作者 Isabel Chou 周棣薇
2003 is a big year. It is the 20th Anniversary of SJCCC, the 10th Anniversary of Watermark Youth Group and the 5th Anniversary of Fr. Ed Malatesta’s passing.
When I first came to SJCCC with my parents and sister, the community was still called OCCA. There was no formal CCD program yet, and Sunday School consisted of da ban (“big class”), zhong ban (“middle class”), and xiao ban (“little class”). I remember some of us used to play on the steps in front of the church and had weekly receptions in the St. Clare’s School building across the street from the Rectory. My childhood memories consisted of family camping trips, playing tag, basketball, volleyball, S.O.S. (Save Ourselves Club), high school camping trips and then Watermark. Many of these same friends are some of my best friends still today.
I remember the first time we ever met as a youth group. Back then, we were not called Watermark, and most of us had known each other since early childhood. I was one of the youngest members of the group, having just started my first year in high school. Our first gatherings were at Gene and Jon’s house – and none of us really knew the immensity of what we were doing. All that mattered to us was that our friends were there, we didn’t have any “adults” leading the activities, and it was going to be fun!
A few months later, Hank and Gene came up with a name for our group: Watermark. I remember many of us making fun of the name – but nobody else could come up with anything better, so the name stuck. It wasn’t until later that we saw the significance of “Watermark.” Two important elements in the bible and Catholicism: water and the gospel of Mark. And the idea that Watermark was to leave an impression for others to see.
This year also marks the 5th anniversary of Fr. Edward Malatesta’s passing. While I have come to know quite a few Catholic priests throughout my life, I felt closest to Fr. Ed. Despite his busy schedule, he made it a point to lead retreats for us every year – and when I studied at Berkeley, he would invite some of us to the Ricci Institute to show us his work in China. I think he had hoped that some of us would see the significance of this work and someday continue his efforts. And some of us still remember it.
In celebrating and remembering these milestones this year, I hope that the inspiration of Fr. Ed’s legacy, along with the spiritual environment provided by SJCCC and Watermark, will continue to lead young Chinese-American Catholics to try hard to live solid Christian lives. I know how fortunate and blessed I have been for growing up in a loving community and among great mentors. And I can only pray that current and future members of Watermark will be able to look back and feel similarly blessed.
發表於二零零三年十一月 聖荷西華人教會成立廿年紀念專輯 第一九一期, 回到本期目錄
