Interview with FATHER ALBERTO ROSSA, CMF

"This year, we will print more than one million Bibles in China"

This article was published in the Portuguese edition of O Clarim, the Catholic Weekly of Macau, on Friday, 9 August 2024. The English Translation is by the Pastoral Bible Foundation, Hong Kong

Born in Argentina, Father Alberto Rossa revolutionised the way the Word of God reaches people a quarter of a century ago. The creation of the Foundation for Biblical Ministry in the Philippines in 1999 has helped bring the message of the Bible to millions of people in regions such as East Asia and Latin America. The organisation, part of the Claretian Missionaries, has published millions of copies of the Bible and other Gospel-centered publications in almost thirty languages. Father Alberto Rossa, in an interview with O CLARIM.

CLARIM—You set up the Pastoral Bible Foundation 25 years ago. How do you see this initiative a quarter of a century later? Did you imagine it could grow as much as it has?

FATHER ALBERTO ROSSA - Not at all. I started from nothing. In fact, I entered the publishing world forty years ago in the Philippines with different publications. But then I started dedicating my time to translating and publishing the Bible. Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, I founded the Pastoral Bible Foundation in the Philippines. Shortly afterwards, I came here to Macau. I spent ten years in Macau and now have another nine years in Hong Kong. Our main ministry is to render the Word of God in a language that everyone can understand, with commentaries that can reflect or connect the lives of those who read it with the sacred texts. We publish the Bible in twelve different languages. Our latest project is also one of the most gratifying. We are currently printing the Old Testament in Chinese. The New Testament has already been published. Our aim is to launch a new translation of the Bible into modern Chinese next year, directly from the original languages. We're doing two different translations: one for mainland China, not only in simplified characters but also in the way they speak. And we're doing another translation in traditional characters. We have about ninety per cent of the work finished.

CL—This is a mammoth task, considering that there are no more than three dozen Claretian missionaries in the East Asian region.

Rossa: - Yes, there are very few of us. But it's not just about that. Our missionaries are in this region, but not just for this ministry. This is just one more ministry among the missions entrusted to the Claretians. I carry out this task practically alone, with the help of a team of people who are in China and abroad. There is a lady who has worked with me for 33 years. We're also printing Bibles for Latin America. We send half a million copies to Brazil every year. This year we're going to print more than a million Bibles in and the "Bible Diary" in China. We also publish in Spanish. We are currently working on a special edition of the Bible in Spanish. This work is being conducted in several other languages, but our main focus is on finishing the new edition of the Bible in Chinese, which I was telling you about.

CL - It's not exactly easy translating the Bible into Chinese. What are the main challenges that need to be addressed?

Rossa: - No, it's not easy. Before anything else, we have to use the original languages. In other words, we have to work with Chinese scholars who understand and can read Hebrew and Greek. After these scholars finish a draft of the translations, the text is submitted to a team of Chinese editors, located in China and abroad. They review the work, read the translation, and then try to apply the literary touch that the Chinese attribute to the texts. This team, responsible for editing, sends the text back to the original translators and tells them: “The translation may be acceptable, but we don't really understand the Chinese text.” 

The translation circulates in this way until a version—which satisfies both parties—is reached. After that, we contact the Bishops' Conference to ask for permission to print. We've recently received an important blessing because a few days ago, we were granted permission by the Chinese authorities, by a local government in China, to print part of the Bible, and that's exactly what we're going to do. This is one of the challenges. The other challenges are shared with languages such as Portuguese, Spanish, or English. 

In some languages, we have more than twenty or thirty Catholic Bibles, but in Chinese, we only have one for Catholics, which was published sixty years ago. This Bible is written in very difficult Chinese, which people don't fully understand. In a nutshell, we want to cover a very specific area. There are three areas when it comes to biblical ministry: one is for academics, translations that specialists can study and develop scientifically. It's a very difficult text for ordinary people to understand. 

There is another translation of the Bible focused on the Liturgy. And then there's a third translation, which we've called pastoral, aimed at everyone. Our criterion is exactly that: that a fifteen-year-old Chinese boy or girl can read and understand the Bible. We use simple language but without distorting the original.

CL—You also publish the "Daily Gospel" and Bible commentaries. These are quite essential for a population that, in general, doesn't know basic aspects about the life of Jesus, for example.

Rossa: - Exactly. That was one of the reasons why I started publishing the "Bible Diary" in 1985. From then on, we started publishing the "Bible Diary" and the "Daily Gospel" on a regular basis. Both titles are published around the world in 28 languages. Every year, we publish more than a million copies. What's more, other publishing houses, particularly Catholic ones, have copied the idea—God bless them! —and we are now transmitting these daily readings to countless people. 

Now [Father] Jijo is doing the same but for children. On the other hand, over the last six or seven years, I've dedicated eighty per cent of my time to the mission of evangelising in the virtual world. I've published more than 2,500 videos about the Gospel in five languages. People can no longer say they don't have access to biblical texts. Many young people prefer their cell phones...

CL - Is this the future of the Church? For centuries, the very idea of the Church was closely linked to a building where people went to pray to God. This concept has changed...

Rossa: - Of course! People are the Church. I also work in a parish in Hong Kong and I realise that the catechists, with great goodwill, are teaching catechesis to the children, but what I tell them is that they are not really transmitting the essence of God: "You are teaching doctrine; you are teaching dogma.

