Promoting Communion with the Church in China June 2012 Issue 46 In this issue:

Page 1 - 2 Cardinal Tong Hon takes possession of titular Church.

Page 3 Day of prayer for China as thousand gather.

Page 4 - 5 Msgr. Savio Hon: episcopal Cardinal Tong takes possession of titular church ordinations with no papal mandate reveal Party’s ROME (SE): The bishop of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon, lack of ideals and internal officially took possession of his titular church of S. Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola (Mary Queen of the Apostles) in Rome, Italy, fighting. on February 18. It is located near the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Page 6 - 7 Matteo Ricci remembered The actual ceremony of the reading of the Rogito (deed of notaries) as a master mediator. of Taking Possession of the Church and the papal bull granting him title took place on April 20, at a concelebrated Mass in the church Page 8 hosted by the local parish priest. One of thousands of journeys to the baptismal Under a sunny sky, as the young people of the parish sang their font this Easter. welcome, the cardinal was greeted by the local parishioners at the main entrance of the church, above which his coat of arms has been Page 9 fixed. Solemn Commemoration - 450 years of Servant of The parish priest presented Cardinal Tong with a crucifix, which he God Paul Xu Guang Qi reverenced and, after blessing the gathering with holy water, the 20 concelebrants processed with the cardinal into the church. May 1 marked by strong Marian Devotion. They knelt briefly at the blessed sacrament altar, next to which a painting of Our Lady of Sheshan had been placed. Page 10 - 11 Vatican seeks to eliminate The Mass was celebrated in Latin. In his homily the cardinal shared the ambiguities surrounding with the people something of his life story and explained the four main Bishops in China. pastoral initiatives of the diocese of Hong Kong, spreading the faith, promoting vocations and providing pastoral care for non-Chinese Catholics in the diocese, as well as supporting the Church in China. Page 12 Prefect of Propaganda Fide While he spoke in English, Father Sergio Ticozzi, from the Pontifical reminds China that bishops Institute for Foreign Missions, gave a translation in Italian. are not political officials. Cardinal Tong then spoke of some of the pressing problems being experienced by the Church in China, mentioning the arbitrary arrests and detention of priests and bishops, as well as the difficulties created

Columban Mission Institute Centre for China • China Exchange Editor: Paul McGee 167 Albert Road Strathfield, NSW 2135 • Postal Address: Locked Bag 2002 Strathfield, NSW 2135 Phone: (02) 9352 8011 • Fax: (02) 9746 8033 • Email: [email protected] • www.columban.org.au 2 by the illicit ordinations of bishops that have taken place recently.

“The situation of the Church in China seems depressing,” he said, “especially if we consider that there are some illegitimate bishops running free, while at least a dozen faithful bishops and priests are still in prison,” as the government “continues to push towards creating an autonomous National Church… even by means of oppressive ways.”

However, he added that there is a source of optimism founded upon the strong courage displayed by many Catholics in defending their faith, adding that optimism is founded upon the courage the Lord is inspiring in many Catholics to defend their faith.

He said that he hopes that the new Chinese leadership that will be appointed later this year will be open to entering into a sincere dialogue with the Church and the Holy See.

“I hope there will be dialogue. No problem can be resolved except through a sincere dialogue, where a win-win situation can be achieved. We hope and pray for an improvement in dialogue with the new leadership,” Vatican Insider quoted him as saying.

He asked the people to pray for those who are suffering on the mainland so they may continue their journey with the risen Lord in communion and solidarity with the universal Church.

Precious Blood Sister Goretti Lau prayed for Cardinal Tong, as well as for reconciliation and unity in the Church in China, asking that it may remain in communion with the universal Church.

The deed of notaries was signed by Cardinal Tong and representatives of the parish, as well as members of religious congregations that are present in the area.

The cardinal presented the parish with a collection of paper cuttings put together by a priest in Shaanxi province in China, as well as a hand-made crucifix, crafted by a member of the diocese in of Hong Kong, together with a laisee (monetary gift).

The parish reciprocated with two figurines carved in wood of St. Peter and St. Paul.

The day concluded with a reception for Cardinal Tong and his guests.

Historically, cardinal priests were given a titular church in Rome as their parish and in 1059 the right to take part in the election of a pope was confined to the bishops of the seven local Church areas around the city, plus the cardinal priests in charge of these titular churches.

Soon after, the custom grew of appointing cardinals outside of Rome and the tradition of cardinals being in charge of the titular churches began to die out.

Today, a cardinal only has a patronal relationship with his titular church, but normally his name is inscribed somewhere and his coat of arms displayed. There are currently 143 such churches in or near Rome.

