For Immediate Release: February 15, 2024
Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop of Brooklyn, led a bi-lingual Mass (English and Chinese) Sunday, February 11, 2024, in honor of the Lunar New Year at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, in Flushing, Queens. This is the Year of the Dragon and symbolizes strength, power, good fortune, and success.
At the conclusion of the Mass, an Ancestors Veneration Ritual ceremony took place. It is a New Year’s tradition in which Chinese people give thanks to God and their ancestors. The rituals include nine bows to God, the offering of fruits, flowers and incense, and the exchange of New Year greetings among the faithful.
The celebration of the Lunar New Year featured cultural singing, dancing, and a special martial arts performance.
“We would be lost if we didn’t have you and we didn’t have all the gifts and the richness of the Chinese culture that you bring,” preached Bishop Brennan.
Father Vincentius Do is the Pastor of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and serves as head of the Chinese Apostolate for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
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