Welcome to China Bulletin - April 2015

He is Risen, Alleluia!  

From the Easter Celebrations in St. Benedict Church, Shatin Wai

Youth Ministry

While Star Street in Wanchai is better known for its chic dining options than for cultivating a sense of spiritual calm, over the past year people have been finding out that there is indeed a spiritual oasis there. Since April 2014, the Diocesan English Youth (DEY) has been holding a young adult Eucharistic Adoration evening at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish on the first Tuesday of every month.

The Youth Coordinators with Bishop Joseph Ha, Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong,  (standing third from left)
after the one-year anniversary of Youth Adoration in Our Lady of mount Carmel Church, Wanchai 

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha joined the March 3 service to help mark the event’s first anniversary, together with Father Jose Cherukara, spiritual director for DEY, along with around 80 people of all ages, including teenagers, who came to pray and be with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

The idea for a monthly activity came about when DEY was looking for ways to better minister to young English-speaking Catholics. They took their cue from Nightfever, an initiative started by young people in Germany following World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, who seeking to share their deep longing for Christ with their peers, leading them to seek new forms of encounter.One way was to invite young people to stop by a church for a few quiet moments with God before continuing on with their evening. 

DEY’s monthly Eucharistic Adoration takes a similar approach, adopting a worship style that appeals to some of the sensibilities of young people. Between 8.00pm and 10.00pm, people can spend  time to pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament. 

One aspect of the evening that people have found the most attractive is the music, a blend of traditional hymns,Taizé, and other contemporary songs. The sound of the organ, guitar, violin and flute helps to create a unique atmosphere for worship that young people don’t often find in this city.

The music is complemented by a few readings and reflections as well as periods of silence. 

Additionally, confession is available for those wishing to avail of the sacrament.

For many, the service has become a welcome respite from their busy work and study lives, drawing between 50 to 80 people each month.

From the Publications

The future of our past ...

History of the Claretian missionaries in China dates back to 1920s.  From 1937 to 1952 around 30 Claretians lived and worked in China and two of them died in the mission fields. It is more than 62 years since the last Claretian missionary had to leave China on November 1, 1952. The Congregation did not forget this missionary effort of the pioneers in China and has always sought the opportunity to 'return'. 

In 1995 the missionaries who were already studying Chinese in Taiwan made ​​contact again with the old Chinese mission and the Christian community that survived years of Cultural Revolution and absence of sacramental life. To celebrate the 20 years of this re-encounter we have prepared a commemorative booklet in six languages, presented in two editions: Spanish, Japanese, Simplified Chinese  in one edition and Italian, English and Traditional Chinese in another edition.  

Retracing their Footprints - Revisiting Our China Mission

The book presents the history, testimonies and the invitation to follow in the footsteps of our pioneers, who amid so many difficulties sacrificed their lives. They fulfilled the definition of a missionary given by Father Claret, our Founder: 

"... Nothing daunts him; he delights in privations, 

welcomes work;  embraces sacrifices, 

smiles at slander; rejoices in the torments and 

suffering pains and glories in the cross of Jesus Christ ... "

If you are interested in receiving this testimonial book, write to us giving your name, address and number of copies you need ... and in what language you want it.
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The Claretian Bible (Christian Community Bible) in Audio 

Our works with the Bible continues ... This time around, with an audio version of the New Testament. This is approximately 100 hours of audio which provides a meditative listening of the New Testament. It is slow enough to meditate and pray with the text. 

We thank, PAUL GINNIVAN an Australian friend, who spent months doing this recording and we are also pleased to offer it for free download. For a free download of the audio, check the link: http://www.bibleclaret.org/audiobibles/

Adieu dear friends!

Maritza (a Colombian) and Horst (a German)  are married couples and were our "neighbour" friends in Zhuhai, China for years.  Every week we gathered in Zhuhai to celebrate the Eucharist. We will miss them as they leave China after completing their work contract. We pray that "Until we meet again, may God keep you in the palm of His hand" - as said in an Irish prayer.

Paul, Ayi, Teresa, Alberto and Maritza, after the thanks-giving mass in Zhuhai.  The gift is a beautiful poem about the Eucharist written some 200 years ago

A "Thank You" from the Vatican!

Last month we carried a story of Fr. Gustao, an Argentinian Claretian missionary and Director of Claretian Publications in Argentina meeting the Pope and delivering some of the Chinese books from Claretian Publications, Macau to the Pope.

This time we give a follow up of that story -  We received a thanking letter from the Secretary for the books sent from here to the Pope! 

Our Visitors...

Provincial of Chennai visits Missionaries in China 

Father Vincent Anastasiar, Provincial Superior of the Claretian Missionaries of the Province of Chennai in India paid a visit to us in Hong Kong and Macau from March 19-23. Province of Chennai is one of the four Major Organisms of the Claretians in India. Missionaries form the organism serve in different parts of the world. Fr. Vincent was on his way to Kuching, in Malaysia, which is one of the mission projects of the Province of Chennai. 

Fr. Vincent (in the right) at the Holy Spirit Seminary College chapel, in Hong Kong with Mrs Teresa Li and Mr. Peter Li

At the 'Big Buddha' in Lantau Island, with a group of friends form St. Benedict Parish 

Father Alberto, Director of the Claretian Publications in Macau with Father Vincent

Father Vincent together with the Claretian Missionaries who began the Mission Centre in Kuching , Malaysia , in 2012

The Cenacle Sisters - Superior General visits the Community 

The Superior General of the Religious of the Cenacle, Sister Patricia (far left), along with Father Mario, Father Alberto and a group of nuns. Sister Judette (third from left) besides giving religious courses in China, works with us in Macau as a writer and editor. 

The Cenacle Sisters are called to surrender their whole lives to God, through their threefold mission: prayer, community and spiritual ministry.  The Cenacle Sisters were founded in 1826 in La Louvesc, France by Saint Therese Couderc and Father Stephen Terme.  

Father José Rovira and Father Joseph R. Márquez 

Two veteran Claretian professors in religious life, Father José Rovira and Father Joseph R. Márquez were with us in Macau and China for a couple of weeks. 

Father José Rovira and Father Joseph R. Márquez in front of the iconic "Ruins of St. Paul", facade of the Mater Dei Church - Macau 

Fr. Rovira has given more than 45 years dedicated to the study and the teaching of the theology of religious life at the Theological Institute of Consecrated Life - “Claretianum”- and in other university centers in Rome and beyond. In 2011 Prof. Josep Rovira authored the book: “La Vida consagrada hoy. Renovación-Desafíos-Vitalidad” (“Consecrated Life Today. Renewal-Challenges-Vitality”).

Fr. Rovira in front of the statue of Matteo Ricci. 

Father Marquez is a fellow missionary who has worked in Equatorial Guinea and Congo (Africa), South Korea and many years in the Philippines. He is a professor of Bible and theology. He has contributed most of the commentaries of the New Testament of the Christian Community Bible. 

He has also authored the title: FRANCIS: The Pope from the End of the World . Both Father Rovira and Father Marquez, have spent a few days with us in Macau and China