Our team of Editors in the Chinese Bible project

Our Publications move ahead in its Chinese Bible Project with a group of Chinese editors, who have done their Biblical studies in Europe and the United States and have returned to the country. Some of them also render their services as visiting professors in various institutes of Theology around. 

Fr. Alberto with the Chinese Bible Project Team

In the first week of December, we have come together at our house in Zhuhai for a couple of days of review of the work done, the methodology and a shared work-plan to carry out this project. 

 Days of reflection and sharing... 

in our House in Zhuhai, China

Our goal for the New Year 2013: The Chinese New Testament be published by mid-2013. This will be a project of about 1200 pages with new Chinese translation, new introductions and commentaries and a guide to Lectio Divina (Read, meditate, pray, act ) for each chapter of the Bible. Meanwhile the team is already working on the translation of the Old Testament.

...And meetings must end with a meal, 

with a promise to meet again!

China to home the largest Christian population in the world in 20 years

During a recent presentation of a book on Rome, a prominent theologian said China will be home to the majority of Christians in the world within the next two decades.

"Interreligious dialogue is something that China, which have the largest Christian population in the world in 20 years lives every day," said Harvey Cox during the presentation at the Gregorian University in Rome, in his book "A Catholic with Religions World. "

Cox asks in his book where Christians have been in the past, where we are now, and where we will be in the future. "There are two phenomena in the world today," he added. "First is no longer recognize Christianity as a Western religion and the second is that the countries with the largest number of Christians do not have a culture or Christian traditions. "

The book launch was part of a session of two days of talks at the Gregorian University to mark the 80th anniversary of the Faculty of Missiology.

Missionaries in China Celebrating Christmas

The following visuals are from the Christmas celebrations in various communities where our Missionaries render their services

From the Christmas celebrations in Taiwan

Fr. Joshy, during the celebrations in Taiwan

Fr. Mario officiates the Christmas Mass at Keelung, Taipei. 

Frs. Liju [left], Jijo and Bobin [right] concelebrates

Fr. Mario during the Celebrations

From a "Nativity Scene" by a group of School Children in Macau 

 Fr. Ezakias in "Santa-gear" for a Christmas Celebration 

in a Home for the Aged in Hong Kong

"Santa" with some of the parishioners 

and inmates at Bhak Tin, Hong Kong

Fr. Ezakias with the caroling team 

at St. Teresa's Church, Hong Kong

The Christmas Tree and the Crib at St. Benedict Church, Hong Kong

With the Altar Boys of St Benedict Church, Hong Kong

During the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 

 The Hong Kong Diocesan Youth together with 
the inmates of Dawn Island, after a caroling session. 
Dawn Island is the treatment and rehabilitation facility for 
youngsters addicted to substance abuse.

Fr.Jose together with the youth group and parents 
during a pilgrimage to St. Joseph's Church, Yim Tin Jai

HK Diocese opens the Year of Faith

Over 7,500 people gathered  at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok on 16 December to mark the closing  of the Year of Laity and the opening of the Year of Faith.

 Rev. Fr. Dominic Chan, Cardinal Joseph Zen and John Cardinal Tong Hon, 

during the opening ceremony of the Year of Faith

During the two-hour programme that began with community singing of "We are all Catholics", the bishop of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon, announced the formal opening of the Year of Faith.

Rev. Dominic Chan, Vicar General, lead the gathering in the recitation of the Prayer for the Year of the Laity and that was followed by a pictorial summary of various activities that took place during the year, projected on big screens hung around the giant exhibition hall.

 

The online chat sessions from Kolkutta, Sydney, Taipei and Toronto, where an innovative idea, which provided a glimpse of the the lives of Chinese Catholics living outside of Hong Kong.

 A group of Catholics from St Benedict Church, at the venue

The reflection on the seven sacraments in the Church summarized the life of a Catholic in Faith and that proved to be an apt platform for the opening of the Year of Faith.

A beautiful rendition of Psalm 51 by the  well-known Chinese singer, Francis Yip Lai-yee, lead the gathering into pray with one accord: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity…”

Welcome Fr. Jijo!

The latest news at the beginning of the Advent Season is indeed a joyful one for the Claretian Mission in China: Fr. Superior General has assigned Fr. Jijo Kandankulathy for the China Mission. He is assigned to the Macau - Hong Kong  Community. He has joined the Claretian Community in Taiwan in the first week of December. Fr. Jijo will do his two years of language course in Taiwan before he moves to Macau.