 Forget all that. First, you have to start teaching them that God loves unconditionally. You have to let them feel that God reaches out to them. Only later do we teach them dogmas, morals, and other things. It's a change in the way we approach people. It takes a lot of time and insistence and demands a new biblical approach from the Church. The Church has asked that all pastoral activities be animated and conducted on the basis of the Bible. 

Everything the Church offers has to be grounded and centred on the word of God, particularly the Gospel. This is a great challenge not only for priests but also for catechists and teachers. Everything needs to be rooted in the Gospel. That is my mission.

The Church in China today belongs to the Chinese faithful

Interview with Fr. Francisco Carin, East Asia 

The conclusion of the 175th Claretian Jubilee Year festivities in the East Asia area was marked with a closing Mass held at the Church of St. Lawrence in Macau on July 27. Bishop Stephen Lee of the Diocese of Macau presided over the Jubilee Mass, with Claretian Bishop Josep Maria Abella of the Diocese of Fukuoka, Japan and 25 other priests, including Father Francisco Carin, CMF., the superior of the Claretian Missionaries' Delegation in East Asia, concelebrating.

While talking to O Clarim, the Catholic Weekly of the Diocese of Macau, Father Carin deliberated on the Claretian vision for the Mission in China, its contributions and challenges. 

In response to a question about the lack of missionaries working in the vast East Asia region, Father Carin stated, “My position is very similar to that of Lei Ming Yuan: China is for the Chinese. I believe that the primary driving force for spreading the Christian faith in China should come from the Chinese Church and the Chinese people.” 

Belgian priest Lei Ming arrived in China in March 1901 and actively followed Venerable Matteo Ricci's cultural adaptation strategy, choosing to live like a Chinese. Due to his deep affection for China, he directly contributed to the localization of Catholicism in China and dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel there. In his own words, "Pay no attention to my eyes, pay no attention to my nose; look at my heart. It's a genuine Chinese heart!”

Father Carin stated that Macau was selected as the location for the concluding ceremony of the Jubilee year in East Asia due to its status as the first modern diocese in the region. He noted that Macau played a significant role in the birth and development of many dioceses in East Asia, including some in China. Highlighting the growing openness of the Church, Father Carin expressed hope for a more regular presence of the Church in China, thanks in part to Pope Francis and the agreement between the Holy See and Chinese authorities.

Recognising the contribution of the Pastoral Bible Foundation to the missionary initiatives of the Claretians in the area, Father Carin expressed, "The Pastoral Bible Foundation has been a blessing for us, the Claretian Missionaries of the East Asia Delegation. From the very beginning, the Foundation embraced the task of producing various versions of the Christian Bible. Father Alberto Rossa undertook the endeavour of translating the Bible into Chinese." 

“It was quite a challenging task, contrary to expectations,” says Father Carin. “We already have a very good translation. Deciding whether or not to create a new translation when we have a translation that has been used for so many years was a real challenge. This was largely due to the need for involvement and cooperation from numerous individuals within mainland China. The Chinese-speaking world encompasses diverse regions, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China. The way people communicate and express themselves today varies from region to region. In my opinion, the Pastoral Bible Foundation has aimed to incorporate more expressions and speech patterns familiar to people into their Bible translations. 

“I noticed that many individuals engage with the Bible, which is positive, but at the same time, the Chinese language used in the Bible may not align precisely with their everyday spoken Chinese. The "Chinese" Bible as presented by the Pastoral Bible Foundation, along with publications like the "Daily Gospel" and other Gospel and Bible-related projects, has opened for us the door for engaging in dialogue with the Chinese people. Dialogue is crucial, as is connecting with those dedicated to sharing the Gospel with others.”

Looking back on his 30 years of experience with the Church in Taiwan, Father Carin believes that there was substantial growth in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, followed by a period of stagnation in the 1990s. He now sees it as an increasingly mature Church with a focus on religious dialogue and the evangelisation of adults. While acknowledging previous growth through conversions, particularly linked to the expansion of Catholic families through Baptism, he currently perceives it as a vibrant Church. 

“I remember when a group of students from China were preparing to attend the Fu Ren University. I recall that, during that period, some people, including some of the Bishops, were hesitant to permit those seminarians to engage in any ministry. I wrote a brief magazine piece arguing that if Taiwan could contribute one thing to the Church on the mainland, it would be a university. Not a prestigious institution like Harvard or a large seminary, but one that could preach the Gospel. Our focus isn't just on forming a community and spreading the Gospel to people. It's also about allowing priests, nuns, and seminarians to study something useful, such as how to bring the Gospel to society in a less restricted manner.” 

In Taiwan, as they speak Mandarin, it's another opportunity for missionaries to practice. The Church in Taiwan "speaks" English, French, and Spanish, but it is, above all, a Church that offers the experience of sharing the Gospel in the local language. 

In response to a question about the lack of missionaries working in the vast East Asia region, Father Carin stated, “My position is very similar to that of Lei Ming Yuan: China is for the Chinese. I believe that the primary driving force for spreading the Christian faith in China should come from the Chinese Church and the Chinese people.” 

Father Carin further explained, “Previously, missionary work in China was allocated among different congregations: this area is mine, that one is yours. This situation no longer exists, and ever since the Second Vatican Council, the plan has been very clear: the bishop leads the diocese, and the religious congregations are invited by the bishop to assist the dioceses as needed to spread the Gospel to the people.” 

