Feast of the Holy Family
We marked the Feast of the Holy Family just as we had five years ago, with a baptism. In fact, for my family this Feast Day is becoming something really special--my niece was baptized last year, and my sister Kate was married this same weekend last year, and today my cousin Rebecca is getting married. All these are such wonderful ways for us to celebrate the Holy Family.
Of course, the biggest difference this year for us is that Brigid's baptism was in China, not at my parents' home parish of St. Callistus.
My parents were the godparents
We brought an offering of altar flowers, as is the custom in this church, and we, as well as the other families of the newly baptised, brought up the gifts.
And in what I am jokingly referring to as my little Christmas miracle, the Whitening of the Gown. Brigid's christening gown I had made at a tailor shop in Shekou. When I picked out the fabric, I thought I was buying white silk. However, as I lamented on Faith and Family last week, when I got the gown home it looked more....off-white, or antique white. I was sure it looked white in the shop. For the last week and a half I've been divided about whether to use the gown at all, especially since the Catechism says “The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has “put on Christ.” That’s white, and not ivory, or off-white, or winter white, or any other variation, as far as I could tell. So I took it to the church anyway.....and from the pictures you can see it was white when we got there. I'm sure it has to do with lights, but for me it was a miraculous change in color.
I took pictures of the paperwork we had to fill out to register the baptism with the diocese of Beijing. Yes, Shenzhen should be in Guangzhou diocese, but the government put the city under Beijing to keep an eye on the "opening-up" experiments going on down here. Later, we can get the baptismal certificate, and this will help us find it.
And here's a shot of my Holy Family kids. Just 'cause.
Of course, the biggest difference this year for us is that Brigid's baptism was in China, not at my parents' home parish of St. Callistus.
My parents were the godparents
We brought an offering of altar flowers, as is the custom in this church, and we, as well as the other families of the newly baptised, brought up the gifts.
And in what I am jokingly referring to as my little Christmas miracle, the Whitening of the Gown. Brigid's christening gown I had made at a tailor shop in Shekou. When I picked out the fabric, I thought I was buying white silk. However, as I lamented on Faith and Family last week, when I got the gown home it looked more....off-white, or antique white. I was sure it looked white in the shop. For the last week and a half I've been divided about whether to use the gown at all, especially since the Catechism says “The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has “put on Christ.” That’s white, and not ivory, or off-white, or winter white, or any other variation, as far as I could tell. So I took it to the church anyway.....and from the pictures you can see it was white when we got there. I'm sure it has to do with lights, but for me it was a miraculous change in color.
I took pictures of the paperwork we had to fill out to register the baptism with the diocese of Beijing. Yes, Shenzhen should be in Guangzhou diocese, but the government put the city under Beijing to keep an eye on the "opening-up" experiments going on down here. Later, we can get the baptismal certificate, and this will help us find it.
And here's a shot of my Holy Family kids. Just 'cause.
Comments
What a terrific weekend. We celebrated a new marriage in NJ while you celebrated a new life in Christ in China! How blessed we are.
How about some comments on the looks/greetings/comments your parents got? Us's Ambroses are not vertically challenged, and don't miss too many meals. Also, any comments on Mom's first time in a plane?
and yes I want to know how your mom did on the plane!!!