Hong Kong Sunday Examiner http://sundayex. catholic.org.hk May 2012 Published: Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church of Hong Kong 3 Day of Prayer for China as Thousands gather In the past, Our Lady of Sheshan shrine used to draw up to 200,000 pilgrims on the feast day, from all over Fr Thaddeus Ma Daqin, vicar general of the Diocese China. of Shanghai, and 40 priests celebrated Mass. A large number of plainclothes police monitored worshippers Since 2008, a year after the pope set aside that day as a from other dioceses during the pilgrimage month. In Day of Prayer for the Church in China, the government Hebei, an underground priest and seminarian are has not allowed pilgrims from any diocese, except that arrested. Mgr Paul Li Yi, bishop of Luan (Changzhi, of Shanghai, to visit the shrine in Sheshan. Shanxi) dies. For this reason, many dioceses mark the feast day Sheshan (AsiaNews) - Thousands of pilgrims from in shrines closer to hope with Masses, Eucharistic Shanghai and across the country have gathered to adorations and vigils. pray at the Our Lady of Sheshan Basilica today, 24 This year, the feast day saw a new church consecrated May, feast day of Mary Help of Christians, anniversary in Shanxi province. of the Day of Prayer for the Church in China set aside by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, a day that also marks Fr John, a priest from the open Church in Hebei the feast day of the national Marian shrine. province, told AsiaNews that he led a pilgrimage to Sheshan earlier this month. He found the security was Amid a drizzle, at half-past 8, Fr Thaddeus Ma Daqin, very tight, as many plainclothes police were monitoring vicar general of Shanghai, led the crowd of Catholics the pilgrimage site. in a procession from the Mid-hill Church, carrying the Statue of the Blessed Mother, up to the hilltop basilica. He said he prayed for the fervency of the faithful and unity in his diocese. Once at the hilltop church, Father Ma and almost 40 priests celebrated the Eucharist. Sheshan novices sang Similarly, several priests from various dioceses shared during the Mass. There were more than 3,000 faithful the same prayer intention. inside the basilica for the Mass. Some underground priests told AsiaNews that they In his homily, Father Ma explained the ‘Prayer to Our could not have big celebrations as security was tight, Lady of Sheshan’ written by Pope Benedict XVI for but they did remind their parishioners to pray for the this particular day, Joseph, a Shanghai Catholic, told suffering Church in China and for harmony in their AsiaNews. respective dioceses.

He also called the participating faithful to give reverence “I especially prayed for the all the bishops and pastors to our Blessed Mother and to worship Jesus Christ. in China, especially those who are under detention. “Father Ma’s warm and emotional homily moved the May the Lord strengthen their faith. We feel lonely faithful at the scene,” Joseph said. in this struggle for the freedom of faith,” Fr Peter, an underground priest, noted. It rained throughout the Mass, but the hot and humid weather did not deter the pilgrims. “Instead, they prayed Last week, a priest and a seminarian from the zealously and fervently in the Mass,” he said. underground community in Baoding were taken into custody by police and taken to an unknown place.

They are likely to undergo sessions of political indoctrination and brain washing to get them to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, whose goal is to control Catholics and set up a Church independent of the pope.

