金門媽祖朝聖團直航湄洲宗教交流（下）

在結束祭典後，金門代表團立刻包船前往莆田，莆田市委會於晚間特別舉辦迎賓會，讓金門與莆田各界相聚首，互動熱絡，大家都因為媽祖的共同信仰拉近彼此距離，也相約往後要多往來交流，讓彼此情誼長長久久。
Immediately following the conclusion of the sacrificial(6) ceremony, the delegation from Kinmen boarded a chartered boat to Putien. In the evening Putien City Committee held a reception(7) for Kinmen and Putien representatives. The interaction was enthusiastic.(8) Their shared faith in Matsu brought the guests and hosts closer than ever. All agreed to have more frequent interchanges to keep the friendship strong and long-lasting.

十二日上午，在縣長李炷烽與議長謝宜璋護請下，來自金門七家宮廟計九尊媽祖金身至泉州天后宮作客，兩岸的媽祖金身同聚一堂，共同接受兩岸信眾的虔誠朝拜。為了歡迎金門代表團一行，泉州天后宮媽祖廟特別準備大陣仗的鑼鼓隊熱鬧相迎，並舉行媽祖金身安座儀式；為了感謝媽祖對金門的庇佑，縣府與議會及十家金門媽祖宮廟各準備一份爐敬金，向媽祖娘娘表達敬意。
In the morning of the 12th, Kinmen County Magistrate Li Zhu Feng and Kinmen County Council Chairman Xie Yi Zhang escorted(9) the nine Matsu statues from seven Kinmen temples to Quanzhou Tienhou Temple. The Matsu statues from both sides of Taiwan Strait were seated together to receive the offering and worship of believers from both sides of Taiwan Strait. To welcome the delegates from Kinmen, the Matsu Shrine of Tienhou Temple presented its magnificent gong(10) and drum team and held a seating ceremony for the Matsu statues. In appreciation of Matsu's protection of Kinmen, the county government and council and the ten Matsu temples from Kinmen each prepared a cash offering to Matsu.

金門縣湄洲媽祖祖廟朝聖團十二日圓滿完成任務後，於當日下午順利返航。縣長李炷烽表示，此行是感恩之旅，感謝媽祖娘娘對金門地區的眷顧，讓現在的金門人都很幸福；議長謝宜璋提到，此行已成功將金門媽祖文化與湄洲媽祖文化作最緊密的結合。
Following the accomplishment of all its objectives on the 12th, the Meizhou Matsu Pilgrimage Mission returned to Kinmen in the afternoon. It was a journey of thanksgiving, says Kinmen County Magistrate Li Zhu Feng, a journey to thank Matsu for safeguarding(11) people living in Kinmen and giving them many blessings. Kinmen County Council Chairman Xie Yi Zhang indicates the mission successfully knitted together Kinmen and Meizhou's Matsu cultures.


■6. sacrificial-(adj.)獻祭的。
■7. reception-(n)接待會、歡迎會。
■8. enthusiastic-(adj.)熱情、熱烈、熱心的。
■9. escort-(vt.)陪同、護送；為～護航。
■10. gong-(n)鑼、銅鑼。gong and drum就是鑼與鼓。
■11. safeguard-(vt.)保護、防衛。
資料來源：金門縣政府