Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – “I am 61 years old and I have already been through three earthquakes that registered over 7 degrees on the Richter scale. Here in our district, we are nearly 1,000 faithful. In addition to comforting each other, we above all bring our support. Where difficulties abound, that is where Catholics are most needed, to manifest the love of God, helping the non-Catholics to overcome their problems with our faith and hope, with charity.” These were not the words of a priest or a religious sister, but of a simple and humble Catholic man who is offering his testimony from the earthquake’s epicenter in Si Chuan. This Catholics of the district of Xiu Shui continues: “After the earthquake, many things were needed, especially vegetables. I told my countrymen, ‘Go to my garden and take whatever you find.’ I am convinced that a strong faith is enough in overcoming this tragedy, and we will be back on our feet, with prayer, with the support of the Pope and the Universal Church.”
The mother of a 2 ½ year-old girl, who had lost her smile and become silent after the earthquake, says, “the sisters are so great.” Thanks to sisters “9” and “14” (the 26 religious sisters who are volunteers of Jinde Charities have been “numbered” so as to facilitate the work), the little girl has once again begun to smile and also speak a little. Her mother and grandparents have also begun to smile again. And there are many more stories like these, almost an infinity of cases. The moral support, disinfection, health assistance, and helping children with their homework have all made them smile again... these are the main tasks of the sisters working in the earthquake disaster area. Right now, the sisters with their characteristic habit, as the most “wanted” and “sought after” in the area. Many times, the sisters deliver supplies to the area and later end up staying there to offer moral support, according to the needs of the victims.
June 8 is a traditional Chinese holiday that is celebrated by all the members of the family gathered together. Zhang Lu, a young Catholic of Shi Jia Zhuang, was concerned about how those living in the disaster area were going to celebrate the feast. Upon hearing of a school in Cheng Du, the capital of Si Chuan (the site of the earthquake) that needed medicines, he went and bought them, along with other items with the help of his Catholic friends. He later set off at 4am on June 6 with a full car, towards Cheng Du. He traveled 2,000 kilometers in a little over 20 hours, crossing three provinces, practically crossing the entire continent from the north-central region to the southeast. He finally reached the capital of Si Chuan at 1am on June 7, so the children in the school could use what he had brought for the celebration on June 8. After unloading everything, he was immediately back on the road, as he had received other requests: “I have to return to our community immediately to respond to new requests that have come in. Why do I do it? There’s no special reason. We are Catholics and we should help one another, because that is what the faith teaches us.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 12/6/2008)
