Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Fides Service) - Catholics in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have not forgotten the victims of the December tsunami disaster and are keeping up their solidarity efforts. In mid February the Kong Ko Bao bulletin of Hong Kong diocese said so far the diocese had collected 15 million HK dollars (about 1.5 million Euro) for tsunami victims. The Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong Joseph Zen said the faithful had responded with great generous response.
According to the Christian Life Weekly, published in Taipei, on the feast of Don Bosco, their founder, the Salesian Fathers organised a special collection in aid of children in tsunami affected countries. During a special Mass presided by Taipei’s Archbishop Joseph Cheng prayers those present thanked God for the assistance and education offered to poor children at Don Bosco schools and institutes. To follow in the footsteps of their Founder the Salesians decided to cut annual feast day expenses and send the money saved to the homeless in tsunami disaster struck areas. In his message for Lunar New Year Cardinal Paul Shan called on Catholics not to forget the tsunami victims: “I pray the Lord will comfort and strengthen all victims of natural disasters especially the December tsunami”.
Catholics in mainland China also gave generously for tsunami victims. Several dioceses and small communities of lay Catholics organised fund raising campaigns and collections. Han Dan diocese in one of the poorest parts of China which has 16 parishes collected 2,300 Euro. And the Bei Fang Jin De Catholic Foundation is coordinating the distribution of funds in the affected areas.
(Agenzia Fides 2/03/2005 Righe: 23 Parole: 247)
