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The pabasa, which began during the Spanish colonization, was a catechism tool for the mostly illiterate population. After some time, it evolved to a poetic form of a salvation story, understood as a social epic and inspiring people’s freedom struggles. There is no doubt: this “sanctifying devotion” is truly Filipino.
While praying in Tabawan Chapel, Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda was seized by kidnappers. Afraid that they would harm his people, he refused to go with them and was shot. Christians and Muslims joined to mourn and pray for Fr. Rey who had given them ten years of his life.
The 2nd African Synod, in 2009, will have as theme: “The Church in Africa at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace.” The subjects who must be listened to: the victims and the peace experts. The Church must avoid the sterile vision of Africacontained in the preparatory document and must face the tribal question.
In the summer of 2001, when the Olympic Committee assigned the 2008 summer Olympic Games to Beijing, there was some hope in the international community. People thought: that’s a chance to press the Chinese Government to mend its ways towards such sensitive issues as human rights, democratization, and take a more responsible stand in the world arena.
The economy continues to grow, but more slowly – because of China’s rigid government measures and worldwide contraction. Meanwhile, labor costs continue to increase, bringing crisis to companies accustomed to exploiting migrants. Experts say it will take months for government measures to bring adequate results.
The Church in China is a complex reality, hard to understand abroad. Besides political control and social pressures, Chinese Catholics face a great number of handicaps but also have many reasons to hope for a brighter future. This comprehensive portrait, published in 2005, can help us to know better the shadows and the light.
Formation, cooperation, helping the Chinese Church to care for those who are left behind by the ever-growing gap between the rich and the poor. Initiated in 1998, the project is called Fen Xiang (sharing) and reflects the Comboni missionary spirit.
Because of a letter he received more than two decades ago, Father Luis Ruiz is now taking care of thousands of Chinese lepers. Meanwhile, he opened centers for the mentally disabled and the HIV/AIDS sufferers. As St. Augustine wrote: “The measure of love is to love without measure.”
He spoke Chinese like a native; he alone among the missionaries became a Chinese citizen. He fought the Japanese invasion and succeeded in convincing the Pope to consecrate the first Chinese bishops of the modern era. In truth, Fr. Vincent Lebbe, the most outstanding missionary to China of the twentieth century, well deserved his Chinese name: Lei Ming-yuang: “the thunder in the distance.” After him, the Communist storm tried to erase Christianity from the face of the earth. But the seeds sown in the tempest are now slowly giving consoling fruits.
“You are the Son of God.”
(Luke 4: 1-13)
