ASIA/CHINA - American university students visit Home for the Elderly run by Catholics

Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – Fourteen students from St Paul' University in the United States who are working with Beijing University on a social experience programme, recently visited a Home for the Elderly run by Catholic sisters and a Chinese Catholic aid association Jinde Charities. The home is in Shi Jia Zhuang, main city of He Bei province, a stronghold of Chinese Catholicism. Welcomed by Sr. Zhao Da Yi, the students were interested to hear about the management, history and situation of the inmates…. They were so impressed that they offered to do something for the elderly guests. Since the students spoke no Chinese and the inmates spoke no English, sister Zhao Da Yi suggested the students might sing a song for the old people and hold hands to express affection. Then with the help of an interpreter the students answered the old people's questions: how do old people live in the United States? are all they Catholics? do they go to Mass every day?. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 03/07/2008)