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.

Fr. Ezakias to join the Epiphany Parish

It's now official! Fr. Ezakias Anthony Swamy, Superior of the Claretian Community in Hong Kong will join the Epiphany parish and this will bring all the three Claretians in Hong Kong to serve in the same parish. Epiphany church was raised as a parish in the diocese of Hong Kong on 1 November 2015 and the Claretian Missionaries were entrusted with the pastoral care of the parish. 

Fr. Ezakias will continue to serve in the Rosary Church until the first week of August before he leaves for his home vacations in India. He will take up the new office in Epiphany parish in the Month of October.  Welcome Boss! 

Our latest arrivals from the Publisher's desk

The new translation of the Old Testament into Chinese by the Pastoral Bible Foundation is under way. Many books of the Old Testament are already completed. The Book of Psalms with commentaries and lectio divina for every Psalm is already available on sale in Hong Kong and Macau. The Book will be officially launched during the Hong Kong International Book Fair in the second half of July. 

The Chinese Daily Gospel 2017  is also available for the launch during the HK Book fair. 

Claretian Friends' Gathering in Hong Kong

Over the past couple of months, we have been talking about the establishment of a charity organization under the aegis of the Claretian Missionaries, called The Candle Light. 

The Candle Light team with the Missionaries 

The members of the Charity are associates and collaborators of the Missionaries in Hong Kong and Macau. on 20 June, they have organised a fund-raising gathering for the Claretian Friends in Hong Kong. It was first of its kind - conceived, planned and executed - by the Candle Light. 

Friends from St. Benedict Church, Shatin 

The participants spent time in prayer, sharing, singing and of course, sharing of the food! Many of our friends from Ngau Tau Kok and Shatin attended the gathering. 

Friends from Ngau Tau Kok 

From China to the world, Missionaries without borders !

Biblical formation is a project that takes our time and dedication. We learn a lot with the (original Italian) commentaries of Fernando Armellini. We translate his commentaries into Chinese (both traditional and Simplified), English and Spanish and publish them online through our weekly blogs. Of late, we find more collaborators in the project - especially from India.  His commentaries are now translated into some of the Indian languages, such as Malayalam :

Yes, yes! ... 'The fault lies with the Tower of babel !!! The Claretian also have a biblical portal to accompany the biblical formation at different levels: http://www.biblecmf.com/

Jesuits and their successful engagement with China

The Jesuits who came to China in the 17th century knew it do very well. They came to learn and make friends with the Chinese. Only then they were invited to share their faith. Matteo Ricci , Adam Schall von Bell and Giuseppe Castiglione - linguists, philosophers, astronomers and a painter - key people who left a legacy in education, science and art in China. These missionaries have a message of exceptional importance today: 

A set of three videos tell their stories. Chinese television has aired them and have been seen by millions of Chinese.

NLP and communication

"Neuro Linguistic Programming"

The Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a communication strategy for personal development and psycho-therapy. Its creators claim that there is a connection between ( "neuro") neurological processes, language ( "linguistic") and behavioral patterns learned through experience ( "programming"), claiming that these can be changed to achieve specific goals in life.

It is a practical skill that ensures compliance with the objectives we really want by setting goals for each situation, mental preparations to perceive the changes that occur and our flexibility to act differently than usual to get the desired results.

Cecilia, a parishioner of Mui Wo parsih and a corporate trainer in NLP by profession, has given us a couple of very interesting and practical sessions both in English and in Chinese in our parish in Hong Kong.

Welcome to the China Bulletin - June 2016

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of China 

Feast of Our Lady of Sheshan - Mary Help of Christians 

Image of Our Lady, Help of Christians - Sheshan, Shanghai 

Our Lady of China (Simplified Chinese: 中华圣母, Traditional Chinese: 中華聖母) is the name given to an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Donglu, China, first appearing in 1900.

