issionaries
were expelled from China in 1954 by Mao. One
of the last ones was Xaverian Fr. Collini.
After 50 years, there is a small group of five Xaverians who are working
in Taipei, Taiwan, just at the doors of China.
They are there to restart the process of evangelization.
Among them is Fr. Edi Foschiatto, pastor and coordinator of the St.
Francis Xavier Center. On his visit
to his family and friends in Italy, he encourages people to help and pray for
the work of the Xaverians in China.
After a few years of vocation mission work in Italy, he made himself available to the “Chinese Project,” recalling the dream of Bishop Conforti “to bring the Gospel of Christ to that immense country.”
Fr. Edi’s vocation rooted itself on the Acts of the Apostles (Chapter 17) that helped him overcome any fear. In this chapter, the apostle Paul, confronted by a variety of gods in Athens, is strengthened by the love and faith in Christ, proclaiming to the people of Athens an “unknown God.” Helped by Paul’s missionary project, Fr. Edi could not betray his call to mission work. Fr. Edi says that the Chinese people are deeply religious, believers of a variety of gods, builders of many altars to these gods in order to obtain from them help and protection, and in gratitude for benefits received. As any important tradition, the religious tradition is deeply rooted over the centuries, but it’s also lacking much to today’s needs of the Chinese. There are strict rules, unjustified fears of ghosts, and lack of response to the important questions of life and death.
We are not abandoning you. A church needs to send heralds of the Gospel, or else it dies!
Fr. Edi is working in Taipei as a missionary pastor of the community of St. Francis Xavier, a small community of 150 faithful. The main wall of the church was painted by Xaverian Fr. Tosolini, a masterpiece that represents the 12 apostles at work.
In the far east, the work is vast, the harvest is plentiful, and the ministry encounters obstacles of various natures: social, cultural, religious. Oftentimes the fruits are few and far in between. How can you endure such strenuous work? Fr. Edi talks about his “hope against hope”, his love for Christ, and the example of the faithful community of people who share with him the joys and pains of this ministry.
Far from one’s natural home, the missionary feels abandoned, on the road, a homeless person. His only reason for living is the Gospel and the love that he receives from the Church. And this Church is not only the one in Taipei, but also the one who sent him, the church of origin. In many dioceses there are initiatives of moral and financial support of the “immigrants for Christ” who witness daily and with courage their faith. How good it is for a missionary to read the weekly diocesan newspaper, says Fr. Edi… or to just read in one’s own language the liturgy of the hours… or receiving the annual Christmas greetings from the Bishop of the church of origin. All of these are ways to maintain the contact needed for the success of the mission.
But even in the midst of all this, there is an important question the missionary needs to respond often: “Why do you leave? Don’t you see that there is a need of messengers of the Gospel even in your own town?” Fr. Edi clarifies: “We are not abandoning you. A church needs to send heralds of the Gospel, or else it dies!” recalling the words of Pope John Paul II. And because of the choice of young people like Fr. Edi, the world believes in these witnesses whom we admire and love. Fr. Edi finally invites the people to put some new glasses, and see the ministry of the church in a new light. “I hope that my bishop will one day come and visit us, and see the work that we do in Taipei.” That’s communion. That’s church. That’s the Gospel.
(Translated from "La Vita Cattolica")