Bishop Li Yi of Lu’an (Changzhi, Shanxi), 89, died this afternoon, on the special Day of Prayer for China. Ordained in 1949, he was consecrated as coadjutor of Changzhi in 1998. China Infodoc Service [china. [email protected]] Asia News www.asianews.it Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan, Shanghai, China by Jian Mei 4 Msgr. Savio Hon: episcopal ordinations My first reaction is to pray that this does not with no papal mandate reveal Party’s happen. Indeed, I have heard that the Harbin lack of ideals and internal fighting faithful are praying and even fasting that this ordination without the pontifical mandate he Vatican secretary of Propaganda Fide does not take place. The appointment of prays a new illicit episcopal ordination bishops by the pope is a guarantee for the in Harbin will not take place. This unity of the Church. Tgesture “hurts the pope,” but also Chinese Catholics, especially the newly baptized. Coming to the candidate, Fr. Yue, we can say “Inconsistency” between liberalism preached that for the past 10 years the government and by the government and the actions of the a part of the official community have been Patriotic Association, that wants to create “a pushing him toward taking on this “ bishops new Protestant church”, independent of the career “. But I think he does not want to pope. The Gospel in China “highly relevant” to become a bishop without the mandate of the overcoming the materialism and pragmatism Holy Father if he wanted to be one, he could of power and money. have been one already for some time. I trust that this brother cares for the Church and Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The news of a new fidelity to the Lord. In the episcopal ministry episcopal ordination without papal mandate this fidelity is essential. I pray for him, that in Harbin reveals the “incoherence” between he decides to remain loyal to his decision the government’s liberal claims and the of allegiance to the pope, without causing actions of the Patriotic Association. This confusion and division in the community. inconsistency is a sign of the internal struggle between the liberal wing of the party and the Over the past two years there have other that wants to maintain a complete hold been three illicit episcopal ordinations in on power as in recent decades. This is how Chengde, Leshan and Shantou. What fruits Msgr. Savio Hon Taifai reads the situation or consequences have these caused? in the Church and Chinese society on the eve of Heilongjiang’s illegitimate episcopal There are several problems. The first is ordination, that neither the community nor that these ordinations create confusion the candidate want. The secretary of the and division among the Christian people of Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization China, between the official and underground of Peoples prays that this gesture which “hurts communities. Especially among the the Church and the Pope” will not take place, newly baptized, there are those who do and joins in the prayers and fasting of the not understand and are left stunned. faithful themselves in Harbin. He hopes that Unfortunately, this confusion happens even the candidate remains faithful to the Pope, among underground communities. Many of refusing to be ordained. them have always given a shining witness of fidelity to the Church. But some have difficulty For Msgr. Hon, the Chinese Communist forgiving these situations, perhaps because Party, devoid of social ideals, has become of human frailty or some other reason, and go a patchwork of “interest groups” who are to the other extreme, which is not compatible fighting among themselves. It is therefore with Gospel values. important to establish common rules for mutual respect. Religions can offer values ​ An illegitimate ordination hurts the hopes of that are more than simple materialism to the dialogue between the Chinese government Chinese society as well as moral education. and the Chinese Church. And yet the Holy See Here is the full interview with AsiaNews. is left speechless: China today, so modern and tolerant in many respects, however, remains In recent days, AsiaNews published the news behind on the development of the Catholic that Harbin (Heilongjiang) is preparing an Church. Beijing can not understand that the episcopal ordination without papal mandate. appointment of bishops is a prerogative of The candidate is 48 year old Fr. Joseph Catholics and not the State. If you must give Yue Fusheng. But apparently this event is freedom to the Church in China, you must desired only by the government, neither the also give freedom to the Pope to choose Church nor the candidate want it. What is candidates for the episcopate. All these your reaction? gestures have obscured the hope of relations between the Holy See and China. Before For now, the ordination is only a possibility. there were glimmers of hope, now we see However, should an unlawful episcopal only darkness. ordination take place, it would be very, Religious freedom and the freedom to choose very serious. It hurts the whole Church and bishops would be an asset to Chinese especially the Church in China. It hurts even society.... the Holy Father for this gesture usurps the apostolic power of the Pope. This power was Of course. Everyone admires China’s granted to Peter and his successors by the development caused by the economic reforms: Lord himself. The appointment of bishops it says that 300 million Chinese have managed touches the heart of the Church. Such a thing to achieve a decent standard of living, should never happen. overcoming a stage of underdevelopment. 5 But this material development, over a short power before want to keep it. The party is now space of time, has also created many social made up of interest groups that fight for their problems. The famous saying of Deng own interests and fight among themselves. Xiaoping, “It doesn’t matter whether the cat is black or white, just that it catches mice,” I honestly do not know how much longer they creates problems for society because it can maintain a system of this type. If we talk implies that “the end justifies the means.” about interests or interest groups, sooner or But this criterion can be ruthless toward later, they should make the rules for them to others. Even Confucius says: “Do not do coexist peacefully, respect each other. unto others what you would not want done The so-called party of “princes” (Taizitang, to you”. This means that sometimes the end “Crown-Prince’s Party”) is based on this cannot be justified by the means! Instead, the determined defense of the sons of the Party’s pragmatism of the “white or black cat,” leads great power brokers. But there must be rules. to moral and environmental pollution. This is Especially now that the central government’s why China today is in need of a long process orders are not reaching the periphery. We are of education to instill respect for others. no longer under Mao Zedong. Now Beijing If there is no education for the individual, can say one thing and in some provinces do family, society, then all that matters is power anything. For this reason we need to share the and money. responsibilities and powers, by establishing some rules and values. In this where the Church and religions could make a contribution to Chinese society? Of course. Religions in China still have a strong role in driving great change in the country. And the gospel is still very relevant China Infodoc Service [[email protected]] and urgent for China. AsiaNews - www.asianews.it VATICAN -CHINA With the illicit ordinations we are witnessing a by Bernardo Cervellera strange mingling: the bishops in communion 15 May 2012 with the Pope obliged to attend unlawful ordinations; ordinations approved of by the Holy See attended by - even if not invited - illegitimate bishops. According to some Msgr. Savio Hon observers this seems to be a real political plan to destroy the criteria of truth and orthodoxy in the Church, and undermine bonds with the Pope ... The Patriotic Association has a very clear agenda on how to have more precise control of the Church. This mingling of bishops, to confuse the difference between legitimate and illegitimate, obedient and excommunicated, is part of this strategy. But I wonder: what is real aim of the Patriotic Association in bringing forward this project of building an “independent” church, yet another edition of Protestantism? This seems to be the intention of government that instead increasingly emphasizes the importance of a more liberal society. And then, if Catholics choose their bishops through the pope, you have to leave space for Catholics to live as Catholics. It means that there is inconsistency between the liberal claims of government and the actions of the Patriotic Association? Yes. This inconsistency is a sign of power struggle that is taking place within the Party. Now the party is no longer supported by an ideology and a social project; socialism or Marxism no longer exist. What then is the purpose of controlling the Church? The power: those who exercised 6 Matteo Ricci remembered as a master west coast of Africa)’, the world was divided into mediator two zones of trade and influence. In exchange for the economic advantages of such an agreement, n the day of Matteo Ricci’s death, following a both powers would provide logistic help and short illness, in Beijing on 11 May 1610, the military protection to the missions (the so-called OJesuits of his community gathered around his Padroado, through which the Vatican delegated to bed. One of them asked him if he realised that the kings of Spain and Portugal the administration he was about to abandon his fellow members of of the local Church, the construction of churches, the Society when they were in so great a need of the nomination of pastors and bishops, etc.). But his assistance. ‘I leave you,’ he said, ‘at a door the tensions remained vivid, for example in the open to great merits, yet not without many perils previously noted appointment of Valignano as and labours.’ And, as if it were he laying them to Visitor to all Jesuit missions in the East. rest, he closed his eyes and very softly went to sleep in the Lord. He was only 58 years old and Furthermore, the epoch was marked by an intense had been Superior of the whole of the Chinese ‘cultural revolution’ that touched upon the place Mission since 1597. of humankind in the universe. Faith and science were locked in heated debates over the theory of What was the door he left open? What perils and Mikołaj Kopernik (1473-1543), expressed in his labours had he foreseen? Only by placing his book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (‘On the intellectual formation in its historical context can Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres’), published we answer these questions. just before his death. The case of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), whose observations supported the After graduating from the Jesuit secondary school Copernican theory of heliocentrism, reached its established in Macerata, Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) climax in early 1615 when he was denounced to was sent to study Law at La Sapienza University the Roman Inquisition. of Rome by his father, Giovanni Battista, who wanted to secure a better future for his son. But Last but not least, the long Council of Trent had he had not foreseen that Matteo had another idea lasted for eighteen years (1545-1563); but it in mind, and in 1571 he entered the novitiate of had yet to bear fruit. Its reforms had just begun the fairly new Society of Jesus, established in to be implemented. In such a context of moving 1540, to begin his Jesuit formation. The following landmarks, not a few far away missionaries chose years were to be very important in shaping his to look for safe ground, and not to seek any local future, thanks to the men under whose influence adaptation. he received his formation. All this considered, when Valignano dispatched Michele Ruggieri and Matteo Ricci to China to The global context try to establish a residence near Macau, they The reluctance of some missionaries to invest opened, intellectually and spiritually speaking, ‘a time and energy in learning the local language door ... to great merits’ that had not been opened to better acquaint themselves with the local before in this tense, intense and bellicose global people was quite contrary to Ignatius’s spirit and context. Valignano’s instructions. Had not Ignatius in many of his letters advised Jesuit missionaries: ‘Make yourselves loved by your humility and charity, A door to great merits becoming all things to all men. Show that you At 30 years of age, Ricci had received a long conform, as far as the Institute of the Society formation in Europe. He was to spend the second permits, to the customs of the people there’? part of his life mainly in southern China, in different Or: ‘Be prepared to teach matters of faith and places along his journey towards the capital, morals in a way that is accommodated to those Peking, which he reached in January 1601, only people… Without taking away from them anything nine years before his death. Allowed to reside in in which they are particularly interested or which the imperial city, he had hoped to be admitted to an they especially value, try to get them to accept the audience with the Emperor Wan Li (1573-1620), truths of Catholicism.’ Later, he adds: ‘Although who never granted it. His purpose was only to ask you are ever intent on bringing them to conformity for the permission to present the Christian faith in with the Catholic Church, do everything gently, China. Yet through his friendly contacts with many without any violence to souls long accustomed to officials, men of letters, doctoral candidates, another way of life.’ And to do so, Valignano would scholars, Buddhist monks, mandarins, he was add, the first step is to learn the local language, a able to engage in serious conversations, leading condition sine qua non. So, what was the root of some of them to receive baptism in the Catholic this reluctance to do so? faith. His mastery of the language and of its script It would not be far-fetched to relate it to the (in 1588, he had already compiled what was to be cultural trends of the epoch. The ‘renaissance’ the first Portuguese-Chinese dictionary, followed for ‘a new world’[1] in which Valignano and Ricci by a second similar work ten years later); his had been formed had developed in a context of technically trained prodigious memory (he had lingering conflicts. learned by heart The Four Books attributed to Confucius and was able to quote them freely); his First, there were some similarities with the Cold publications (his Treatise on Friendship [1595], War period that followed World War II: a continuing included later in the Imperial Encyclopaedia; The state of political conflict, military tension and True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven [1603], a economic competition. Soon after Christopher catechism in the form of a dialogue with a Buddhist Columbus’s initial voyage of 1492 that included monk, among several others); his interest in music the discovery of ‘the new world’, a cold economic (Ricci gave the emperor a clavichord as a present competition developed around the world between and composed eight songs in Chinese which he Portugal and Spain. It was urgent that a treaty, sang in the presence of the court in 1601); the arbitrated by Pope Alexander VI, be signed in training he had received in cartography (there Tordesillas (1494) between the two countries in was a third reprint of his famous Map of the World order to prevent continual disputes from flaring up. [1602]), in mathematics (at that time in Europe, By an arbitrary line drawn along ‘a meridian 370 it was considered as the language through which leagues west of the Cape Verde islands (off the the Creator expressed himself in the creation 7 of the world, hence the important decision to explode one hundred years after his death and translate the first six books of Euclid’s Elements, spill beyond the limits of the Chinese Empire. The in collaboration with his friend, Xu Guangqi Chinese Rites Controversy was a dispute within [1607]) and in astronomy (Ricci was able to the Church, in China and in Europe, over whether describe Chinese astronomical instruments, still the traditional practices of the Chinese, already preserved today, and to understand their usage): mentioned, and the Chinese appellation of God all of these helped him to attract the attention and as ‘The Lord of Heaven’, were incompatible with progressive admiration of his listeners. Christian faith or whether they could be accepted as not being idolatrous but of civil importance in Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628) would later relate their practice. The aftermath of the controversy in his Histoire de l’Expédition Chréstienne au resulted in the banning of much missionary activity Royaume de la Chine, that all these efforts were in China, and had a devastating influence, even aimed at ‘showing to the literati of this kingdom after its cooling down and its conclusion in 1931. with what diligence ours conduct their research and on what solid foundations they establish their Ricci’s enterprise proofs; and through this, they would come to understand that, in the things of the holy religion, The celebrations this year to mark the 400th it was not lightly that we had decided ourselves anniversary of the death of Matteo Ricci – the to follow a party.’ It is due to this twin purpose ‘Ricci Year’ in many places, the World Expo in that the literati were able to assimilate ‘Western Shanghai – should not be seen as the end of the Learning’ with ‘Heavenly’ or ‘Celestial Learning’. story… But it is also thanks to the friendly approach, so wisely respectful of important traditions – the Even if Matteo Ricci has been, as Wolfgang veneration of family ancestors, of the Emperor and Franke has written, ‘the most outstanding cultural of Confucius the Sage – that Matteo Ricci was so mediator between China and the West of all well received. His successors would follow in his time’; or, as Liang Shuming (1893-1988), the steps, either by translating the Chinese Classics famous Chinese philosopher wrote: ‘Without in foreign languages (the first Western edition in encountering the West, in three hundred years or Latin of The Analects of Confucius had to wait until in one thousand years China would still be without 1687 to be published with commentaries in Paris) electricity and without railways’, his enterprise is [2] or by adopting Chinese spiritual traditions. certainly not yet achieved, as the current state of [3] At his death, the court officials and the Jesuit the world in many respects clearly shows. community obtained permission from the Emperor, who had never met him, that he be solemnly buried But, in the words of Ignatius: Non coerceri a in the imperial city. Despite the later tragedy of maximo, contineri tamen a minimo, divinum est the Boxers’ Rebellion, who desecrated the tombs – ‘Not to be daunted by the greatest enterprise, of missionaries in the Zhalan cemetery in 1900, yet to invest oneself in the smallest one, this is it is fitting that Matteo Ricci’s remains had been divine.’ Matteo Ricci lived by this loving patience. sown with others on the Chinese soil, almost like precious seeds for the future… But how can one explain that, in his peaceful death, Ricci foresaw ‘many perils and labours’ for his successors? China Infodoc Service [mailto:[email protected]] History has told us how right he was. Editor: Yves Camus SJ UCA News - www.ucanews.com May 11 2012 Many perils and labours Matteo Ricci Firstly, although he had himself chosen his successor in the person of Nicolò Longobardo (1559-1654) from Sicily, who arrived in China in 1597, for his apostolic zeal, Ricci was well aware that the man disagreed with his accommodating approach and respect for the Chinese traditions and values: for Longobardo, this approach was too slow and showed too few results among ordinary folk. Then, there were the reactions of the literati, at the court and elsewhere, famously analysed and presented by Jacques Gernet in his book China and the Christian Impact: A Conflict of Cultures (Cambridge University Press; 1st edition, 1985). It was to face the consequences of this impact that Ricci’s companions of later ages dedicated themselves in ‘many studious labours’ for nearly two hundred years to historical research, linguistic compilations of dictionaries, translations of the Chinese Classics and numerous scientific publications, until the suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1773; and then beyond, after its restoration in 1814.[4] But since Ricci, on his death bed, associated ‘merits, perils and labours’ in his vision, mention must be made also of a controversy among missionaries of diverse religious orders that would 8 One of thousands of journeys to the a toy sourcing company and said that between baptismal font this Easter her family and her work, life was busy. She and her husband were also concentrating on HONG KONG (SE) making a home, looking after their family and round 3,500 adults received the sacrament getting the things that they wanted. “There was Aof baptism at the Easter celebrations in not a lot of time to think,” she reflected. Hong Kong this year, as well as many children “However, as life became more settled and from their families and parishes. I began to see retirement on the horizon, I did start to think and take time to do it,” she Thousands of stories of the journey to faith recalled, “thinking about the future, having free are hidden within the lives of these people. In time and the things around me, instead of just the case of children, the stories may be quite working and working all the time.” short, or predominately belong to their parents, but among the adults, each one has made a She added that she has two classmates from uniquely personal journey to faith and finally to school days, one of whom has been a Catholic the baptismal font. for a long time and the other who was baptised a few years ago. The story of the journey to baptism of Isabelle Lau Kit-lin may have one thing in common with “They have helped me to learn,” Lau explained, many other people, she had some experience of “slowly, but I have learned.” the Church as a student in her school days, but from there on it is her own experience of facing Lau joined a group of people enquiring about God in the context of her life and encounter the faith at the cathedral parish two years ago, with God and Jesus. coming on a week night after a busy day at the office. Bit by bit she began getting involved in “I attended Mass and other services when I other aspects of Church life, bringing toys and was at school,” she told the Sunday Examiner, other things to support the Caritas Bazaar. “but I really had no idea what was going on. I did believe there was a God looking after “I was learning in a group, coming in after us, because I knew no one else could make work. But it just seemed to suit me. And here I the things that we need in life, and I could not am today,” she said with the smile of a quietly explain why these things happened any other contented person at Mass on Easter Sunday. way.” “I have never felt this peaceful in my life. I Lau explained that as a young adult, she really am happy with what I have done,” she became more aware that she could not to confessed. “It took a long time to get here, but everything by herself. “I knew someone or I guess the important thing was to arrive when something was there, but I did not know who or the time is right for me.” what,” she explained. Hong Kong Sunday Examiner She said that her family and mother and father http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk did not really think much about God or have any Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church of Hong Kong idea who God was. “They were not Christian,” Saturday, 19 May 2012 she said, “they believed in the Buddhist way. But I knew that was not the path that I was travelling.” Nevertheless, she said that she just followed the way of a student leaving school, studying, concentrating Isabelle Lau, one of the 3,500 to complete on getting a good job and building her career, their Journey to the Baptismal font at Easter without thinking about anything much else. “Later my sisters studied at a Christian school and joined Churches. They invited me to join them,” Lau related, “but still I had no idea about God and in addition to that, I did not want to be pushed. I had no time to think.” She reflected that in her own mind she believes that she knew that she had to find her own way. “I believed in God, but had no idea who or what he was,” she went on. “My husband and my family were not Christian, so I was very much with my own thoughts and reflections.” Lau works in the finance division of 9 Solemn Commemoration of the birth of Servant of God; Paul Xu Guang Qi Shang Hai (Agenzia Fides)-The solemn commemoration of 450 years of the birth of the Servant of God Paul Xu Guang Qi took place yesterday, April 24, in the diocese of Shang Hai, before his tomb and places linked to him. Even today, the Chinese Christians, and the Chinese in general, keep with devotion and gratitude the memory of Paul Xu Guang Qi (April 24, 1562 - November 8, 1633), attributing many honorary titles to him such as “the Shanghainese sage “, astronomer, mathematician, Mandarin of the court ... but the most popular is the “Servant of God”, as he led the Christian faith in Shanghai and in China, thanks to his friendship with Fr. Matteo Ricci, the great Jesuit missionary who brought him to conversion in 1603 and baptized him. According to information which Fides received, many priests and faithful of Shang Hai yesterday gathered at the tomb of Paul Xu. After a brief summary of the life of one who is considered a milestone in the history of the first evangelization of China, spent in simplicity, they all prayed for evangelization and to be capable of the same testimony of faith today, invoking his intercession. Finally, they also prayed for the beatification of Paul Xu. Mgr. Aloysius Jin Lu Xian, SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Shang Hai, dedicated to the figure of Paul Xu his pastoral letter on the occasion of 400 anniversary of the foundation of the diocese, indicating three features of this “pillar of Christianity” and the father of Catholicism in Shanghai: religious faith, civic and moral commitment in favor of justice. Mgr. Jin has always really wanted the cause of Paul Xu’s and Fr. Matteo Ricci’s beatification . In another message, titled “Xu Guangqi: a man for all seasons”, the Bishop of Shang Hai compared Paul Xu to another politician saint and martyr, St. Thomas More. Agenzia Fides - www.fides.org / 25 April 2012 Photo: Professor Jonathan Chaves, The George Washington University

