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各位教友： 我回來了！ 回鄉的感覺真好，這次返回墨西哥家鄉渡假，不論是與親友團聚、樂享天倫；又或是出外短遊，遍嘗久違了的墨西哥美食；甚或只是閒在家中、休養生息，真乃一樂也！ 每次我返墨西哥，都深感家鄉的文化傳統，早已悄然深繫心底，在我幼小之時，就在耳濡目染下紮了根，當我驀然回首，倏覺它已在我成長的年月中，留下了深刻的印記。家鄉的一切：她的風俗、氣息及音韻，是那樣的獨一無二，教人夢繫千里。 你們都知道這是我來澳洲後首次返鄉，兩地的確是南轅北轍，存有很多獨特的差異，然而，細看之下卻又是那麼的相近：墨西哥人和澳洲人均熱愛生活、喜與友共聚、淺斟美酒。 其實，墨西哥人對澳洲所知不多，反之亦然，因此，每個見到我的鄉親，都熱心地一一詢問我有關澳洲的一切，他們甚至忘了問我曾否進入悉尼歌劇院參觀過，又或親眼見到一隻袋鼠。 作為傳道人，我的人生真的滿盈祝福，能稱家鄉以外的地方為「家」，實屬不易。信仰正是如此奇妙，它能打破歷史的枷鎖及地域的界限，令我頓悟：傳道正是要衝破這些地域及傳統的疆界，以傳揚基督的福音呵。 我們是基督徒，傳福音是我們的本份，能生活在兩個不同的種族及文化之中，應更能相濡以沫、和衷共濟，體察同為天主教友之外，個人的種種獨到之處，才能更全面地去宏觀世界。 返回澳洲， 我喜不自勝，我在墨西哥聖母像前，如諾為你們及你們的親友祈禱。展望未來，我們的堂區中心才剛剛落成，仍有不少工作有待努力呢! 最後，謝謝你們為歡迎我的歸來，送上豐盛的馨美意！ 主佑， 莫靖龍神父 (此乃莫神父致教友書信之意譯，書信內容以英文為準) |
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Dear Parishioners: I am back! I had the most amazing time back home. These have been one of the best holidays I have had in Mexico. It was a good time to rest, meet with family and friends, travel, try all the Mexican food available and of simply enjoying a good time back home. Every time I go back to Mexico it amazes me how culture is so embedded into our own way of being. We hardly take the time to stop and think how the things we grow up with have an influence for the rest of our lives. Being back to Mexico is about getting familiar again not only with the people but also with the smells, the sounds and the traditions of what we call ‘being Mexican’. As you know, this was my first visit to my country after I moved to Australia. The contrast between them made a big impression on me. However, looking closely, I realized that actually Mexico and Australia are not that different. Both of them are countries with people who enjoy life, enjoy friendships and also a good glass of wine (well in Mexico I prefer tequila). Australia is as unknown to Mexican as Mexico is to Australians. Everybody kept asking me how was Australia like or what is there in Australia to see and visit besides the Sydney Opera House? Not a few friends asked me if I have ever been to the Opera House or if I have ever seen a Kangaroo? In the eyes of faith, I think my life as a missionary has been a blessing. It is not easy to find a place you can call home and I just feel blessed that I can call home a place so different to my other home in Mexico. This is what faith is for, to break boundaries created by history and geography. I think experiences like this are the ones that shape the new understanding of a missionary not only as the person who crosses geographical boundaries but more importantly the person who crosses cultural boundaries to preach the Gospel of Christ in every possible environment regardless the concrete differences. We have heard many times that we are all missionaries, we have been sent by Jesus to cross those boundaries over and bring together a people for God. The chance to live in two different societies and cultures make us more sensible to discover what is what makes us “Mexicans” or “Aussies”. I will invite you to meditate on the things that make us Catholics and to re-discover how our faith has also helped us to shape the person we are today. Maybe we are too used to be Catholics that we forget that there are so many things that make us unique and different, things that help us to see the world in a different perspective. I am very happy to be back in Australia. As I promised I pray for all of you in front of the blessed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for your needs and the needs of your families and friends. I am looking forward to the future ahead; we have a lot of things to do, especially now that our Parish Centre has been finished. Thanks again for all your good wishes and your warm words of welcome. Peace in Jesus Fernando Montano MG |