Faith and Tradition Unite: Binondo Chinese Parish Celebrates Chinese New Year

by Henry Go

Under the festive street decorations of historic Binondo, parishioners gathered at the 80-year-old Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish ( 647 Ongpin street, Binondo, Manila ), the mother parish of the Chinese-Filipino apostolate, to welcome the Chinese New Year with incense, prayer, and song. The parish remains a living bridge between faith and heritage, expressing Catholic devotion in a distinctly Filipino-Chinese tradition.

This year, Jose Cardinal Advincula presided as main celebrant, joined by fifteen concelebrating priests—a visible sign of ecclesial unity. The Eucharistic celebration reminded the faithful that the blessings sought at the beginning of a new year—peace, prosperity, harmony, and gratitude—find their deepest meaning in Christ.

True Prosperity and Righteous Living

In his homily, Cardinal Advincula emphasized that prosperity in its deepest sense is not measured by fortune alone but by fidelity to God’s commandments:

 “Keep the commandments, they will save you.” (Sirach 15:1)

“Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 119:1)

He expressed this beautifully in Filipino:

 “Sa madaling salita, mga kapatid, ang tunay, malalim at nagtatagal na swerte,

kaginhawaan, at kapayapaan ay matatagpuan sa pagsunod sa kalooban ng Diyos.”

God’s law, he explained, is rooted in divine wisdom. Though it may challenge worldly thinking, it leads to fullness of life:

 “Before man are life and death, good and evil; whichever he chooses shall be given him.”

Reflecting on the Gospel, he highlighted Christ’s call to move beyond external compliance toward interior conversion:

 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

Righteousness is not merely refraining from outward wrongdoing but purifying the heart — overcoming anger, rejecting impure thoughts, seeking reconciliation, and living with integrity. Obedience, he stressed, must spring from love rather than fear. Love does not settle for the minimum; it seeks the fullest expression of goodness.

He also underscored the communal dimension of Christian life. Our choices influence others. Reconciliation before offering at the altar and removing what leads to sin are sacrifices made not only for personal growth but for the good of the community.

Finally, he pointed to the hope that sustains Christian living:

 “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard… what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Such prosperity flows from obedience born of love, interior transformation, and trust in God’s promise.

Harmony with Chinese Values

The message resonated deeply within the Chinese-Filipino community. The call to walk in God’s commandments echoes 道 (Dao – The Way); the emphasis on interior sincerity reflects 诚 (Cheng); reconciliation and responsibility embody 和 (Harmony). Personal virtue strengthens families and uplifts society, mirroring the wisdom: “修身齐家治国平天下” — cultivate the self, regulate the family, bring peace to the world.

Ancestral Veneration and Fellowship

There is no contradiction between Catholic faith and ancestral veneration when rightly understood. The Church distinguishes between the worship due to God alone and the honor shown to ancestors. Scripture affirms both filial respect and prayer for the departed:

 “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12)

 “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead” (2 Maccabees 12:46)

In this special Chinese New Year celebration, the Mass concluded with an ancestral veneration rite, allowing parishioners to express gratitude and filial respect in a faith-filled manner. Incense—symbolizing prayers rising to God—accompanied offerings of fruit, flowers, and wine. Parishioners reverently received incense sticks in remembrance of their departed loved ones.

“Ang Pao” were distributed, followed by a simple agape meal, fostering fellowship and unity as the community began the new year together.

A Living Witness of Faith and Culture

In Binondo, faith and heritage walk together. This celebration affirmed that prosperity is found not in material wealth but in obedience to God, love for one another, and harmony within families and communities. As the parish begins another year of grace, may its faithful walk steadfastly in love — obedient to God, united in harmony, and confident in the hope He has prepared for those who love Him.

*This Holy Mass presided by Cardinal Jose Advincula was celebrated on February 14, 2026 while the Chinese New Year is on February 17, 2026.