Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Paris (Agenzia Fides) - On a visit to France Cardinal Ivan Dias Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, went on October 1 to Lourdes to take part in a National Meeting for French Fidei donum missionaries (see Fides 17/7/2007). On 2 October, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Cardinal presided a midday Mass and prayed at the tomb of Saint Paul Tchen, a Chinese Catholic seminarian killed on 1861 on July 29 and canonised by Pope John Paul II on 1 October 2000. The Saint's earthly remains are preserved in the Cathedral's Holy Childhood Chapel. In his homily, the Cardinal underlined the importance of the testimony of faith offered by Paul Tchen, who grew up as a member of Holy Childhood Mission Society in China, and he asked those present to pray for China. Concelebrants included Bishop Jean-Yves Nahmias auxiliary bishop of Paris, and some priests, of the Paris Foreign Missions Society MEP. Among the faithful present, members of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Paris and Lyons, the head of the national Holy Childhood Society Axelle Latourrette and a group of school children from Sainte-Genèvieve Catholic School.
Paul Tchen (Chen Changpin) was born on 11 April 1838 in Sintchen, in the Chinese province of Kouy-tcheou (Guizhou) to non Christian parents who were very poor. Paul was educated thanks to the Pontifical Holy Childhood Mission Society. Admitted to minor seminary in 1853, he was baptised and confirmed on Christmas day that same year and made his First Communion the following year. Gentle and quiet in character, the boy refused to return to live with his family as his father asked, because he felt sure of his vocation. In 1860 he entered major seminary in Tsin-gay. There on 12 June 1861 soldiers came to arrest Paul and some companions because they were Christians. Despite torture and threats none denied their faith. Paul and his companions were killed on 29 July 1861 and the seminary was destroyed. He was beatified by Pius X in 1908, and in 1920 his earthly remains were moved to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris where they were laid to rest in the Holy Childhood Chapel. Paul Tchen was among 120 Chinese Catholic martyrs canonised by Pope John Paul II in St Peter's on 1 October 2000. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 4/10/2007 - Righe 27, Parole 392)
