Hundreds of people rang in the last Lunar New Year with Mass and a carnival at Precious Blood Parish, complete with a lion dance, live performances, and plenty of traditional food.
Now, as the Year of the Rat makes way for the Year of the Ox in the middle of a pandemic, Father Paul Chu says the symbolism is powerful and somewhat providential.
“An ox symbolizes hard work – it ploughs the field in the sun and heat – faithfulness, and being strong,” he told The B.C. Catholic.
“So we pray that people may continue to be resilient, to persevere in the observation of the restrictions, and that people will be co-operative and help one another to get through.”
While the community can’t get together to celebrate, there are still opportunities to be festive, he said.
“Most people, they will observe the [COVID] regulations. They have to protect themselves. It’s something we don’t like, but we have to do it.”
Instead of attending carnivals, families will likely celebrate the new year by decorating their homes and eating out at restaurants in small family groups. To aid their celebrations, the head of the archdiocese’s Chinese ministry will host a virtual celebration and offer a special New Year’s Mass Feb. 12.
Father Chu will stream the Mass on his parish’s YouTube page. The virtual celebration will include New Year’s greetings from Archbishop J. Michael Miller, as well as short video messages from parishioners and members of the community.
At least “they can see each other virtually,” he said. “That’s creating community, a celebration, greeting one another and saying happy new year.”
Streamed Masses are also in the plans for Catholic Korean and Vietnamese communities. Father Tien Tran, pastor of St. Matthew’s Parish, will host a livestreamed Mass on New Year’s Day, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. and then on the second day of the new year, at 11 a.m.
“Traditionally, Vietnamese New Year is celebrated at least for the first three days. On New Year’s Day, a solemn Mass is celebrated to give thanks to God and pray for a good new year. The Mass on the second day is dedicated to pray for the parents and ancestors. And the Mass on the third day is to pray for good works through the year.”
After Mass, he plans to invite people to the church to receive Holy Communion (which is permitted under strict guidelines) and even a New Year’s gift of scripture verses and even lucky money for children. Like Father Chu, he also plans to compile a video recording of New Year’s messages, as well as songs for the Vietnamese community.
If the weather allows, he’s even considering an outdoor dragon dance.
“Even we cannot gather to celebrate Lunar New Year as a community like usual, no doubt, every Vietnamese family will certainly have some forms of festive celebrations at home.”
At St. Agnes Kim Parish, the Korean community is used to having traditional foods, Mass, and a large gathering in celebration of Lunar New Year, said parish secretary Agnes Rhim.
“Everybody misses it, but everybody understands we have to follow the regulations,” she said.
The Korean parish is about 500 families strong, but instead of getting together, they will also be watching Mass online. Rhim said the parish will stream Mass live Feb. 7 with a special prayer for deceased parents and other ancestors – a tradition in that community.
St. Andrew Kim Parish is also planning a livestreamed Mass, although the parish is waiting until the B.C. government announces whether it will extend the ban on worship services before finalizing its plans. That ban is currently in effect until Feb. 5.
Meanwhile, Father Chu hopes the festive carnival he hosted last year will make a comeback when the community celebrates Lunar New Year in 2022.
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