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各位教友： 本週是將臨期的第一週，眾所皆知，將臨期是禮儀年之起點，代表教會新一年的開始。 如此重要的將臨期，卻常被忽略了，這段期間，我們往往熱衷於準備過聖誕節：聖誕彌撒、聖誕馬廄、聖誕樹、購物、包裹禮物……將臨期乍然與我們擦肩而過。 今年，我誠意邀請你默思將臨期的意義，將臨期來自拉丁語Adventus，意指：來臨，故此，這是期待及準備基督的來臨之意。將臨期分為兩個階段：本週至12月16日，以及12月17日至平安夜。將臨期的第一段時期，我們注目於基督的光榮再來，讀經皆與此有關；而將臨期的第二階段，我們則專注於基督在白冷的降生，讀經將與以色列及聖母有關。 我們於將臨期可回想自己的人生體驗，舉個例：我很早就為我今年返墨西哥渡假作慎密的準備，一切在我假期內的職務都盡量「真空」，大量「屯積」返鄉的小禮物〈購下很多世青手信〉，與我姊計劃與雙親往墨西哥東南部渡假的細節，這些籌劃皆帶來了甜蜜的回憶。其實，將臨期與人生一樣，並不只是籌劃，也包含回顧。用我仍沉緬於「遊興」的現況來說：我來年定必努力工作，好把牧養這堂區的經歷，下次返鄉渡假時帶回去哩！ 將臨期是這樣的美妙深邃，供我們回顧、感恩，天主給了我們祂的獨生子，讓我們足踏芳菲、滿懷期待，盼望基督的再來，以滿全祂所許下的諾言。 附上我與雙親在墨西哥東南部渡假的照片，與你共賞！ 主祐, 莫靖龍神父 (以上為莫神父書信之意譯, 書信內容以英文為準) 
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Dear Parishioners: We are finally in the first week of Advent, as you know Advent marks the beginning of the Liturgical Year, so according to the Church a new year has already began. I think advent is one of the liturgical years whose importance is highly neglected. We tend to be very busy with the Christmas preparations: Masses, Nativity Scenes, Christmas Trees, Christmas Shopping, wrapping and all that stuff that we just let the season of Advent to pass us by. I invite you to meditate more on this beautiful season of Advent, first of all the very name Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus that means coming so it should be a period of expectant waiting and preparation for the ‘coming’ of Christ. The time as you know is divided in two, from the first Sunday of Advent up to the 16th of December, and the second part of Advent runs from the 17th of December to Christmas Eve. In the first part of this season, we focus more on the second coming in glory of Christ; readings will be about the final coming of Christ. And the second part of the season we concentrate more on the first coming of Jesus at Bethlehem, readings will be about the preparation of Israel and Mary to this important first coming. In life we can relate to this season if we look at our own experiences of something important is about to happen. To give you an example and still in my holiday mood, I would say that this year I was preparing almost the whole year for my holidays in Mexico, I prepared carefully the calendar so I could free myself from some commitments in the Diocese and the Parish. I tried to buy some of my family members and friends a little something that would remind them of me and of course this land I work in. (I bought heaps of WYD stuff), I planned with my sister the beautiful road trip I took with my parents to the South East of Mexico (Cancun) and all this preparation paid off. Just as Advent, life is not just about looking back but also moving forward, so in the same holiday mood I can say I can’t wait to be back for my next holidays in Mexico and this motivates me to work harder so I can bring with me lots of stories about the little parish I minister to in Australia. Advent is this magical time, when we look back in History and give ourselves the chance to the thankful to God for the gift of his Son. It is also the time that with a thankful heart we look forward to see him in all his glory as he promised and have the faith and confidence that once he appears, all I hopes will be fulfilled. I leave you with a picture of me and my parents in this magical trip to the Southeast of Mexico! Peace in Jesus Fernando Montano
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