MANILA, Philippines — For many in the Filipino-Chinese community, the Lunar New Year is a vibrant collision of tradition and faith. For Fr. Henry Min, a Chinese Catholic priest at the Binondo Chinese Parish Church, the celebration is a careful balance of honoring cultural roots while staying true to Catholic doctrine.
In an interview published on February 17, 2026, Fr. Min shared how the Church incorporates Chinese customs into religious life, transforming traditional rituals into expressions of Christian faith.
Ancestor Veneration vs. Superstition
A central element of the Lunar New Year is honoring one’s lineage. Fr. Min explained that the Catholic Church distinguishes between cultural respect and religious superstition:
- Ancestral Veneration: Following a 1939 decree, Catholics are permitted to honor their ancestors through bowing, or offering flowers and fruit. Fr. Min notes that in his parish, they offer prayers for the souls of the deceased rather than practicing traditional rituals involving incense or joss paper.
- Rejecting “Ghost Money”: The Church does not recognize the burning of joss paper (ghost money), as Catholic theology believes souls reside in heaven, hell, or purgatory, rather than a place requiring material currency for the afterlife.
- Flowers over Incense: The parish encourages parishioners to offer flowers and prayers, focusing on the lives lived by their ancestors and wishing for their eternal peace.
Boundaries with Feng Shui and Luck
While the wider community often turns to Feng Shui and horoscopes during the Year of the Fire Horse, Fr. Min emphasizes that the Church sets clear boundaries:
- Divine Providence: Chinese Catholics are taught to rely on God’s providence rather than “lucky” days or the alignment of objects. “We cannot depend on the days… providence does not depend on the day,” Min stressed.
- Masses of Protection: Instead of traditional luck rituals, the Binondo Parish held a special Mass officiated by Cardinal Jose Advincula on February 14 to ask for God’s grace and protection for the coming year.
Community and Identity
Despite the religious boundaries, the cultural celebration remains robust within the parish. This year, the Binondo Parish Church prepared red envelopes (ang pao) for parishioners and hosted community meals provided by various organizations.
For Fr. Min, the celebration serves as a vital touchstone for Filipino-Chinese identity. “Filipino-Chinese people view the Chinese New Year as culture and tradition and also to show their identity… even after many generations,” he said. By placing God at the center of the festivities, the community is able to celebrate its heritage without compromising its devout Catholic faith.