Cardinal Tomko: Catholics, bring justice, love and peace to the Taiwanese society
Taipei (AsiaNews) - The presence of 17 thousand faithful in the celebration of 150 years of the Catholic Church in Taiwan is "significant" and demonstrates the unity, cooperation and the ability of Catholics to organize large-scale events in a professional manner. They are called to continue the work of evangelization which, in the year past year dedicated to this very issue, has led to the baptism 10 thousand people. These are the comments made to AsiaNews by the Archbishop of Taipei, John Hung Shan-chuan (pictured), chairman of the Chinese Regional Bishops 'Conference, who synthesizes the thoughts of a church that will meet in December to identify the next steps in the journey of proclamation of the Gospel.
A commitment which, at the end of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of evangelization of the island, Card. Jozef Tomko has asked of all Catholics: to strengthen the Christian mission, bringing to all, without distinction, "justice, love and peace." Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou thanked the Church for its commitment to the society of Taiwan.
Card. Tomko presided at Mass on the feast of Christ the King on 21 November, before about 17 thousand faithful gathered in Taoyuan stadium, near Taipei. In his homily, the cardinal stressed that the celebrations for 150 years are a point of arrival but also "the starting point for a new evangelization", "a new call to continue and revive the efforts of evangelization" to which all Church members, lay people and priests are called in a personal way.
He said that through evangelization, Catholics provide society with the fundamental values of the kingdom of Christ: " truth and life", the path of the 10 commandments and especially the commandment to love God and neighbour, which are the basis of a civilization of love. "We offer this to everyone - continued the cardinal -. We propose we do not impose. We believe that this message brings justice, love and peace to all of society".
Card. Tomko recalled the arrival in Kaohsiung (southern Taiwan) of the three Spanish missionaries from the Philippines, along with five lay Chinese catechists in 1859. This year marks the beginning of the evangelization of the island, after several attempts by the Jesuits in 1582 and by the Dominicans in 1626.
Today the "little flock" of Taiwan, said the cardinal, is enriched by the presence of immigrants from the Philippines and is organized into seven dioceses.
Recalling previous visits the island in 1988 and 1994, Card. Tomko noted many changes: many new and young bishops, priests and consecrated religious, many signs of growth. Yet, he stressed, evangelization is still in its infancy and he also has mentioned the words of Benedict XVI to the Church in Taiwan: "Arise and walk! A new period of your history is about to begin, a period of new evangelization. "
The full message of the Pope to Catholics in Taiwan was readapt the beginning of the celebration. In this regard Mgr. John Hung Shan-chuan, Archbishop of Taipei says that the words of Benedict XVI, the presence of Card. Tomko and the announcement of the elevation to titular archbishop of Kaohsiung of Msgr. Peter Liu Chen-chung were demonstrations of the deep love of the Pope for the Church on the island.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou also spoke at the ceremony, thanking the Catholic missionaries for their efforts in these past 150 years, with their four universities, dozens of primary and secondary schools, care and medical institutions, to bring peace , welfare and progress for millions of people in Taiwan.
President Ma also discussed his childhood in Wanhua (near Taipei), where he went to Mass with his grandmother, and his impressions at seeing people of the Church distribute aid to the people of the parish. He had a special thought for a very learned priest, who devoted his life to the people of Taiwan. Even if he is dead - Ma said - his spirit lives in the hearts of the people, becoming an example of what it means to be people of Taiwan.
Previously, President Ma had welcomed Card. Tomko at the presidential palace on his arrival on November 20.
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