By Peter Tan
SRI AMAN — On 28 September 2024, the Chinese Community of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (OLQOP) gathered at the Catholic Centre to celebrate the Mooncake Festival. The event brought together parishioners of all ages for an evening filled with joy, food, and lanterns.
Special guests for the celebration included Fr Joseph Chai, Sr Genevieve SSFS and Sr Hilda SSFS, whose presence added a special touch to the event. The evening began with a buffet-style dinner, where each family brought their home-cooked dishes. The tables were filled with various delicious foods, including traditional mooncakes, noodles, dumplings, and other local specialties, showcasing a diversity of flavours.
After the dinner, everyone participated in a beloved Chinese tradition: the lantern walks around the Church grounds. Both children and adults carried beautifully crafted lanterns, whose soft light illuminated the night. The lantern procession symbolised unity, hope, and the guiding light of Christ for the whole parish.
As the procession made its way around the Church, laughter and conversations filled the air, creating an atmosphere of shared joy and peace. The lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, reminding everyone of the warmth of family and faith.
This event celebrated Chinese tradition and a moment of cultural integration within the parish, highlighting the richness of heritage and the spiritual joy of the Catholic faith. Fr Joseph Chai shared a few words, noting that the light of the lanterns symbolises the light of Christ in our lives, and emphasised the importance of letting our faith shine brightly within and beyond the parish community.
It was a memorable and blessed night, filled with smiles, love, and a spirit of unity. Many attendees expressed their gratitude for such a meaningful celebration, and there was a shared hope that this tradition would continue in the coming years, further strengthening the bonds within the Our Lady Queen of Peace parish family.
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