Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Overseas Chinese Catholics in many parts of the world celebrated Lunar New Year under the banner of harmony, solidarity and inculturation and evangelisation. According to Chinese sources in London, Paris, New York, Jakarta, San Francisco, Sydney and Wellington many local non Chinese origin people joined Chinese communities to greet the Lunar New year.
A special New year Mass concelebrated in Hawaii by ten non Chinese origin priests concluded with an act of homage to ancestors, missionaries and saints. In Indonesia a new year mass was celebrated in Indonesian and Chinese with typical local songs and liturgical dance.
In Hong Kong the leaders of the six main religious groups, Catholics, Anglicans, Buddhists, Taoists and Muslims issued a special joint new year message of good wishes and harmony. The diocesan Catholic Association was present at Hong Kong’s New Year Fair with a stand of Catholic symbols and books and a DVD on the figure of Jesus. The Parishes of Hai Xing and Holy Cross collected presents on New Year’s eve and distributed them to poor families on New Year’s Day. Saint Teresa organised a lunch and presents for old people.
In mainland China the Bishop of Ji Nan diocese, Bishop Zhang Xian Wang, visited three parishes and the priests families expressing his gratitude for their work in difficult conditions. In He Bei province, diocese of Han Dan the Don Bosco youth group of Da Zhai parish visited the local orphanage and the parish organised a concert of Christian music distributing abundant material for evangelisation. Over the new year holiday time Nan Chong diocese in the Si Chuan province organised a Formation Course for Lay Catholics. Wu Qiao parish decided to make the last Sunday of the Lunar year a Day of Thanksgiving. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 26/02/2007 Righe: 38 Parole: 456
