Ulaanbaatar: 28 February 2012 --
Sr Mel David
FMA, inspired by the recent testimonies of long-standing
missionaries
in or from the Region, would like to add her own. She remarks
that as
the years are moving on and she is getting older, she would
like to
inspire (indeed the word she uses is 'recruit') others to
follow in her
footsteps. She is writing on what she calls 'Ash
Sunday'. Her
other remark runs like this:
"Here we are experiencing a change in weather from - 43 C to
-38 C.
That means spring is here already!", but this is an important
season
for Mongolia, and for Sr Mel herself, as she goes on to tell
us:
"I arrived in the missions six years ago and I continue to
enjoy,
love and understand the people better. The Lord provides
a lot of
colour combinations to make my missionary life always
exciting, alive,
fulfilling and meaningful.
This year has allowed me to celebrate four 'new years':
1. November 27 – The new liturgical year
2. January 1 – New Year , the Feast of the
Mother of
God
3. January 22 – The Lunar year welcoming the
year of
the dragon for China, Vietnam, Korea (SDBs in Mongolia come
from these countries, amongst others) and other Asian
countries.
4. February 22 –The White New Year or
Tsagaan
Sar.
Tsagaan Sar is the biggest national feast in Mongolia.
It is a
family festival celebrated on the first day of the Lunar new
year to
put some cheer into the endless winter months and marks the
beginning
of spring. This could be any date from late January to early
March
depending on the Lunar calendar. The celebration happens over
several
days, with feasting on the night of the new moon. Everyone
dresses in
their best clothes to visit family members. Throughout the
ages the
festival has been celebrated in the traditional way- family
ties are
renewed and in particular it is a time to honour the elderly.
As a sign
of respect the younger adults greet their elders in a certain
way, with
a special arm-hold embrace, which symbolises both support and
esteem.
The gesture is accompanied by the exchange of a ceremonial
pale blue or
white silk scarf. Gifts are usually given and received with
both hands.
Whole carcasses of a fat lamb are cooked in advance, and there
is lot
of food including steamed dumplings, fermented milk,vodka,
milk tea,
salads and sweets. Traditionally after long bouts of feasting
, the
Mongolians settle down to hours of story–telling and wisdom
sayings,
and in this way, oral histories have been passed on from one
generation
to the next.
The Apostolic Prefecture (led by Bishop Padilla) has decided
to
celebrate the Lenten ashes on the First Sunday in Lent, hence
here we
have 'Ash Sunday'! This gives people time to travel and visit
their
elders across this huge landlocked country.
Catholic members are few but they are making a difference in
the lives
of the poor, especially the young, since the majority of the
population
is young. Last October 2011 the President of Mongolia, Ts.
Elbegdorj,
visited the Holy Father, and he invited him to visit the land
of
Chinggis Khaan".
Sr Mel concludes by adding: "The wonders of mission life have
made me
more flexible, understanding, patient, open and sensitive to
the needs
of the people. It has enabled me to experience a
paradigm shift
in order to journey together with the people towards holiness
through
continuous self-giving. And the Lord has not forgotten
to provide
his grace so that I can remain joyful in the mission despite
everything.
