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In the heart of the city of Guangzhou (Canton), with a population of about 20 million people, stands the beautiful Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Cathedral, whose doors are open every day for people to visit. On weekends and public holidays, thousands can be waiting in line for more than an hour to enter the church and look around. On leaving the church, they may see an advertisement inviting people to join the parish’s catechumenate programme. Sr Mary, a young local sister, coordinates the 12-month program.
When I visited the parish, Sr Mary invited me to meet with a group of 12 of some 30 young parishioners who work with her as volunteers in the catechumenate programme. They each shared their journey to baptism.
John, a second year PhD student who came from the north of China to do his postgraduate studies in Guangzhou, shared a little of his story: “During Covid, I was finishing my master’s degree in politics and looking forward to my PhD studies. It was quite a lonely time because I was not able to interact with my classmates. All our courses were online.
“I grew up in a family that has close connections with politics. My father is a member of the communist party. There was never any talk about religion at home. During those difficult years of the pandemic, I began to wonder if there was something more to life than engaging in my studies and eventually earning a living. Something was stirring in my heart, but I did not know what it was.
"When the restrictions were lifted, I found myself one day walking past the Catholic Cathedral. I had passed by that way many times before and always admired the beautiful stone structure of the church but never thought of going inside. Something stirred my heart this time around that led me to enter the church. Sitting quietly inside the church, my heart was at peace. I was intrigued. I wanted to know why sitting here in this building, of all buildings, I found a sense of peace. As I left the church there was an advertisement about the parish catechumenate programme. I signed up soon after my visit that day.
"I came to know that the peace I felt that day in the church was the peace of the Risen Jesus - a peace graced to me from God’s abundant love for me and for all of humanity and creation. After my baptism, which was only a year ago, I wanted to continue to come to know Jesus in a deeper way and to learn more about God and the teachings of the Catholic Church. I love to keep an eye on whatever Pope Francis writes. I am now a member of the catechumenate team and while continuing my PhD studies I am also studying theology part-time.”
Theresa, from the Sichuan Province in the southwest of China, works at a Buddhist monastery where she translates Buddhist texts into English. She shared:
“Life was tough during the pandemic years with all the restrictions and having to stay inside one’s own apartment for months on end. Life was very lonely. But the loneliness also had its gift. As the months of the pandemic passed by, I began to wonder about life. Was it just about getting through these difficult years and making money? My mind began to tell me that there must be something more.
“After the restrictions were lifted, I went on a personal search, at first delving into Buddhism to find my answers. I often visited a Buddhist monastery where I received a warm welcome. I read all about Buddhism and learned how to do Buddhist ‘Zen meditation’. I was very faithful to my practice of daily meditation and after some months was able to reach a state of deep inner peace and emptiness. The feeling that came with this was very serene. But after a while, I began to wonder where this deep inner peace came from. What was its source? I brought my wonderment to the monks and nuns. When I asked them what the source of this beautiful peace was, they said it came from within me. But I had a sense that it could not be from me. I wanted to come to know the source of this inner peace and serenity.
“One day, I, too, was walking by the Catholic Cathedral. I went inside and in the quiet there I felt that inner peace that would come to me during meditation. To cut a long story short, I signed up for the catechumenate programme and continued my search. To my delight, I found the source of my inner peace. It was God and God’s abundant love for me and others. I was baptised two years ago.
“I now love talking with God in prayer and deepening my friendship with Jesus. My search continues as I volunteer to accompany others in the catechumenate programme on their own search. I have discovered the beauty and gift of service. I have come to know that it is not just my search and my coming to know God but a journey I also take with others.”
Joseph is a young Chinese doctor in his mid-twenties. He has been baptised for only one month and is full of joy and excitement at becoming a Catholic. Like John and Theresa, he too popped into the Cathedral one day after the restrictions of the pandemic were lifted. He shared how it is very emotional for him each time he receives Communion. He hopes he never loses that deep emotion of a personal invitation from Jesus to witness to Jesus in his own life - to take and receive in Communion the life and love of Jesus and in turn share that with others.
With a huge smile on his face, he shared: “I hope I never lose that sense in years to come. I know that one day receiving Communion will become very familiar to me and very habitual. I hope my heart will continue to stir each time I receive Communion or, at least, that I will sometimes remember the deep inner peace and joy I feel now whenever I receive Communion. I hope I never let go of the commitment I make with myself and God each time I receive Communion. I never knew that in my life I could be given such a special gift. I am excited to be invited to accompany other young men and women on their journey in faith through the catechumenate programme in my newly found parish.”
It was truly a joy for me to meet these young Chinese Catholics who are so excited about their faith, their parish community, and their service to others.
I hope my heart will continue to stir each time I receive Communion or, at least, that I will sometimes remember the deep inner peace and joy I feel now whenever I receive Communion.
Columban Fr Kevin O'Neill lives and works in China.
Listen to "The joy and excitement of Baptism"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - June 2024
