Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church in China, who has been working in the front line since the start of this earthquake tragedy, celebrated a Mass for the victims of the earthquake that struck Wen Chuan in May 12, in communion with the entire country as they observe three days of mourning for the tragedy. According to sources of Agenzia Fides, all the local Catholic communities are observing the three days of national mourning, which began yesterday at 2:28pm, the hour at which the earthquake first struck. While the bells of the churches toll as a sign of mourning, the Pope’s prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan is recited: “We come before you today to implore your protection.” Masses, prayers, rosaries, and novenas are being celebrated all over the world, on a continuous basis.
According to the religious of various diocesan congregations in China, who are working in the areas near the epicenter under the leadership of Jinde Charities (Chinese Catholic charitable organization), the situation is very difficult: “We are divided into 6 groups. We bring a sprayer of 20 kilograms for six hours, in order to disinfect the area. We always wear our religious habits with a cross on our chest, which gives us strength and courage. Some ask who we are, ask us for a cross and a Bible and they want to know about the faith,” says Sr. Zhai Jing Ai, of the Congregation of Saint Joseph in He Bei. “In spite of the hard work, we always find time to pray and share our experience. We have not been able to bathe or even wash our faces in days, from the lack of water. We wake up at 6 in the morning, pray, and do our meditation. We work until 11pm or until 1am.”
“No one makes a complaint,” another religious of Caritas from the Diocese of Tian Jin. “When the country is experiencing difficulties, we are there too, this is our duty. This is what the Church and the faith has taught us.” In an area inhabited by ethnic minority groups, the religious had communication troubles. Luckily, “some seminarians and faithful has served as interpreters.” But the people have learned to call them “Xiu Nv” (Sister) with confidence and affection, expressing their gratitude towards them, saying: “Rest a bit, Xiu Nv. We need you, Xiu Nv.” The Pope’s appeal last Wednesday in the General Audience has given the religious sisters strength and courage, and they transmit this strength to the people who suffer: “we meditate and pray with these affectionate words” and “in every circumstance we try to be ‘leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens,’ as the Pope has taught.” In this way, the Sisters are offering a living testimony without making noise or having slogans. They have made themselves followers of Christ among the afflicted and those who suffer, thus becoming “signs of God’s loving presence.” In addition, following the Pope’s recommendations, they have never ceased to invoke Our Lady of Sheshan, asking that She “sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trails, continue to believe, to hope, to love,” leading them to “to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus,” as the Catholics in China have learned to “always to be credible witnesses to this love, ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.”
All the Chinese Catholic communities continue in prayer and in assisting the earthquake victims. During the Mass on Sunday, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the parish of Pu Xin in He Bei has raised 3,600 Euros, the parish of Shan Tou, in the Diocese Shan Tou, 10,000 Euros, the parish of Xin Cun 600 Euros. In the area affected by snow and ice storms this past January, the Diocese of Gui Zhou raised 10,000 Euros, in spite of the difficulties they are still having to face. The hearts of Chinese Catholics has been moved in the face of this tragedy and at the outpouring of support from the Universal Church, especially the Pope. As the religious working on the front line said, “may we be strong, knowing that the Pope and the entire Church is with us.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 20/05/2008 righe 50, parole 702)
