in the New Year, Fr. Bill gives each parishioner a hong pao as a sign that we are but one family in Christ. Finally, food is served in the social hall just in time for lunch! Chinese New Year calls for a special menu, and for this special occasion, members of the Parish Council have prepared a hot-pot meal. What a wonderful way to share fellowship with the whole community!
Bishop Joel Konzen, who is currently the Administrator of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, recently signed a resolution creating a “Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign” to increase awareness and participation of Atlanta parishes in the 2020 Census. The U.S. Constitution requires a complete count of the nation’s population every 10 years. Census data impacts decisions at the national, state and local levels — from congressional representation to the annual allocation of more than $675 billion. These resources are essential to the well-being of all of our neighbors, supporting schools, hospitals, emergency services, etc.
Parishes that participate in the “Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign” educate their parishioners about the 2020 Census and encourage households to fill out their census forms. They help make sure that everyone living in the United States is counted once, and only once, and in the right place, including reaching hard-to-count members in the community. Parishes in communities that have historically been under-counted have the opportunity to help ensure that much needed and deserved federal funds reach them. The Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission will be participating in the “Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign”.
Contribution statements for 2019 will be available next Sunday for pick-up.
Thank you for your generous contributions to our church.
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