In 1870s, during the attack of the Taiping Rebellion, the Superior of the Jesuit community in Shanghai, Fr. Gu Zhen Sheng, promised the Blessed Virgin that if the diocese was spared from attack, he would build a basilica in thanksgiving for Our Lady’s special protection. On April 15, 1873, Bishop Languillat of Shanghai consecrated the Basilica on the hilltop. Since then, Our Lady of Sheshan has become the special protector of the Diocese of Shanghai. In 1874, Pope Pius IX granted an indulgence for all pilgrims who completed a pilgrimage to the Shrine during the month of May

A model of the Statue of Our Lady of Sheshan 

Our Lady of China (Simplified Chinese: 中华圣母, Traditional Chinese: 中華聖母) is the name given to an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Donglu, China, first appearing in 1900. In 1924, the first conference of bishops met in Shanghai and adopted the image of the reported apparition as Our Lady of China, and a painting depicting the mother of God bearing the child Jesus was commissioned and hung in the local church. The annual procession dates back to that year.

On May 24, Pilgrims on knees during the procession to the shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai

In April 2000, a new statue was constructed and was blessed by Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian. The new image features the stand-erect Blessed Virgin Mary carrying a Child Jesus on her head, while his arms outstretched in a cruciform gesture. At the base is the original Chinese dragon, representing the Devil with a trident tail, being crushed and defeated by the Madonna.

In May 2007, Pope Benedict XVI released a Letter to Chinese Catholics, in which he asked that May 24 each year be celebrated as a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. He chose May 24 because it is the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, who is venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. In 2008, a copy of the statue was given to Pope Benedict XVI, who then composed a Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan. 

During the Angelus on 22 May the Holy Father prayed that "may the Holy Year of Mercy "become concrete sign of charity and reconciliation for the Chinese Catholics." 

Pilgrims from Peng Chau in Tai O chapel 

Epiphany parish Mui Wo has two mass centers in its territory, and both of them are dedicated to the patronage of the Blessed Mother. In Peng Chau, the community is larger and eucharistic celebration is conducted on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while the Catholic community in Tai O is much smaller and the Holy Eucharist is celebrated on every first Saturday of the month. On 22 May this year, a group of pilgrims from Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel in Peng Chau made a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel in Tai O. The local community joined the pilgrims in celebrating the occasion and praying for the Church in China. 

"... Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, 

amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope and to love, 

to never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world. 

In the statue overlooking the shrine you lift your Son 

to the world with open arms in a gesture of love. 

Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love, ever 

clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built. 

Mother of China and Asia, pray for us now and forever. Amen".

Corpus Christi

The First Communicants with the priests of the parish after the Holy Mass on the Corpus Christi 

More news from the Epiphany Parish, Mui Wo! The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ was the solemn occasion for eight students from the English Sunday School who received their first communion and 20 lay ministers were commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.

Lay Ministers of the Chinese Community at Epiphany Church, Mui Wo with Fr. Jose 

Lay Ministers of the English Community at Epiphany Church

Lay Ministers of the Chinese Community in Peng Chau 

Lay Ministers of the English Community in Peng Chau 

The Children were undergoing their preparations for over a year to receive the first communion while the lay ministers had four week formation programme before making their commitment to be extraordinary ministers of the Holy Communion.

The Lay ministers will continue with their ongoing formation through their monthly gatherings for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Birthdays...

Month of May is indeed special! A number of our missionaries were born in the Month of May! Has it got something to do with our Blessed Mother calling all her May-born missionaries for the service in China? Ha! Look at the list:

Fr. Jojo celebrated his birthday on 15 May 

On 19 May, Fr. Mario Bonfaini celebrated his Birthday 

Fr. Liju Celebrated his Birthday on 26 May

Bro. Sid 

And Bro. Sid and our Missionary "Daniel Daring" too celebrate their birthdays in May!

Dear Brothers, We wish the heaven's choicest blessings on you and pray for a joyous celebration of life and mission! Happy Birthday!