Father Carin believes that the Church has evolved significantly. He expresses confidence that the Chinese government will recognise that the Church is very different from what it was in the 1940s and 1930s when foreign congregations sometimes exerted significant influence. Today, the Church in China belongs to the Chinese believers and the local ecclesiastical hierarchy. Missionaries are simply helpers who hope to contribute with what they can offer. 

CMF@175 & PBF@25

Foundation Day celebrates the founding anniversaries of ministries in East Asia.

On Saturday, July 27, the Claretians in the East Asia Delegation celebrated the 175th Foundation Day of the Congregation in Macau. The liturgy was led by Bishop Stephen Lee of the Diocese of Macau, with Bishop Josep Abella, CMF, and more than twenty priests concelebrating the Mass at St. Lawrence Church. The Eucharistic Celebration was attended by over 400 religious, friends, and well-wishers of the Claretians. This event also commemorated the 70th anniveråsary of the Claretian Presence in East Asia and the 25th anniversary of the Pastoral Bible Foundation (PBF), the biblical apostolate of the Claretians in East Asia.

Historical Notes: 

Claretian Missionaries have served in the Diocese of Macau since 2006 and Hong Kong since 2011. It is 95 years since the first Claretians to China arrived in 1929 and began their work in Anhui province. Between 1930 and 1952, approximately 30 missionaries from five different countries dedicated their service to the Apostolic Prefecture of Tunxi until they were forced to close the mission in 1952. Following the closure, some of these missionaries relocated to Hong Kong to further their language studies with the intention of returning to the mission, but eventually, they departed for Japan and the Philippines.

A Barbastro martyr for China Mission

In the 1930s, young seminarians in Spain were preparing for the mission in China. Unfortunately, during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, 51 seminarians and their formators from the Claretian Seminary in Barbastro were killed by revolutionaries. Raphael Briega, who was studying Chinese to join the China Mission, was among these martyrs. Pope St. John Paul II beatified these 51 martyrs, including Raphael Briega, in 1992. As a token of gratitude, the missionaries contemplated sending missionaries to Chinese-speaking regions again and established a mission centre in Taiwan in 1994. Over the last thirty years, missionaries have been providing service to indigenous communities and parishes under the Diocese of Taipei. Additionally, there's a training program for young Claretians from the Chinese region in Taiwan.

Pastoral Bible Foundation (PBF)

A decade later, Father Alberto Rossa, who was then the director of Claretian Publications in Manila, arrived in Macau to continue the publishing ministry for the Chinese audience. Since its founding in Macau in 2006, Claretian Publications and Pastoral Bible Foundation have focused on providing affordable access to the Bible and biblical literature for Chinese readers. 

“Rooted in the Word, audacious in the proclamation” is the motto of the Pastoral Bible Foundation and Claretian Publications in China, Macau, and Hong Kong. PBF was an initiative of Father Rossa, established in 1999 in Manila, the Philippines. The PBF's primary focus is translating and publishing Bibles, and it has already published Bibles in 12 languages. Currently, the PBF oversees a group of biblical scholars and language experts who translate the pastoral Bible into modern Chinese. 

New translation of the Chinese Bible 

A new translation of the New Testament in Chinese with commentaries and Lectio Divina for every chapter was published in 2014. The translation of the Old Testament books into traditional and simplified Chinese is nearing completion. A guide for Lectio Divina for each chapter or paragraph of the Bible makes this Bible unique in the world. Once completed, the Bible Translation project would be the most significant contribution of the Claretians to the Catholic Chinese-speaking world.

PBF Online 

The missionaries in Macau and Hong Kong, offer commentaries and Lectio Divina for each chapter of every book of the Bible on their online platforms. In-depth commentaries on the three readings of the Sunday liturgy, daily reflections on the Gospel of the day, and liturgy aids are available in text, audio, or video formats on the web page of PBF, www.bibleclaret.org .  

These materials are available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and others. A group of committed volunteers contributes to the translation of biblical texts into various languages. Daily updates are done on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify.

Pocket Bible from CLARET Hong Kong

The Gospels of Mark and Luke in pocket-size

While instituting the annual celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God on the third Sunday of ordinary time of the liturgical calendar, Pope Francis said, “I remind you of something I have said other times: Let’s have a small gospel, a pocket-size gospel, to take in your bag, always with us. And when there is a moment during the day, read something from the gospel. It is Jesus who accompanies us.” 

Responding to the Pope's invitation, Claretian Publications Hong Kong launched a new project, The Gospel of the Liturgical Year, in 2023. The project presents the texts of the Gospels of Mark and Luke in a size similar to that of a standard smartphone, making the Gospel a convenient pocket companion. 

Using your smartphone, scan the embedded QR Codes, which provide direct access to insightful commentary by two Italian biblical scholars: Father Fernando Armellini and Father Claudio Doglio. The booklet of the Gospel of Luke is linked to 47 videos by Father Armellini and 12 videos by Father Doglio. These commentaries on the gospel examine Jesus' teachings, parables, and miracles, offering a deeper understanding of the text. 

Grab your copy of the booklet today to fall in love with the Word of God and make it your constant companion. Feel free to contact us if you wish to have this booklet for your parish or community evangelisation activities or to gift it to friends and contacts. Let us join the evangelising mission of the Church.

