ASIA/CHINA - Palm Sunday: Catholic communities promote the seventh National Collection Day

Saturday, 1 April 2023 local churches charity lent

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Shijiazhuang (Agenzia Fides) - On Palm Sunday, for the seventh consecutive year, the Chinese Catholic community celebrates National Collection Day tomorrow, April 2. The initiative is promoted by Jinde Charites, the organization that for almost 26 years has coordinated charitable works supported by the Catholic communities of mainland China and international donations.
The collection called for Palm Sunday has always been very well received by bishops, priests and laity, who see it as an opportunity to unite the whole Church, and together bear witness to faith and charity.
This year, the collection comes after a few days in which the Chinese Catholic communities, in parishes and homes, have prayed for Pope Francis and have shared on their social networks the information that came from Rome about his state of health after his hospitalization in Gemelli Polyclinic, also sharing the joy of his speedy recovery.
The statistics of the collected donations are encouraging. The funds raised are used by Jinde Charites to finance material aid, initiatives in the field of health and psychological support, and reconstruction campaigns in areas affected by natural disasters in China and abroad.
The statistics of the collected donations are encouraging. The funds raised are used by Jinde Charites to finance material aid, initiatives in the field of health and psychological support, and reconstruction campaigns in areas affected by natural disasters in China and abroad.
According to information sent to Fides, until March 22, 2022, that is, in the first five years from the start of the collection promoted on Palm Sunday, the initiative has financed projects worth ¥4,697,660, 27, equivalent to 690,832.35 euros.
Funded projects also include relief initiatives supported after floods and earthquakes in various parts of China, as well as those promoted after the Hualien earthquake in Taiwan, the volcano eruption in Guatemala, and the tsunami in Indonesia in 2018.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, and until March 3, 2021, Collection Day has managed to raise more than 30 million yuan, equivalent to more than 4.5 million euros, to help the areas most affected by the pandemic virus, in China and in other countries, with masks, machinery, medical supplies. Dioceses, parishes, congregations and religious institutes, associations and ecclesial movements have always adhered to the Palm Sunday collection, and have always been able to verify the maximum transparency in the use of the offerings collected over the years.

Those responsible for Jinde Charities always address their appeals to all baptized Catholics and to all people of good will: "We will continue promoting works of charity, and walking together to build a harmonious society", because "Jesus said: 'whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me' ". This is the message with which, once again, Jinde Charities invites everyone to be generous by joining the "National Collection Day". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 1/4/2023)