Welcome to the China Bulletin - July 2016

WYD Preparations 

The delegations from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and China have been preparing themselves for the much awaited gathering of the Youth with Pope Francis in Poland in the last week of July 2016. Added to the excitement of the World Youth Day is the week-long gathering of the Claretian Youth in the third week of July in Lodz. The groups from Hong Kong and Taiwan are getting themselves into a frenzy, anxiously awaiting the d-day: date of departure! We leave on 16 July for Warsaw via Moscow. Coincidence, should I say - 16 July is the Foundation Day of the Congregation of the Claretians - a great day to begin "a great enterprise"!

Group from Taiwan with Fr. Bobin, after the send off Mass in Taiwan 

For the past couple of months, the group members were literally on their toes doing rounds of shopping for camping materials, first aid and medical kits, telephone and internet cards, preparing and printing of journal and liturgy materials, Tee-Shirts and above all, going through a spiritual formation. Indeed, the wait has been too long and we are eager to take off! 

Hong Kong delegation after a Taize prayer session 

The first four days in Poland will be days of pilgrimage for the group. We will visit major churches in Warsaw, the National Shrine of Black Madonna in Częstochowa, the birth place of St. Pope John Paul II in Vadovice, monastery of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Sr. Bogusława Wozniak, a Claretian Sister from Poland has generously accepted our request to accompany us during the days of pilgrimage. We will join the rest of the Claretian Youth on 20 July for the International Claretian Family gathering in Lodz. The Claretian community in Lodz will host us till 25 July when we move to Krakow for the World Youth Day. During the days in Krakow, our group will be accommodated in the Parafia Świętego Antoniego z Padwy (Rząska). 

Plates are empty and we are ready to go! 

The Claretian group from Hong Kong consist of 15 youth (13 from St. Benedict Parish, 1 each from Saikung and Epiphany Parishes) and is accompanied by Sr. Anitha Eddula and Fr. Jose Cherukara, CMF. There are more than 500 participants from different parishes and communities in Hong Kong, preparing for the mega event in Poland. The Diocese of Hong Kong will organise a send-off mass on 10 July for the WYD participants.