《袖珍本《馬爾谷福音》和《路加福音》

教宗方濟各在慶祝禮儀日曆常年期第三主日，一年一度的天主聖言主日時說：「我提醒你們，我以前說過的話：讓我們有一本小福音書，一本口袋大小的福音書，放在手提包內，隨身攜帶。日間有空時，拿出來閱讀，就是耶穌陪伴著我們。」

香港樂仁出版社應教宗的邀請，於2023年推出了一個新項目「禮儀年福音」。該項目以與標準智慧型手機相似的尺寸呈現《馬爾谷福音》和《路加福音》的文本，使福音書成為方便的袖珍伴侶。

使用你的智慧型手機，掃描嵌入的二維碼，即可直接存取兩位義大利聖經學者：費爾南多．阿梅利尼神父(Fr. Fernando Armellini)和克勞迪奧．督利奧神父(Fr. Claudio Doglio)的富有洞察力的評論。 《路加福音》袖珍本連結到阿梅利尼神父的 47 個視頻和督利奧神父的 12 個視頻。這些福音評論檢視了耶穌的教導、比喻和奇蹟，讓人們對經文有更深入的理解。

愛上天主聖言，並希望讓它成為你永恆的伴侶，請你今天就擁有它。如果你希望將這本小冊子用於你的堂區或團體的福傳活動，或將其贈送給朋友和與你接觸的人，請隨時與我們聯絡。讓我們一起參與教會的福傳使命。

Claretian Mission @ 30 in Taiwan

Karaoke International Version for CMF@175

30 years of Claretian Mission in Taiwan 

This was a lovely celebration marking the 175th anniversary of the founding of our CLARETIAN Congregation and our 30th year in Taiwan! We are grateful to the Lord for His unwavering support and guidance.  The Claretian Missionaries have been making a significant impact in Taiwan for the past 30 years. Their journey began when they established a mission center in Taiwan in 1994, as a token of gratitude. Over these three decades, the missionaries have dedicated themselves to serving indigenous communities and parishes under the Diocese of Taipei. 

Also, we marked the Perpetual Profession of Two of our younger brothers (Joseph and Tam). We congratulate them! We express special thanks to the Dominican sisters for allowing us to utilize their stunning venue. His Excellency Archbishop Zhonganzhu of Taipei presided over the liturgy and the festivities, which were attended by friends, well-wishers, priests, sisters, and various religious communities.

175 Years of Claretian Mission

Claretian Missionaries, a religious congregation founded by St. Antony Mary Claret and five companions on 16 July 1849 in Vic, Spain, are celebrating the 175th anniversary of their foundation on July 16. In the East Asia region, the Foundation Day celebrations are scheduled to take place in Macau on July 27. The occasion will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Pastoral Bible Foundation (PBF), the biblical apostolate of the Claretians in East Asia. Claretian Missionaries have served in the Diocese of Macau since 2006 and Hong Kong since 2011.

“A Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set everyone on fire with God’s love…. His only concern is how he may follow Christ and imitate him in praying, working, enduring and striving constantly and solely for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind.” 

This is how St. Antony Claret, who founded the missionary community of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CMF), later known as the Claretian Missionaries, described his missionary companions. The Congregation began with six diocesan priests and now has over 3000 missionaries serving in 72 countries.

Although St. Claret and the co-founders did not specify any specific approach as the mission of the Congregation, the charism of the missionary community was to share the joy of the Gospel using every available method in a timely and effective manner. As a result, the missionaries identify themselves as "Servants of the Word" and serve the disadvantaged, those in need, and the youth worldwide through publications, social initiatives, education, healthcare, and assistance to migrants and refugees.

The Claretian Mission in Macau and Hong Kong, though established in 2006, has its roots in China, where the first missionaries arrived in 1929 and began their work in Anhui province. Between 1930 and 1952, approximately 30 missionaries from five different nationalities dedicated their service to the Apostolic Prefecture of Tunxi until they were forced to close the mission in 1952. Following the closure, some of these missionaries relocated to Hong Kong to further their language studies with the intention of returning to the mission, but eventually, they departed for Japan and the Philippines.

In the 1930s, young seminarians in Spain were preparing for the mission in China. Unfortunately, during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, 51 seminarians and their formators from the Claretian Seminary in Barbastro were killed by revolutionaries. Raphael Briega, who was studying Chinese to join the China Mission, was among these martyrs. Pope St. John Paul II beatified these 51 martyrs, including Raphael Briega, in 1992. As a token of gratitude, the missionaries contemplated sending missionaries to Chinese-speaking regions again and established a mission centre in Taiwan in 1994. Over the last thirty years, missionaries have been providing service to indigenous communities and parishes under the Diocese of Taipei. Additionally, there's a training program for young Claretians from the Chinese region in Taiwan.

A decade later, Father Alberto Rossa, who was then the director of Claretian Publications in Manila, arrived in Macau to continue the publishing ministry for the Chinese audience. Since its founding in Macau in 2006, Claretian Publications and Pastoral Bible Foundation have focused on providing affordable access to the Bible and biblical literature for Chinese readers. 

“Rooted in the Word, audacious in the proclamation” is the motto of the Pastoral Bible Foundation and Claretian Publications in China, Macau, and Hong Kong. Claretians expanded their presence to Hong Kong in 2011 when Missionaries from India spent their initial years learning the language at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Later, they began to serve in parishes under the dioceses of Macau and Hong Kong. 

