Tags
Bemdita Sejaes, Christ our Savior, Christmas Novena Mass, Love conquers all, Nativity of Jesus, Sacred Heart Church Georgetown/Guyana
Nativity Play, Sacred Heart RC Church, Georgetown, Guyana
Photo Credit: Facebook Photo Album Sacred Heart RC School in Georgetown
[This is a re-post of my Christmas message 2011, the year I started my blog.]
My parents were not church-goers. They never forced me and my four siblings, baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, to attend Sunday Mass. But they made sure we got a good Catholic education by sending us to schools run by the nuns.
As a result of my religious school education, the Christmas Season was much more than time for family get-togethers; Santa Claus; exchanging presents; Christmas trees and decorations; and our traditional Christmas dishes and black cake. Christmas Day was the celebration of the birth of Jesus – the Savior born to us.
The Christmas Novena was an essential part of preparing for the coming of our Savior. During nine days before Christmas Day (December 15-23), I had to get up at four o’clock in the morning to be sure to get a good seat at the five o’clock Novena Mass. A religious custom of the early Portuguese immigrants from Madeira, the Novena has become a part of Guyana’s Catholic tradition.
I recall walking through drizzle towards the rear entrance of our parish church. The raindrops, slanted by the wind, glistened in the light streaming from the large open doorway of the church. When I entered the church, the choir in the alcove overhead, was singing Bemdita Sejaes, the traditional Portuguese hymn to begin the Novena Mass. I did not know what the words of the hymn meant, but it filled my soul with joy.
Christmas Eve Night, at 11:00 p.m. before the Midnight Mass, was the time for the highlight of the Christmas Season: the live enactment of the Nativity of Jesus at Sacred Heart Church on Main Street. (The church, built and funded by the Portuguese immigrants in 1861, burned to the ground on 25 December 2004.)
The year of my first son’s birth, the parish priest at Sacred Heart Church invited me and my husband to play the roles of Mary and Joseph. Our two-month-old son played Baby Jesus. Lying in the manger, he slept through the entire performance. I was relieved. Even a young angel, as she cuddled him at the end of the pageant, did not succeed in waking him.
As recorded in the Gospel of Saint Luke, on the night that Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds guarding their sheep to tell them the good news. “Do not be afraid,” the angel told them. “Today…a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
Our planet is in dire need of a Savior. Christ our Savior empowers me to keep up the struggle in the face of injustice, adversity, and hopelessness… and to triumph.
Christ our Savior empowers us with love. Regardless of our religion or non-religion, love runs deep in the heart of each one of us. Let us manifest love. Love conquers all.
guyaneseonline said:
Reblogged this on Guyanese Online.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Cyril, may you be blessed for all the support you have given me throughout this year. You have been a savior to many of us in the Guyanese Online community ❤
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Pingback: A Savior is born to us – By Rosaliene Bacchus
Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for your continued support, GuyFrog. Blessings to you and your readers ❤
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Nadine Bahadur said:
Hi! I remember that year when we had a real baby for Jesus and Mary & Joseph was his parents. I was playing one of the Angels.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Great to hear from you Angel Nadine! We are connected across space time continuum. Blessings.
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Nadine Bahadur said:
Blessings to you too and Merry Christmas.
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drgeraldstein said:
Merry Christmas, Rosaliene. You and those like you keep the light alive against the darkness.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Dr. Stein, thanks for your kind words. Your enlightening posts contribute to keeping my candle light burning.
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Sha'Tara said:
Well written, Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Sha’Tara 🙂
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Robert A. Vella said:
Nice story.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Robert 🙂
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kethuprofumo said:
Amen! Merry Christmas, dear Rosaliene! 🙂
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derrickjknight said:
That was a memorable Nativity Play, Rosaliene
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Derrick. Some memories stay with us.
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hinduindianvoice said:
I wonder who are the “us” that this saviour Jesus was born to? It couldn’t be humanity, since this Jesus kid was allegedly born just over 2,000 years ago, and humanity by most estimates has been around for at least 200,000 years. That would mean Jesus took his good time to get here, and missed out on saving 99% of the life span of humanity. Now some people are saying humanity could be traced back to a million years!
What happened to the humans who lived and died before Jesus came around? It looks like they would have lost out on a chance to accept Jesus as their saviour and get a shot at heaven. Or can you get your sins forgiven and get into heaven without Jesus?
What I know is that as a Hindu I am not buying that spiel about a saviour born to me. I am not applying for a visa to the Christian heaven without my Hindu ancestors going back way way over 2,000 years!
Ram
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Ram, thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts. The use of the inclusive personal pronouns of “us” and “we” can be problematic whenever I share my personal experiences with other bloggers who hold different religious beliefs or are non-religious.
In a world divided by different gods and religious beliefs, among other things, I seek inclusion of all humankind. Your savior is my savior. My savior is your savior. And, as fellow blogger and Buddhist SmileCalm notes, we must be saviors to each other. We the People of Earth are desperately in need of “visas” to a better world for all. I hope that you my Hindu brother will join me in this quest.
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Denzil TheBookOwl said:
Merry Christmas Rosaliene. May you be greatly blessed in the year ahead.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Denzil. Blessings to you, too.
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smilecalm said:
thank you for this sweet reflection
of growing up with the true
reason for this season, Rosaliene!
wishing you a joyful holiday
with your loved ones!
yes, may we all feel supported
by our capacity to be saviors
towards ourselves & each other 🙂
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
David, thanks for sharing your vision as a non-Christian of the meaning this Christian festival can bring to each one of us, regardless of our religion or non-religion. As you express it so well: It’s up to each one of us to support one another “by our capacity to be saviors / towards ourselves & each other”.
