Kaohsiung (Fides Service) – “The Church in Taiwan will be dedicating the new year to new evangelisation ”, Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, Bishop of Kaohsiung told Fides Service. “Parishes have been asked to draft a plan to evangelise the surrounding area and form mission teams composed of catechumens and baptised persons. We have urged all the faithful to make a special effort for evangelisation this year and to carry the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth” the Cardinal said.
The Cardinal told Fides a little about celebrations for the Lunar New Year in Taiwan: “In China new year is a little like Christmas in Europe. Families get together and the old values of families ties and friends are celebrated. Many people in fact return to their home town or village of New Year celebrations For us as Catholics it is a great opportunity for communion and reconciliation with the universal Church. We feel called to live reconciliation”.
Last Sunday, January 18, at the midday Angelus prayer, the Pope sent best wishes for the Lunar New Year to people in China, Vietnam and Korea. Cardinal Shan voiced his gratitude: “I would like to thank the Holy Father for remembering us. He knows how much we love him and pray for him. May the Lord give him the strength to continue to guide the Church on her way. We know that Pope John Paul II loves the Church in China and is concerned for Chinese Catholics. We, for our part, will never fail him.”.
(PA) (Fides Service 20/1/2004 lines 27 words 249)