Father Jojo Ancheril served in St. Lawrence parish in Macau for ten years before transferring to Hong Kong. Fathers Alberto Rossa, Joskutty Mathew, and Ezakias Antonyswamy serve in Epiphany Parish, Lantau, and Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Cheung Chau. In Macau and Hong Kong, besides the parish ministry, the missionaries explored the possibilities of a media apostolate. Father Jijo Kandamkulathy heads the publishing ministry in Macau with the assistance of Brother Thomas. 

Claretians have focused on providing new translations, printing, and publishing the Bible for more than a hundred years, particularly in Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and the USA. Claretian Publications (Philippines) has been translating the Bible into various languages, such as Korean, Vietnamese, Bahasa, French, English, and several Filipino languages, since 1986.

The missionaries in Macau and Hong Kong, in addition to their publication ministry, offer free commentaries and Lectio Divina for each chapter of every book of the Bible on their online platforms. In-depth commentaries on the three readings of the Sunday liturgy, daily reflections on the Gospel of the day, and liturgy aids are available in text, audio, or video formats on the web page of PBF, www.bibleclaret.org. All these materials are available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Italian and others. The assistance of a group of committed volunteers contributes to the translation of biblical texts into various languages. Daily updates are made to our social media channels on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify.

The primary focus of the PBF lies in translating and publishing Bibles, and it has already published Bibles in 12 languages. Currently, PBF oversees a group of Biblical Scholars and language experts who translate the pastoral Bible into modern Chinese. A new translation of the New Testament in Chinese with commentaries and Lectio Divina for every chapter was published in 2014. The translation of the Old Testament books into traditional and simplified Chinese is nearing completion. A guide for Lectio Divina for each chapter or paragraph of the Bible makes this Bible unique in the world. Once completed, the Bible Translation project would be the most significant contribution of the Claretians to the Catholic Chinese-speaking world.

In 2015, the Claretians established a community in Hong Kong after the diocese entrusted them with the pastoral care of Epiphany Parish in Lantau Island. Over the years, the missionaries made efforts to support the scattered Catholic population in various villages on the extensive Lantau Island. In addition to offering faith formation through Bible classes and devotional activities, the parish regularly organized programs to care for the poor and elderly by distributing food and necessities in all the centres.

Parish Pastoral ministry provided the foundation for reaching out to the poor and most needy, particularly those affected by Hansen’s disease in southern China. During these years of visits and service to these people in the peripheries, the greatest treasure the Lord has provided the missionaries with is a committed group of lay associates. “The Mothers’ Meal: Family to Family Support” was an initiative of the Claretians in Macau to reach out to the most needy of society during the pandemic times. With the help of socially committed volunteers, the initiative provided food and provisions to several families. 

The organisation known as Candle Light Hong Kong, a charitable group, was officially established in 2016 under the guidance of the Claretians in Hong Kong and Macau. This organization oversees various social welfare initiatives in China and other parts of Asia. Candle Light has initiated several welfare projects thanks to the generous support of numerous friends and donors in Hong Kong and Macau. These projects include providing housing for individuals affected by leprosy in China, supporting the educational requirements of underprivileged children in Nepal, conducting relief and housing efforts for flood victims in India, offering medical aid to economically disadvantaged patients in the Philippines and India, and providing assistance to refugees in Poland, among other endeavours.

The number of Claretians working in the area is not many, but the Lord has greatly multiplied their efforts! This truly represents the fulfilment of the Gospel’s promise of a hundred-fold outcome! Each anniversary and jubilee are a time to express gratitude to the Lord for the past and a chance to renew the commitment for the future. We stand in gratitude to the pioneers for their witness of life with a promise to offer our lives for Christ’s Mission entrusted to us in the Church through the Congregation.

Our Lady of China

 

May 13
Today this year the Church in Hong Kong and China celebrates the moveable Memorial of Our Lady of China, while in Taiwan it is celebrated with the rank of Feast. Since 1973, it has been celebrated annually on the day before Mothers' Day (the second Sunday in May), and takes the triple significance of Saturday (Mary's day), May (Mary's month) and the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This year, Mothers' Day also happily coincides with the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Macau celebrates the Feast on Chinese New Year Day, using the red liturgical colour.

The Confucian tradition allows the Chinese faithful to readily accept the importance of devotion to the Blessed Mother, as filial piety is primary to the cultivation of virtue in the Chinese culture. The love for the Blessed Virgin is present in all nations through different artistic forms, and the Chinese people have one of their own that is particularly important, but unfortunately, little known. The importance is due to apparitions of the Virgin Mary and a famous painting in Donglu.

Parish Church of Donglu

Church of Donglu in 1904

Situated about 20 km southeast of the city of Baoding, in the Province of Hebei surrounding Beijing, the humble village of Dōnglǘ﹙東閭村﹚ has never been well known. Donglu became a Catholic village during the active missionary period, and the Vincentianserected a church dedicated to Our Lady in the nineteenth century.

The year 1900 was a bloody year in the secular and Catholic history of China. The Boxer Rebellion broke out as a result of foreign domination, and Catholics were easy targets as Catholicism was viewed as a foreign institution of domination. There were about 700 to 800 Catholics in the village. When persecution broke out, about 300 to 400 Catholics from elsewhere fled to Donglu.