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katharineotto said:
Rosaliene,
Thanks for the Christmas story. I suspect the “Christ consciousness” is alive and maybe even flourishing among those whose outer lives appear desperate.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for that observation, Katharine. With growing inequality here in the USA and worldwide, millions among us live desperate lives. With our latest GOP Tax Bill, millions more of Americans will join their ranks in the coming New Year. For Christians, this time of year could well be a revival of “Christ consciousness” in their lives.
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katharineotto said:
Rosaliene, At least we can hope so.
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Carol A. Hand said:
A powerful story about hope and shared humanity, Rosaliene, and eloquently-told. ❤
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Carol ❤
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mcaimbeul said:
Wonderful story Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Mike 🙂
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mcaimbeul said:
Indeed.
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reocochran said:
May your Christmas be a blessing and safe family travels. 🎄🕊💞
I am still getting over the fact my 60 year old close and loving brother had brain surgery on Thanksgiving! He is improving but it will be a slow process. . .
A fall in it getting out of bathtub is so dangerous, Rosaliene. Hugs, Robin
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Robin, I’m sorry to hear about your brother. His patience and commitment to the healing process will go a long way in his recovery. Some things cannot be rushed. I wish you and your loving brother joy in the miracles that each new day brings ❤
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reocochran said:
Thank you very much for this special message you gave my brother and for me, Rosaliene. I appreciate Time will be on his side, plus only 60 years old. . . I believe in miracles!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
I also believe in miracles, Robin!
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reocochran said:
Oh, this is fantastic. I’m happy when scientists and educated people believe in miracles. 🌈 🕊
Especially since simple, humble people usually have strong faith and believe in miracles.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Robin, I believe in miracles because I’ve experienced many over the years. Here’s an account of a miracle that I shared some years ago.
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reocochran said:
Thank you for sharing this link. I didn’t mean we didn’t have our own miracles in our lives. Hope I didn’t express myself in a doubtful way. Smiles, Robin 🌳🕊
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
You didn’t express yourself in a doubtful way, Robin.
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reocochran said:
Rosaliene, I could not comment on your 2014 post but I read about your predicament and how you were able to get the lease in your name only, how you went to ask to borrow and a pastor offered you money to help out. It isn’t ever humiliating to me to ask for help, especially when it feels so good to be the giver, as well as feeling the relief of the receiver. This was a wonderful example of how God sends us angels on Earth. They help us to get through tough times. Thank you very much!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for reading, Robin. My pride in asking for help made it humiliating. Being the receiver doesn’t come easy for me.
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JoAnn Chateau said:
Jesus shows us The Way to peace. May there be peace and goodwill throughout the Earth. Peace and joy this Christmas, Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, JoAnn. Peace and joy to you, too, and to all oppressed peoples everywhere.
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bruce thomas witzel said:
Hi Rosalienne. I read this earlier and in my hustle and bustle, I didn’t take time to comment. It did bringt back memories…. being brought up Roman Catholic as well, with Midnight Mass and the liturgies and the carols.
Sometimes at Christmas I miss this, though i don’t have plans to go back. As you close with the last two paragraphs, the essence here – “Christ our Savior empowers us with love. Regardless of our religion or non-religion, love runs deep in the heart of each one of us. Let us manifest love. Love conquers all.”
Wow – amen to this. Thanks, and best of the season to you and your loved ones, and to all. Good tidings and cheers, Bruce.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Bruce. It’s always good to hear from you. I also don’t have plans to go back. My relationship with the RC Church changed in Brazil. (A story for another time.) Good tidings to you, too, and your loved ones ❤
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thetruthaboutmentalhealth said:
I love this! Thank you for sharing. I was raised catholic, and even though I consider myself more of an eclectic spiritual person now I love revisiting these themes around Christmas time. After our family celebration I spent four hours listening to latin hymns like this.. just love the pristine voices had similar reflections to yourself (love the last 2 paragraphs of your post) … Also stopping by to let you know that I nominated your blog for a recognition award. You are invited to participate and continue to the chain but no obligation. I really like your blog and hope some new readers find you via the link in my latest post. Happy holidays and many blessings to you 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6R9gedqebA&list=PLDSMmB33bimx0jCj5cNY889GoH23VaPx6
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Glad you enjoyed my story. Thanks for the nomination for the Blogger Recognition Award 🙂
I wish you continued success with your blog in the New Year.
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K E Garland said:
What a nice story Rosaliene! I hope this Christmas was just as memorable.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Kathy.
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Dr Martina Feyzrakhmanova said:
Happy Christmas 🌲❤️
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks. I wish you all the best in the New Year ❤
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inesephoto said:
Thank you for this beautiful message. Wishing you a happy New Year! ❤
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Glad you appreciate it, Inese. I look forward to connecting with you in the New Year ❤
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inesephoto said:
❤
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rothpoetry said:
I loved reading your story. With every religion there are peripheral things that sometimes become dominate. But, the understanding of God’s love as demonstrated by Jesus embodies what we all should be seeking. You summed it up very well!
Dwight
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Dwight 🙂
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Laleh Chini said:
I’m so sorry that the church you grew in with burnt.😔
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
It’s since been rebuilt, Laleh, but from photos I’ve seen it’s not the same.
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Laleh Chini said:
I know, it’s like a broken heart 💔 you could still see the scars.
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rothpoetry said:
I love your story of Christmas in Guyana.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Dwight!
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