The members of the international Catholic community at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Wuhan, China, after processing out of the church, gathered in the church courtyard waiting in anticipation for the concluding ritual of their Pentecost Sunday Mass.
The international Catholic community, with its members from many different cultures, and speaking numerous languages, from six continents of the world, mirrors the community that gathered on the first Pentecost over 2000 years ago. Catholics from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Brazil, the United States, Germany, Ireland, Australia, India, Korea, China and many more countries across the globe make up the international Catholic community. The large majority of the community are post-graduate students from Africa, studying at the various universities scattered across the city of Wuhan, a city of over ten million people located on the north and south banks of the Yangzi River in central China.
Pentecost Sunday is no ordinary celebration for this international Catholic community. The day begins with Columban Fr. Dan Troy making his way to one of the local markets to purchase a number of doves. Fr. Dan, having lived and worked in China for almost 25 years, is very familiar with the setup of the local markets. The man who sells the doves is expecting Fr. Dan’s arrival for it has become practice in recent years for Fr. Dan to pay him a visit on Pentecost Sunday.
This year, the seller is reluctant to receive any payment for the doves because he knows the purpose for the purchase - it is not for preparing a Chinese delicacy to be served at Sunday dinner. However, Fr. Dan, as in previous years, makes the necessary monetary transaction for the doves.
The leaders of the international community have decorated the altar beautifully to mark the special Solemnity. The finely crafted wooden cage, shelter for the doves during the Mass, has a prominent position on the sanctuary for all to see. There is plenty of space in the wooden cage for the doves to mingle with each other — surprisingly in total silence.
The anticipated release of the doves finally arrives as the community gathers around the wooden cage, which has been carried in procession from the Church to the courtyard.
The anticipated release of the doves finally arrives as the community gathers around the wooden cage which has been carried in procession from the Church to the courtyard.
Fr. Dan and local assistant parish priest Fr. Jose, both with nimble hands and plenty of skill, take the doves out of their temporary abode handing them to young and old. Four-year-old Harena from Madagascar, with the helpful hand of her father Hadja, receives a dove, while mum, Hobi, stands close by to video it all on her mobile phone. Ninety-one-year-old Dr. Theresa, a local Chinese Catholic and great-grandmother, who often stays behind after the earlier Chinese Mass to join the international community for their English or French Mass, has handled doves before. She is very confident as she receives her dove in hand with a huge smile. The youngest of the altar servers, seven-year-old Mattias from Brazil, comes next - he too looks quietly confident as he reaches out to receive his dove in hand. Others in the community are excited to be handed a dove as well.
After prayers are read by Fr. Jose, the heightened anticipation in the air helps to lift voices in a short song of praise. Then in unison the shouting of “one, two, three” signals the loosening of clasped hands and, everyone’s delight, with a huge roar and sound of clapping all the doves fly safely and effortlessly into the clear blue sky as the choir, in full voice, lead the community in the closing song for our Pentecost Sunday Mass.
The doves will find their way back to their owners at the local market. Their joining us for the Solemnity, symbolizing for all gathered the Holy Spirit’s gifts of freedom, peace, and hope for each of us, for the community gathered, for family and friends, and the whole world, marked once again a very special Pentecost Sunday filled with much joy and excitement.
Columban Fr. Kevin O’Neill lives and works in Australia.