Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Singapore (Agenzia Fides) - After lengthy and careful preparation the Third Worldwide Chinese Pastoral and Evangelization Convention on the theme " The Chinese Descendants: Subjects of Evangelisation" opened in Singapore on Friday 17 November in the presence of at least 200 Chinese Catholics from Malaysia, Singapore and about a hundred dioceses in 14 different countries as well as Catholics from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Chinese priests studying in Singapore are present as observers.
Present for the opening Mass Archbishop Xie of Singapore, emeritus Archbishop Zhong of Malaysia, Fr Paolo Pang OFM, in charge of the Office for the Promotion and Apostolate for overseas Chinese Catholics, at the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples Mgr. Joseph Chiang, from New Jersey (USA), Mgr Li Zhen, former rector of Fu Ren Catholic University. Concelebrants included 36 priests of overseas Chinese communities. The local Chinese community Singapore offered the participants a spectacular evening .
Mgr Li Zhen spoke on the theme “the culture of Yan Huang”; Rev Luke Tsui Kam Yiu, diocesan priest of Hong Kong in charge of vocation formation and pastoral on mainland China spoke about “Evangelisation today”. During the assembly there was fruitful sharing of experience and ideas on how to live the Christian faith in a different country and in a different culture. Reflections focused on the relationship between Christian and Confucianism philosophy followed by the majority of Chinese, as well as the question of inculturation and the challenge of mission for overseas Chinese Catholics.
Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples sent a message for the occasion addressed to Fr. Peng and all the Congress participants congratulating the organisers and asking God to “bless the participants with many graces and heavenly favours”. Cardinal Dias said everyone knows that “there are not enough workers in the vineyard of the Lord and the problem is ever more acute in our day”, therefore the Congress theme was most “appropriate and urgent…May overseas Chinese Catholics be proud to transmit their Catholic faith to their descendents and make the name of Jesus Christ known and loved by their children”. The Cardinal wished the Congress every success.
The Congress will close on 21 November with the announcement of the venue and date of the next congress. A priest who studies in Singapore told Faith: “I am happy to take part in the congress as an observer. I am moved to see that overseas Catholics have not forgotten the Chinese roots and that the take an active part in evangelisation. I hope we can keep have a solid relationship of family and friendship with the overseas communities and work together for the growth of the Church and evangelisation in the Chinese world”.
Third Worldwide Chinese Pastoral and Evangelization Convention" is an initiative launched by Fr Paolo Pang OFM, in charge of the Office for the Promotion and Apostolate for overseas Chinese Catholics, at the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. It is held every three years in a different community and its goal is to involve overseas Chinese Catholics in evangelisation, to consolidate communion and solidarity among communities and the respective local Churches and with the universal Church with a sharing of pastoral and missionary experiences.
The first two Congresses were held in Rome in 2000 and San Francisco in the United States in 2003. The Congress in Rome, 27 September - 3 October, during the Great Jubilee of 2000, coincided with the canonisation of China’s martyr Saints. That 1st Congress brought together 117 participants to reflect on the theme “Walking Together towards Christ in the Chinese Culture”. The participants took part in all the religious celebrations of the canonisation and shared experience of Christian life, focussing especially on the growth of the overseas Chinese Catholic communities. The second Congress on the theme “Kong and Meng Culture, Preface to Evangelisation” in San Francisco 21 - 25 September 2003, brought together 120 participants. (NZ)(Agenzia Fides 20/11/2006 Righe: 57 Parole: 685)
