he
US Catholic China Bureau and the Ricci Institute of Chinese-Western Cultural
History co-sponsored the 18th National China Conference in
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, Nov. 10-12, 2000.
Among the participants were invited guests from China with hands-on
experience with church developments there.
The tone of the gathering was positive and many participants
shared their delight at the projects reported on, seeing the growth and
expansion of their work.
First having been met with suspicion, now resource persons receive requests from local Chinese groups for assistance with certain social and health problems such as AIDS and leprosy. Various groups continue to sponsor tours to China in an effort to assist North Americans to better understand the present reality in China, and in the Chinese Catholic Church.
Despite ongoing tensions between the Church in Rome and the Chinese Church, the people continue to find ways to rebuild their churches and their faith communities as a new generation of young Catholics are beginning to mature in the faith passed down to them by their ancestors. They seek ways to be both Chinese and Catholic, and are beginning to add their voices to the growing discussions regarding inculturation of Christianity in China. Nicholas Standaest, SJ, from the University of Louvain in Belgium presented a paper on the historical perspectives of Christianity in China. Other papers discussed included Paul Rule’s “The Quest for a Chinese Christian Spirituality” and Dianne Obenchain’s discussion on Confucian thought and values as they intersect with those of Christianity. These topics addressed many of the concerns emerging today for Christian intellectuals.
Sr. KoHa Fong, FMA, from Hong Kong, addressed the challenges of the formation of young priests and sisters. Continuing with the issue of formation of future leaders of the Chinese Church, three young priests who were educated in the USA spoke of the challenge of returning to China in ministry to local Catholics still living their faith from a pre-Vatican II stance.
A time was devoted to reviewing projects that have developed over the years and are now beginning to bear fruit. One example was the presence of teachers of English in colleges and universities in China who have slowly been accepted as helpful resources to Chinese institutions. First having been met with suspicion, now resource persons receive requests from local Chinese groups for assistance with certain social and health problems such as AIDS and leprosy. Various groups continue to sponsor tours to China in an effort to assist North Americans to better understand the present reality in China, and in the Chinese Catholic Church.
The title of the conference, Christianity in China: Growing on Holy Ground, was very appropriate because all of the materials presented, as well as the informal sharing, seemed optimistic regarding the new seeds sown over the past years. These seeds are taking root in the soil of China and in the hearts of those who seek to live out their faith in the Catholic tradition.
(From Mission Update - USCMA)