May 1 marked by a strong Marian devotion The celebration of May Day in the Catholic community in mainland China was marked by numerous initiatives, characterized by a strong Marian devotion for the beginning of the month of Mary, from the celebration of Confirmations and the deacons ordinations, commitment to evangelism, to the feast of St. Joseph, Patron of workers, all in view of World Day of Prayer for the Church in China on May 24. As reported to Fides by Faith of He Bei, the parish of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Wen Zhou, Zhe Jiang province, formally opened the Marian month with the celebration of Mass and a Marian Procession. According to the organizers of the celebration, “in communion with the universal Church, we invited the faithful to have a particular devotion to Mary, imitating her in the life of faith. Throughout the month, in every parish the rosary will be recited every night, with a Marian meditation led by priests, before the statue of Our Lady which is found in every parish and chapel. With the pilgrimage, the commitment to evangelization and charitable works, we walk in the footsteps of our Heavenly Mother.” More than 4000 members of the congregation of the village of Xiao Han Cun, of the Diocese of Tian Jin, attended the May 1 celebration of the centennial of the founding of the parish. The anniversary was marked by a Eucharistic Congress, by a Marian procession and the opening of the Marian month, so that “the priests, the men and women religious and the laity reflect their faith in Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist, to be able to testify with courage.” The solemn Marian procession around the village, led by fifty priests, lasted over two hours. Also on May 1, 282 members of the parish of Yang Cheng of the Diocese Su Zhou in Jiang Su province, received the Confirmation, with the participation of thousands of faithful. According to local sources, “we opened the Marian month in the best way. This new life of the Church has united us to further carry forward the evangelization in the most fruitful way.” The Diocese of Tang Shan, in the He Bei province, opened the month of May with the ordination of three deacons of the diocese. The eye clinic of the Catholic Diocese of Han Dan, run by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit the Comforter, yesterday celebrated 20 years of its foundation, confirming the commitment of care with the same dedication of S. Joseph.