In June 1900, more than 3,000 strong Boxers surrounded the village. It should have been an easy job for them to conquer the simple village. It would be absolutely impossible to lose, with the great army equipped with cannons among other weapons, as opposed to a village greatly out-manned and out-powered. However, the Boxers were unprepared for divine intervention.

The clergy summoned all the old and the children to the church and asked them to pray fervently to Our Lady of Donglu. They prayed day and night, while the young fought with the Boxers. It was reported that for several times “a woman in white” appeared above the church, shining brightly and floating in the air, witnessed within and without the village. There was also the phenomenon of “an army of white angelic figures riding on white horses”, reported not by the Donglu Catholics but by the Boxers. The army was seen marching into the village. There were other reported incidents that could not be understood by natural reason alone.

The Boxers fought daily against Donglu for several months, acquired reinforcements, but still could not conquer the village. They suffered the death of many soldiers and finally retreated.

During the Boxer Rebellion, all churches all over China suffered various degrees of damage, except two that were untouched: the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour in Beijing and the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Donglu.

After the Rebellion, the villagers of Donglu, in thanksgiving to God, replaced the old church with a new twin-towered Gothic-styled church in Donglu.

The Painting of Our Lady of Donglu

Original Painting of Our Lady of Donglu

After the construction of the church in 1904, the pastor commissioned a virgin to paint an image of the Blessed Virgin. The picture was placed above the altar but soon deemed not solemn enough for veneration. The new pastor, Fr. Flament, C.M., came in 1908, and immediately hired a French artist residing in Shanghai and commissioned another painting. This new painting replaced the original one above the altar immediately.

Basing on a painting of the Empress Dowager Cixi﹙慈禧太后﹚, the artist drew a portrait of Mary that is royal in appearance and high in prestige, holding a sceptre in her right hand. He also drew the baby Jesus dressed royally standing upright supported by his Mother, unlike the usual Western style of holding the baby Jesus in Mary's arm. At the top of the painting, these words were written: “Mother of God, Queen of Donglu, pray for us.”

Several miracles of healing attributed to the image were reported in the 1920s and 1930s.

Official Portrait of Our Lady of China

The first and only plenary meeting of the bishops in China took place in 1924 in Shanghai, presided by Archbishop Celso Constantini (later Cardinal), the great Apostolic Delegate to China. During the Synod, the bishops felt that an official portrait of Our Lady was needed prior to consecrating China to the Mother of God. Archbishop Constantini saw a replica of the image of Our Lady of Donglu that was kept in Shanghai, and decided with the bishops that it would become the official image of Our Lady of China. Pope Pius XI granted the request and promulgated the image as Our Lady of China ﹙中華聖母﹚in 1928.

Because of the official promulgation, it is the only image that can be legitimately called “Our Lady of China”. The painting and the village that enshrines it have had a long and prominent history, although unfortunately few Catholics in China and in the world know about it. In 2002, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., dedicated a mosaic of Our Lady depicted in Chinese style on the left side of the nave, but incorrectly labelled it as Our Lady of China.

National Shrine of Our Lady of China

Because of the decision at the plenary meeting, a small shrine under the patronage of Our Lady of China was built and dedicated in 1926 right next to the church in Donglu. Shrine activities were promoted and became very popular, especially in May, the month of Mary, when a great number of pilgrims travelled to Donglu from afar to pay tribute to Our Lady of China.

With the petition of the local bishop and the report submitted by the apostolic delegate Archbishop Maro Zanin, Pope Pius XI bestowed the title of national shrine﹙國家朝聖地﹚on the church in 1937. The only other national shrine canonically approved in mainland China is the well-known Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Sheshan﹙佘山進教之佑大殿﹚near Shanghai.

Destruction and Rebuilding

Unfortunately, war broke out with Japan in the same year, and in 1940 the government used the church for storage purpose. One day an armed soldier came in the church and shot at the painting, leaving a hole in the top. Knowing that the painting must not stay there, two young parishioners broke into the church on one night and hid the painting, and later courageously brought it to the bishop at the Baoding chancery office. In 1941, the church was destroyed. In 1948, when Baoding was liberated, the painting was returned to Donglu and kept safely at a parishioner's home.

The Cultural Revolution broke out in 1966. Catholic were ordered to hand out all religious items. The portrait of Our Lady of Donglu was also given to the authority and was stored in an elementary school. The painting was carelessly destroyed in 1969 when it was used a mat to place wheat on. 

The faithful in Donglu did not have a church until 1989 when they obtained the authorization to build a new one. In 1990, Pope John Paul II bestowed on them an apostolic blessing, which greatly encouraged the faithful in Donglu. Construction lasted 3 years and involved help from many strangers who offered help. The new church was dedicated on 1 May 1992. A faithful but inexact replica of the original image was again placed on top of the high altar.

Recent Activities and Persecutions

Because of the formal papal recognition of the shrine, underground Catholic pilgrims have always considered Donglu as a sign of fidelity to Rome, despite the fact that the shrine is officially administered by the Chinese Patriotic Church and “patriotic” churches are in general detested by underground Catholics. The Office of Religion of the Chinese Communist Party has always feared any symbolic sign of unity of the underground Catholic Church its possible influence on a great mass of people. After the reconstruction of the church, the religious authority has forbidden religious pilgrimages to the destination. Despite warnings, Chinese pilgrims still flocked to the shrine.

