The People's Republic and the Church: ‘twin’ anniversaries in Ordos
On 1 October, China’s foremost patriotic observance, the Diocese of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia also marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Scheut missionaries in the area. Beyond any anti-imperialist rhetoric, a Church that loved China and its people goes way back before 1949.
Milan (AsiaNews/Agencies) – As the People's Republic of China celebrates the 75th anniversary of its foundation, Catholic communities have to deal with pressure from local authorities to experience this anniversary with a "patriotic spirit".
“Official" Catholic websites highlight events organised by dioceses to mark the "birthday of the Motherland", with the inevitable recommendations to Catholics, as Bishop Joseph Shen Bin did in Shanghai, “to carry on the beautiful tradition of patriotism and love for the Church, deeply studying the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.”
Within the very narrow confines of such "loyalty”, the challenge of being "good Christians and good citizens" continues to be played out today, following the lead indicated by Pope Francis in the dialogue with Chinese authorities.
For this reason, it is worth noting the interesting choice made by the Catholic Diocese of Hohhot, in the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia, which, last Thursday, celebrated both the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the 150th anniversary of its first church, St Francis Xavier, in Chengchuan district in Ordos City.
The first missionaries of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Belgian missionaries of Scheut, arrived in 1874, who had started evangelising among ethnic Mongolians a few years earlier.
As reported by the Chinese Catholic website Xinde, Bishop Paul Meng Qinglu and 25 priests of the diocese presided over a solemn celebration in the presence of men and women religious and more than a thousand faithful.
Of course, here too, the day began with the flag-raising ceremony and hymns, patriotic slogans, and the prospect of sinicisation as set out for every religious denomination by President Xi Jinping.
In his homily during the Mass, the bishop also singled out the love the Belgian missionaries had for the people of Ordos and the contribution they made to the local community.
Xinde explains that the first two Scheut missionaries who arrived in the city initially taught in tents and in rented caves, until they were able to build the very first, humble church in July 1874.
At first, their mission was extremely hard: only three Mongolian families joined during the first two years. But the priests persevered and worked hard to learn Mongolian and the local culture.
When a severe famine broke out, they bought cattle for the local population. And little by little, the community grew, getting back on its feet after a wave of violence in 1900, building a new large church.
The mission was able to open the first Catholic school and set up a printing press, with books in Mongolian printed and distributed, including books on the history of Mongolia. This time saw the first local vocations flourish.
The history of the Church's deep love for China and its people goes way back, before 1949, something no nationalist rhetoric can erase.
It is beautiful that a Chinese diocese should remember this precisely on the most patriotic of anniversaries. Being "good Christians and good citizens", in today’s People's Republic of China, probably means this too.
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