Sheng shen jiang lin jie (Pentecost)

Mass at the Nantou church was moved outside again to allow for the larger Pentecost crowd. An invitation had been extended to the foreign Catholics from Shekou, and several of them showed up (mostly Filipino), as well as some of the other usual foreigners (us and some other non-PRC Asians that come from time to time). Also, more people attended the morning Mass that usually go to the evening Mass. Thank goodness it didn't rain!

Mass readings were in both Chinese and English this week. Right before Mass , Father tracked me down to practice the Gospel in English. The Deacon was to proclaim it first in Chinese, and then Father would read it in English. He was nervous but did a fantastic job for someone who had never read in English in front of a crowd.

Our Mass was very much like everyone else's. "Come Holy Ghost" was our entrance hymn. The choir sang the Sequence, but to a tune I did not know. We also had a baptism, the younger son of one of our neighbors here in our garden.

I took this video of the Final Blessing and Dismissal. The Catholics out there will most definitely be able to figure out the final chant at the end.

Again, it was hard for me not to wonder at the Church speaking in different tongues to this day.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,they were all in one place together.And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,and it filled the entire house in which they were.Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,which parted and came to rest on each one of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.