Shi Jia Zhuang Agenzia Fides - www.fides.org 2 May 2012 10 Vatican seeks to eliminate the ambiguities surrounding Bishops in China ollowing the annual plenary meeting of the Commission set up by Benedict XVI to discuss Fand advise him on the questions of major importance to the Church in China, the Holy See issued a communique’ that aims to remove ambiguities regarding the bishop’s role in the Church introduced by the Patriotic Association and other state-entities The papal Commission for the Church in China held its fifth plenary meeting in the Vatican, April 23-25, and afterwards the Holy See issued a communiqué approved by Pope Benedict XVI. That text clarifies once more the Catholic Church’s teaching and discipline regarding bishops in mainland China, and seeks to eliminate the ambiguities introduced by the Patriotic Association and other state-entities on this subject. The main theme for discussion was: “The formation of the lay faithful”, also in view of the Year of Faith (11 October 2012 – 24 November 2013). This was not a controversial topic and, as the communiqué said, the Commission agreed that bishops and priests in China “should make every effort to consolidate the lay faithful in their knowledge of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and, in particular of ecclesiology and the social doctrine of the Church”. Such formation is vitally important for the 12 million Catholics of the one Church in China with its two communities: one state recognized (“open”) with 6 million members, the other clandestine (“underground). (Statistics for 2011: Holy Spirit Study Centre (HSSC), Hong Kong). At its 2011 plenary meeting, the Commission discussed the formation of priests and religious persons in China. At its recent meeting it reviewed developments since then and noted the positive initiatives underway, including formation programs for 5000 women religious (1600 are ‘underground’) and on-going formation for the 3,200 priests (1300 ‘underground). It expressed concern at the “noticeable decline” in vocations to the priesthood and religious life “in recent years”, and urged Catholics to pray for vocations. In 2011, seminarians totaled around 1500 (350 ‘underground’), while there were 60 women religious novices (20 ‘underground’). The discussion on formation consumed one-third of the meeting, and so its 30 participants (approx) – senior Vatican officials, Chinese bishops from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and representatives of religious orders – had time to discuss other important issues relating to “the particular situation of the Church in China They focused in particular on bishops, also in the light of events over the past year. At the end of 2011, there were 117 bishops in mainland China (HSSC) and all except 7 were legitimate, but very many were over the age of 75. “The Church needs good bishops”, the communiqué stated. It reminded China’s bishops that it is “from Christ, through the Church” that “they receive their task and authority”. In other words, their “task and authority” does not come from Beijing’s Government or its entities, and they “exercise” it “in union with the Roman Pontiff and with all the bishops throughout the world”. The communiqué then went to the heart of the problem: “the claim of the entities” created by the Chinese Government “to place themselves above the Bishops and to guide the life of the ecclesial community.” It identified these entities with the name they use in China: “One Association and One Conference”: that is, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA, established 1957) and the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC). The Holy See does not recognize them. Since the CPA and BCCCC “persist” in making this claim, the Holy See reminded mainland Catholics, and indirectly Beijing’s Government, that, as Benedict XVI stated clearly in his 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics (N.7), their claim “does not correspond to Catholic doctrine.” It said the pope’s “instructions” are still operative “and provide “direction” and “it is important to observe them”. By following his instructions “the face of the Church” can shine forth “in clarity”, without ambiguity or confusion. 11 The Holy See’s communiqué then focused on those “clerics” in China who have obscured (“obfuscated”) this clear Church teaching. It mentions two distinct groups: illegitimate bishops and legitimate bishops. It said the first group “obfuscates” the Church’s teaching because they have been ordained as bishops “illegitimately”, that is without the pope’s approval, and they have subsequently “carried out acts of jurisdiction” or “administered the Sacraments”. By doing so, the Holy See said, “They usurp a power that the Church has not conferred upon them”. Moreover, by participating – as some did recently - in Episcopal ordinations that had the pope’s approval, they have “aggravated” their personal status before Church Law, “disturbed the faithful” and “often violated the consciences of the priests and lay faithful who were involved.” The Holy See’s text then turned to the second category of clerics who ‘obfuscate” the Church’s doctrine. It said these are “legitimate bishops” who have participated in “illegitimate Episcopal ordinations”, that is in the ordinations of bishops who lack the papal mandate. Without giving numbers, it revealed that “many” of these bishops “have since clarified their position” with the Holy See “and have asked pardon” and Pope Benedict “has benevolently forgiven them”. But, it said, other bishops “who also took part” in illegitimate ordinations “have not yet made this clarification”, and it “encouraged” them “to do so as soon as possible”. The communiqué said the Commission’s members follow “these painful events” attentively and “in a spirit of charity” and are aware of “the particular difficulties”, nevertheless it reminded the bishops and priests in China that “evangelization cannot be achieved by sacrificing essential elements of the Catholic faith and discipline”. That remark would appear also to be a response to the leaders of the CPA and BCCCC who have publicly sought to justify illegitimate ordinations by appealing to the needs of evangelization. “Obedience to Christ and to the Successor of Peter is the presupposition of every true renewal, and this applies to every category of the People of God”, the communiqué stated. Significantly too, the Holy See’s statement revealed that the Commission discussed the plight of “the bishops and priests who are detained, or who are suffering unjust limitations on the performance of this mission”. There are three bishops and about two dozen priests currently suffering this way, most belong to the “underground” community, but some are from the “open’ community. The Commission expressed “admiration” for “the strength of their faith” and “their union with the Holy Father” and said “they need the Church’s prayer in a special way so as to face their difficulties with serenity and in fidelity to Christ”. Unlike previous communiqués since 2007, this year’s makes no explicit reference to the Chinese authorities or to the Holy See’s desire for a constructive dialogue with them with a view to the normalization of relations. Evidently, the Commission sees no sign of openness from Beijing for such dialogue today, and concluded that it made little sense to mention it at this delicate historical moment as China prepares to elect the new leadership to govern the country. The Holy See’s communique concluded by reminding Catholics worldwide that May 24, the feast of the “Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians”, has been established by Pope Benedict as the Day of Prayer for the Church in China. It therefore invited the Catholic Church worldwide to pray to God “for energy and consolation, mercy and courage, for the Catholic community in China”.

