Catholic Deaf Retreat
21-22 March 1999
The theme for the retreat was "death," a particularly sensitive subject for Chinese people here who are extremely superstitious and worried about ghosts and spirits.
Catholic Deaf Retreat21-22 March 1999 |
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| Every year the HK Catholic Pastoral Association of the Deaf has two retreats, one in Lent and one in Advent. This year's Lenten retreat was held at the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, a YMCA camp in the New Territories. 30 of our members participated. The theme for the retreat was "death," a particularly sensitive subject for Chinese people here who are extremely superstitious and worried about ghosts and spirits. |
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| There were three talks, each given by a team of two deaf people and Fr. Dittmeier. Talk #1 asked what is death? Talk #2 looked at what happens to us after we die, and Talk #3 discussed heaven and hell and eternal life. | |
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| The meals were generous at the camp, probably a good idea for a facility that is geared toward children and youth and a very active schedule. Breakfast is pictured here, a rather sparse and simple meal: a loaf of white bread, butter, one knife for eight people, a hard-boiled egg for each, and jook (leftover rice boiled into a soupy porridge). There was nothing to drink and no napkins at the table. There was a dispenser filled with water, still lukewarm after being boiled, and the custom is to fill your jook bowl with water if you want something to drink. | |
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| Wu Kwai Sha is a huge youth camp. Decades old family cottages are mixed with new multi-storey dorm buildings and a modern dining room and chapel. Situated right on the coast, there are also soccer fields, swimming pools, and indoor games halls. But for groups like ours going for retreat and reflection, it is also quite appropriate. We were housed in newer dorms and everyone liked the accommodations. | |