During the Marian month in 1995, over 100,000 underground Catholics came and prayed at the shrine. It was reported that a spectacular apparition took place on May 23 that year and was later certified by the local bishop. In 1996, the government wanted to stop pilgrims once and for all, and mobilized 5,000 troops, about 30 armoured cars and some helicopters to seal off the village and destroy the shrine. Since then, persecution on the underground Church, as well as restriction and surveillance of the patriotic Church in the region, has increased significantly. Ever year, especially when May is approaching, the inhabitants in the village are warned not to conduct formal public ceremonies and banned from hosting Christian pilgrims travelling there from outside the village.

Presently there are about 2,500 residents in the village, and a great majority of them are Catholic. Priests and bishops who have resided in the parish have constantly been jailed or even “disappeared”. Although daily Mass is celebrated, outsiders are not allowed to participate.

My Pilgrimage to Donglu

I have personally visited thousands of shrines and churches around the world, but I must admit that my visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of China﹙中華聖母國家朝聖地﹚in Donglu is certainly the most memorable. I had read so much about Donglu but had no idea how to commute to the village, but I trusted in divine providence.

I was in Beijing for a work trip in 2004. On the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, I travelled alone to Baoding, the major city that is closest to Donglu, via a slow train from Beijing. From Baoding, I flagged down several taxis, but they had no idea where Donglu is, at a time when Google Maps did not yet exist. Finally, I found a taxi driver who knew Donglu only because he grew up nearby the village, and I thankfully jumped into the taxi. After more than half an hour's ride, I could see the spires of the church from far away as the taxi was approaching the tiny village.

The taxi driver let me off near the church, and I begged the driver to wait for me there so that he could take me back to Baoding. Fortunately he agreed. The next major hurdle came when I found the gate to the church locked. I rang the bell, and a priest came out to meet me. To my disrupted joy, he said he could not let me in. I begged him to let me visit the church for I had come from a long distance. He then explained to me that visitors were not allowed by the government and I would be in great danger if the police would found out about my visit. I again begged him, and his heart softened. He looked around from behind the gate, and hurried me in.

I was extremely thankful! Standing in front of the colourful façade of the shrine with such a rich history, I rejoiced and praised the Lord. As I did to each church that I had visited, I took out my camera and tried to take some pictures. The priest stopped me from doing so! He again warned me that, for my good, I should not take any pictures. If I were caught with photos of the church banned from the public, I would be in deep trouble! As the Hongkongese saying goes, you have not visited the place if you do not take a photo. I again begged the priest that I would take the risk. He looked around, and told me to snap the shots quickly. And quickly I did.

The priest then took me into the church. I again had to beg the poor priest to let me record the memory in pictures, and he told me to take one or two only. Needless to say, I took many.

The church, built in the form of a cruciform, features 4 lines of pews in a single aisle, separated from the sanctuary by an altar rail. As in the Chinese custom, two banners were hung from the two columns. On the left is written “Adoring the Blessed Sacrament with a hidden body who humbled and lowered himself onto the altar”, and on the right “Praising the Blessed Mother who is crowned with pearls and ascending onto the throne”. Such a beautiful poem in the form of couplet with parallelism!

The interior of the church is not richly decorated, but the jewel—the painting of Our Lady of China—is found on top of the high altar. Words alone cannot explain the beauty of the image adequately. Pay special attention to the gowns worn by the Virgin and the Infant Jesus.

Present image of Our Lady of China in the National Shrine in Donglu

After admiring the portrait and praying there for a short time, I thanked the priest gratefully. As much as I love taking pictures, I did not dare asking for a picture with him for fear of his safety. The father escorted me out of the shrine, after ensuring there were no plainclothes policemen or officials in sight. I found the taxi-driver waiting for me, and happily returned to Baoding and then to Beijing, feeling as if I had come back from heaven.


Looking back to that day visiting Donglu, I still feel immensely thankful. With my very limited Mandarin at that time, without any prior knowledge on how to go to the remote village, I was able to see Our Lady of China with my own eyes. I could have been caught by police and even possibly put to jail. If I had to choose again, I would still do it. What else is better than finding yourselves in a church blessed with a priceless treasure and a blessed history?

Please pray for the Catholics in China belonging to either the patriotic or underground Churches, that they may freely worship Christ and venerate her Heavenly Mother.


Our Lady of Donglu, pray for us.
Our Lady of China, pray for us.
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

Fire, baptism and division

Reflection: Luke 12:49-57 The Gospel for this Sunday is part of Jesus’ teachings to the disciples during his journey to Jerusalem, where death on the cross awaits him. Jesus explains the purpose of his mission through three images: fire, baptism and division. What is the fire that he came to bring on earth? What is the baptism that he must receive? Why does the Lord say, he comes not to bring peace but division? After the flood in the book of Genesis, God makes a promise: “Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Gen 9:11). Therefore, the Israelites came to the conviction that, to cleanse the world of iniquity, God would no longer use water, but fire. The fire of God is not intended to destroy or torture those who committed mistakes. Instead, God wants to destroy evil and purify us from sin through the fire of his Word and the Holy Spirit. This fire lit by Jesus is his Word that saves, cleanses, and heals. It is his Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, descended like tongues of fire on the disciples (Acts 2:3-11) and changed their lives forever. “How I wish it were already kindled!” It expresses Jesus’ burning desire to see the world’s weeds burned in the fires of his Word and Spirit. The images of baptism and fire are interrelated. To unleash the fire of the Spirit, Jesus says, he must first go through a baptism. This baptism refers to Jesus’ immersion in the waters of death. He will indeed be overwhelmed by the waves of humiliation, suffering, and death, but these will not extinguish the fire of his Word, love, and Spirit. The books of the prophets have introduced the Messiah to be “the prince of peace”; during his reign, “peace will have no end” (Is 9:5-6). At his birth, in Bethlehem, the angels sing about “Peace on earth!” (Lk 2:14). But now, Jesus says he has come to bring divisions. Jesus was only quoting a passage from the prophet Micah (Mic 7:6) to explain the divisions between young and old generations and among the family members. The Words of Jesus is the fire that wants to destroy all the unjust structures, inhuman situations, discrimination, greed for money and the frenzy of power. Many reject the words of Jesus because they feel threatened by this “fire.” They react violently because the Word of God disagrees with their projects of selfishness. At this point, divisions and conflicts arise. Today the Lord confronts us with the question: How fiery is your love? How fervent is your faith? Can our faith accept contradiction and ridicule without reducing us to silence?