China Infodoc Service [mailto:[email protected]] Gerard O’Connell / Rome 3 May 2012 - http://vaticaninsider.com Photo: Alan Zeleznikar - http://www.alanzeleznikar.com (Vatican City) Photo: Wojtek Buss - Great Wall of China 12 Prefect of Propaganda Fide reminds China that bishops are not political officials Monthly magazine “30 Giorni” interviews the Prefect of Propaganda Fide, Fernando Filoni: “China should not set the Pope against the pastors of the local Church” He lived in Hong Kong in the Vatican diplomatic headquarters in the years when Deng Xiaoping was opening China up to the Western world. After his position as Substitute to the Secretary of State, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, who was formerly also Nuncio in Iraq and then the Philippines, now leads the great dicastery that manages the Church’s activities in mission territories. In an interview with Italian monthly magazine “30 Giorni”, Filoni spoke about the relations between the Holy See and the Beijing government. Regarding the existing rifts among Chinese Catholics, the cardinal stated: “The division did not come about as a result of ecclesiastical dynamics but of historical and political circumstances. It was a situation of suffering and hardship. There was a need to help the Church in China, both the so-called underground Church and the section incorrectly termed patriotic, to look at the situation from a different angle.” The two ecclesiastical communities, he added, “will find themselves again united in Christ.” Filoni also focused on the delicate question of bishops’ appointments in China. “People need to stop seeing bishops as officials. If this mindset is not overcome, everything will remain conditioned by a political vision. Certain criteria need to be met in order for someone to become a party or government official. The criteria used to select a bishop are different. And these differences must be respected. So what we ask for everywhere, not just in China, is that bishops are good bishops, worthy of the task they are entrusted with.” The Prefect of Propaganda Fide explained that “naturally, bishops are also citizens of their own country and as such must be loyal towards their country and render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. As successors of the apostles, they are required to be completely faithful to the Church’s doctrine. This is not an “order” of the Pope. It is the faithful above all who ask this. At the end of the day it is the faithful who judge the suitability and dignity of their bishops.” Filoni reiterated that “the Church is a place of communion.” “It is essential - he stated - for bishops, priests, clerics and faithful to also help the apostolic See in its relations with civil and political entities, by pointing out evaluation criteria. The only thing that should not be done is to separate Peter’s successor - and his collaborators - from the bishops of the local Church, or the bishops from God’s people, or set them against one another.” The cardinal also recalled his experience in Iraq during the 2003 conflict. “The war - he said outright - was wrong in itself. Democracy cannot come of war. At the time the conditions were right for a negotiation. Saddam had also communicated to me that this was his wish. But as is the case with all leaders, particularly in the Arab world, if you wanted to negotiate with him, you had to make sure you did not humiliate him. The situation was not understood. Christians suffered injustices along with the rest of society under the regime. But in order to maintain internal peace, the regime at least protected people’s freedom of worship. The war was not justified from a political or international justice point of view. Because Iraq had not intervened when the September 11 attacks took place. And the question regarding the weapons of mass destruction was a pretext.” “The war had obviously already been decided - Filoni concluded - and even at the time people knew that chaos was to follow. The war did not only destabilise the small Christian community. This is still evident today.”

China Infodoc Service [mailto:[email protected]] Andrea Tornielli Vatican City - www.vaticaninsider.com 20 May 2012

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