"You are right, he is the one"! Fr. Rossa seems to say so, pointing Fr. Jijo [file: May 2009]

Fr. Jijo is no stranger to the China Mission. In fact it was one of his earlier visits to Macau and the Mainland in May 2009 which inspired him to opt for the Mission in China.

Fr. Jijo with the "Team Macau" in 2009

That time he was on an internship programme as part of his Post Graduate Degree in English Literature, he traveled to Macau and the Mainland. After his Month-long experience here, he had a short write-up for the May 2009 issue of the Macau Bulletin. Read his article here:

http://macaubulletin.blogspot.com/2009/05/claretian-fr-jijo-kandamkulathil.html

100 million Bibles printed in China

The Amity Printing Press in Nanjing, where we print our Bibles, Daily Gospel, Bible Diaries and other books, has just celebrated the event of  100 million Bibles printed.
 

 This photo was published in the official newspaper of China with this caption:
Two matching workers in the  Amity  Bible printing press... This company, the largest in the world to print Bibles, has printed more than 100 million since 1987 and has been exporting Bibles to over 70 countries and regions.

It took 20 years for the first 50 million; and in the last five years, there were  50 million Bibles printed here. Incredible?! 

Of these, 60 million were in Chinese language and are distributed throughout the country, while another 40 million are in 116 languages, which are scattered over 70 countries and regions.

 

                            A moment in the celebration of the 100 million

We, at the Claretian Publications, have been been printing with Amity in the last 15 years and have printed several million copies by this time. We have printed Bibles in 12 languages. Around 200 guests met for this celebration. We have so much friendship with them that Fr. Alberto was invited to share with the visitors, his work experience. 

Divine , who works with us in Macao, with one of our friends of Amity

You see it is a very special relationship. Although the press is about 2000 kilometers from Macao, our communication is continuous over the Internet ... It's like having an office with them, available to assist us at all times, morning, noon and night. Though 60 million Bibles have been distributed in China in the past 25 years, the restrictions remain. Distribution is permitted only from the parishes or places of worship authorized. The public sale of the Bible is not allowed in libraries. It's time to wait and hope, also for the Word of God.

 

                          Our great friend and boss in Amity: Mr. Li Chunnong

 

  The Mr. Li and Mr. Hans , former director

                    Dvine and Fanny ... are like sisters. Fanny has just had her baby whom we call " CJ ". She is responsible for all our shipments abroad.

 

The 200 guests leave their signature and post in this panel.

 

Photo to remember: the 200 guests from around the world. 

A 'Claretian-hand' in the University of St. Joseph project

 

St. Joseph University is the Catholic University in Macao. This is a project that began 15 years ago as joint venture of the Catholic Church in Portugal and the Diocese of Macau. Recently, the university has signed a MoU with the Macau-SAR Government, through which the SAR Government will assist in setting up the required infrastructure for the purpose of the University. Upon request of the bishop of Macau, Fr. Alberto represents the Catholic Foundation for Higher Education - the apex body that supervises the University Project. The new contract signed with the SAR Government will make the new campus operational in two years.

Headlines in the local newspaper of Macau

Our friends from Hong Kong

When our Missionaries arrived in Hong Kong, we have found the generosity, support and accompaniment of a select group of lay people. Among them is Jessica Chan and her family. She often put aside her professional work to help us, especially in the distribution of our Bibles and books in English and Chinese, and has made us a bridge to public and religious institutions and even with the diocese.

For her birthday,  Jessica accompanied by her husband and son came
to Macau to celebrate with family

"Happy Birthday" = 祝你 生日快樂

The Small Christian Community

So are our Masses in our house Zhuhai, China.

 Readings are made ​​in Chinese
while homily is translated from English

In December we celebrated two birthdays in Zhuhai. This lady who is blessed on her birthday birthday has put at the disposal of the Catholics of Zhuhai a large room of her factory for the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist.

And this is Teresa, the team coordinator of the Chinese Bible Project in China. She has been a great partner in our Ministry for the past three years. Her commitment to the ministry of the Word of God enables us to move our Chinese Bible Project move smooth, with new notes and comments.

A Printing House that has printed 100 Million Bibles!

This Video on the Amity Printing Press was created when the press had completed printing 50 Million Bibles.