FEN XIANG PROJECT

120 Chinese Martyrs Canonized

Today, October 1, feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, the patroness of Missions, John Paul has canonized 120 Chinese martyrs. The announcement of the canonization was given on March 10, at the Vatican. The news of the event was received in China with mixed feelings. While some bishops expressed their desire to celebrate the event, other instead kept rather quiet as they feared the event might displeased the government. The Communist government was unhappy over the announcement. Bishop Joseph Wang of Taiwan, president of the Commission for the Canonization of Saints of China said that the meaning of this event "for our Chinese people is that we should have the courage to say the truth and to give witness to the truth even at the risk of loosing our personal profit or position".

Who are the saints? They witness to Christ between the 17th and 20th centuries in China. Among them, there are 87 Chinese from four different provinces: Guizhou, Hebei, Shanxi and Sichuan. The other 33 were European missionaries. Among these outstanding witnesses, there are six bishops, 23 priests, 15 sisters, 62 lay people, eight seminarians, four catechists and two catechumens. It deserves special mention that 30.000 died during the Boxer rebellion in 1900 in Hebei province. And there were many other anonymous martyrs. 

The event is significant for the universal church as well. It recognizes that martyrdom is one the characteristics that defines the life of the church in China, the fidelity to Christ of the Chinese martyrs to Christ is perennial value for every Christian today and that their confidence in God's love was more valuable to them than their own lives.

The Establishment of Fen Xiang

On March 16,2000 "Fen Xiang" was established and it functions under the jurisdiction of the Delegation of the Comboni Missionaries in Asia.

"Fen Xiang" has as its fundamental mission to collaborate with the Church in China for the formation of pastoral agents in different ways, namely: granting scholarships for Chinese priests to study abroad; sponsoring courses for sisters according to their roles and responsibilities; supporting seminaries by providing financial help in ways that are beneficial to the formation of seminarians; sponsoring catechetical courses.

The word Fen Xiang which means "Sharing" is formed by two Chinese characters: "Fen" - which means to divide, to part or to share; and "Xiang" - the character for joy and good experience. Both characters joined together indicate sharing, both feelings and experiences as well as things, properties and material goods.

The Comboni Missionaries of Asia have appointed Fr. Daniel Cerezo Ruiz, mccj and Fr. Valnei Pedro Reghelin, mccj as coordinators responsible for all the activities related to "Fen Xiang". It has its headquarters at the following address:

Avn. Venceslau de Morais, 114 Edif. Lei Fung Kok, 13 andar, L-M Macao (China)

E-mail: fenxiang2k@hotmail.com

Donations (in dollars) to support Fen Xiang can be sent to the following bank account: No. 708629-Missionarios Combonianos do Coracao de Jesus-Fen Xiang. Banco Comercial de Macao, Rua Dois do Bairro Iao Hon 46-48, Macao (China)