The Gaokao (高考)

In China, applying to college is about one thing and one thing only: the gaokao. Gaokao (高考) is short for 普通高等学校招生全国统一考试 (“The National Higher Education Entrance Examination”) and a student’s score on this all-important standardized test is pretty much the only thing that matters when it comes to determining whether or not they can GO TO COLLEGE -- and if they can, what schools they can attend.

Students waiting outside of the exam centre in Dongguan 

As you might imagine, preparing for and taking the gaokao is a grueling ordeal, and students are under huge amounts of pressure from their parents and teachers to do well. THE FINALyear of high school, especially, is often focused intensely on preparation for the exam, and it isn’t unheard of for parents to go so far as quitting their own jobs to help their children study during this year.

This pressure has even been linked to some cases of depression and SUICIDE amongst Chinese teens, especially those who perform poorly on the exam.

Art students draw sketches in Jianan, Shandong province 

Probably needless to say, because the gaokao is so vitally important, there are always students willing to attempt cheating on it.

Invigilators monitor examinees in Suining, Sichuan in case of any malpractices. 

And with modern technology cheating has become a veritable arms race between students, the authorities, and enterprising merchants who offer everything from false erasers and rulers to tiny headsets and CAMERAS connected to off-site helpers using the internet to scan questions and feed you answers. Authorities now often outfit test sites with a variety of signal-blocking electronic devices

These students took oxygen while studying chemistry at a hospital in Suining.

Leading up to the exam, students and teachers take part in 

pressure-release activities, like this trust-fall.

- Photos Courtesy: http://www.businessinsider.com/

And speaking of tests ...

The puzzle that children solve in seconds can create headache for adults. Consider this one:

This was a puzzle asked in the test for admission to the elementary school in Hong Kong. In the social network media it has become a viral phenomenon!  In which parking spot number is the car parked in the illustration? This was a question to the six-years old children, seeking admission to Primary school in Hong Kong.  Children have 20 seconds to answer.

As expected, the kids take a few seconds to solve this puzzle, while the Secondary school students solve it in few minutes, but the university students and adults grind their head on it for hours looking for the answer!  Why? The solution is easier than it appears!  You just have to put aside logical thinking and approach the problem more creatively. This is what is known as lateral thinking, fostered in Eastern culture.

Have you found the solution? Remember to think like a child. If not yet, patiently read through the blog, and you will get it!  ... do not cheat ... !!

A work of Biblical proportions

• Dino Mazzoli is an Italian artist living in England

• He has undertaken a work of Biblical Proportions!
• The House-bound artist copied by hand the entire Christian Community Bible
• made over 5000 color illustrations of scenes from the bible 
• Years of work - finally completed
• He hopes to make his work appear online soon

On June 26, Dino wrote to Fr. Alberto. Excerpts: 

…I have the feeling that my Bible will be well received.. I frequently look at work done and admire at myself to how I have been able to finish this immense work... My 80 years I could not write one new page.. Someone must have prayed a lot for me!

My dream is to see this bible published in a BOOK, or better, in many volumes as it has 1500 pages of large size with 5000 color illustrations, all handmade. No one has done such a thing before. (Please do not misunderstand me ... I do not mean to boast of Mazzoli Dino ... I'm just a sinner). II have more than 15,000 works of art that I don't want to exhibit or sell. 

I will not receive a penny when this work is published. All services will go to charity.

Fr. Alberto, hope you can read this letter. Given my current condition,  Usually I spend 20 hours in bed and the other 4 I fight to be seated... but I'm going to watch the World Cup football matches...!!

I ask you to pray for my family and ask for your blessing.

Celebrating the Word of God

Preaching the Gospel through varied means is our mission and Claretian Publications in Macau has been engaging the media, both traditional and new, in its evangelising mission. 

This is the Chinese Blog : 與聖言同行

During the past couple of months, we have introduced a new blog in three languages to share the exegesis and reflections on the Sunday Liturgy. 

Our English Blog: Celebrating the Word of God

The reflections are by Fr. Fernando Armellini, an Italian Missionary and Biblical scholar. With his permission, the original Italian text is translated into English, Chinese and Spanish. 

The Blog in Spanish: Celebración de la Palabra

Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry gets a special emphasis in the Church's focus on Evangelization in the modern world. Fr. Jose has been working with the Diocesan Youth Commission for the past three years. The Commission organizes regular training programme, prayer gatherings, pilgrimages sports events etc. in schools, universities and parishes in Hong Kong. The video is a few visuals from the annual sports meet conducted by the Diocesan English Youth.

 

PS: If you do not have the answer to the puzzle yet, 

imagine the picture rotated 180 degrees and have a look at it again !!

Welcome to the China Bulletin - June 2014

The Church in China holds over 22,000 baptisms on Easter

During the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday over 22,000 Chinese have been baptized, in the mainland China. Hebei Province, home to most of the Catholics in China, has registered more baptisms.

In the Diocese of Hong Kong over 3000 adults have been baptized during the Easter Vigil 

Jubilee Year of Religious Profession

Alberto with Jijo 

Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy is in his Silever Jubilee year of the Religious profession. He made his religious profession on 31 May 1990, in the Claretian Novitiate in Bangalore, India. We thank God for the gift of Jijo to the community and wish him abundance of blessings from the heavens, lots of cheers and good health in this year of grace in the years to come!

Indian Pilgrimage...

Fr. Jojo lead a group of faithful on a 10 days pilgrimage to India in the first week of May 2014. Fr. Jojo writes: 

"A Pilgrimage is a journey trusting in the providence of God and going to the places wherever He leads". Well, this is what I told the people who asked for the itinerary and detailed plan of our trip. And the definition that I gave was to escape from the duties that I was suppose to do. These words of mine created lot of tension and fears among the people even though they did not express it explicitly. 

However we felt God's providence throughout our journey and strengthened our faith and trust in God. We visited churches, temples, families, homes for orphans etc. In short, we entered wherever people welcomed us. 

We were also blessed to meet many important church leaders from India like Cardinals, Bishops, Nuncio etc.......and all these without any appointment. 

And we felt that Church is a big Family. Even though many were not able to talk the language every one understood the language of LOVE which made our trip an enriching experience. 

The local Newspaper picked up the story of the Chinese group visiting the country! 

From the Editor's Desk:

We have been talking about it for long! And finally when the project gets to its completion, there is an air of joy, accomplishment, satisfaction and of course anticipation and anxieties... The publishing of the new revised Chinese Bible arouses a mixture of all these emotions! Finally we are at it! 

This is the cover of the Chinese New Testament that is expected by the end of June. The text is in traditional (old) characters, for the South China, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan region. 

'Sharing the Joy of the Gospel in China' 

Our mission is to help China build 'bridges', no 'walls'. This book is a step towards this direction. Written by a Chinese teacher presents the history, challenges and potential prospects for evangelization in China. The book will also be released in Chinese in the near future.

Bible Diary 2015 and Daily Gospel 2015 

The Final touches on the Spanish Bible Diary 2015 and Chinese Daily Gospel 2015 are underway. This year we introduced a new concept for the Spanish version of the Bible Diary. Alberto spent a few weeks in Mexico working with the team and finally it is into print: 87,500 copies with for more than 20 destinations across the glob! Here we have the cover: 

Ensure your copies today! You can also order for other books from Claretian Publications by visiting us here: http://bibleclaret.org/ 

Did you remember to pray?!

Pope Francis has warned couples not to substitute cats and dogs for children, saying it will only lead to solitude and the 'bitterness of loneliness' in old age. 
But there are things we must learn from these dogs!

It's all part of training! Not just the dogs, do not forget to train ourselves too!