 “Do not prevent them”

Coffee With God

13 August 2022

Reflection: Matthew 19: 13-15 Who doesn’t love children? Parents and family love watching them growing up. Being a parent is a vocation. But giving birth to a child does not make anyone a parent. A parent is one who accepts the task of integral formation of a child and raises him or her into physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual maturity. Today’s Gospel reminds us of our responsibility to take our children to God. How often do we hear secular-minded parents say, “Faith is a personal choice, and religious beliefs should not be imposed on children? Let the children choose their faith when they are old enough to do so.” But these generous parents, ironically, do not give that equal freedom to their kids when it comes to choosing the food they eat, the dress they wear, the schools they go to, and the activities they engage in. Because when it comes to these aspects, parents believe they know what is best for their children and wish to give them the best of everything. The Gospel talks about people bringing their children to Jesus so that he might bless them. A faulty understanding of secularism and personal freedom prevents today's parents from bringing their children to God. There are many Catholic parents who do not consider religious and faith formation as anything worthwhile. The parents would not mind if their children skipped the Sunday liturgy and catechism to attend tuition classes and co-curricular activities. While giving their children the best of everything, parents no longer feel the necessity of introducing God to their children. It is the sacred mission of the parents to teach their children not only to aspire to be successful people in the world but, even more, important to aspire for heaven! “Do Not Prevent Them” Jesus rebukes his disciples who tried to send the parents and their children away from approaching Jesus: It is a moving Gospel narrative. Our experience is that children in grave difficulty are often given extraordinary parents, ready and willing to make every sacrifice. Parents of children with special needs turn out to be extremely gifted special parents. But these parents should not be left alone! As disciples of Jesus today, we should not leave them aside; instead, we must accompany them in their struggles and offer them moments of shared joy so that they are not left alone with their daily routines. Pope Francis reminds us of the lesson about the angels of children: The Lord judges our life according to what the angels of children tell him because these angels “always behold the face of the Father who is in heaven” (cf. Mt 18:10). Let us always ask ourselves: what will the children’s guardian angels tell God about us?

 

God blesses the choices you make with Him

Coffee With God  

12 August 2022

Reflection: Matthew 19: 3- 12 Once again, Matthew presents a catechesis for his community on issues of marriage and divorce and human relationships. Perhaps he was witnessing troubles in family relationships in his community and reminded them of the sacredness of marriage. The influence of the Judaisers and Pharisees on the Christian community was so strong because most of the believers who accepted Jesus came from the Jewish faith. Now Matthew reminds them of the teachings of Jesus on marriage. It is not an ordinary union of one man and one woman; instead, it is a sacrament – because God wills it in his creative plan. The world of Jesus and Matthew was patriarchal. On marrying, the wife left her family and moved to the husband’s home, becoming a member of the husband’s extended family. Both remained under the general control of the husband’s father until the father’s death. Within the culture, only the husband could initiate divorce; the wife could not. But, Matthew wished to insist to his community that Jesus denied the universally accepted right of the male within the culture to initiate divorce. The answer given by Jesus, “What God has joined together, let no person separate,” fails to convince many people even today. Many continue to raise the same question of the Pharisees: “Is it legal to divorce?” The Gospel answers – Marriage is a Sacrament – willed by God – and the Sacraments are for life; they are not meant for a short period. It is never easy to have two people united as a couple. The Word of God teaches us that married people are no longer two but one. But how does that logic work? It is the logic of love, surrender and sacrifice. The love between the spouses enables them to sacrifice their lives for each other. Jesus often compared his love for his people to the love between spouses. St. Paul would develop this teaching to describe the relationship between the Church and Christ. Love without conditions, total surrender to each other, and even offering one’s life for one’s partner are the principles of marriage. This is how Jesus loves his people - the Church, without conditions, even unto death on a cross. Whoever believes in Jesus and agrees to live by what Jesus taught would not consider separating from one another.  

The fear of the disciples of Jesus is our fear today. They say, “it would be better not to marry!” Many youngsters are afraid of making choices in life – for marriage and family or for religious life and priesthood. They are afraid of failure in their choices. Running away from making life choices is failing to place our trust in God. Pope St. John Paul II told the youth: “God will not make choices for you, but he blesses the choices you make with Him.” Jesus repeats his words of power and encouragement to us: “Do not be afraid, only believe.”