China Church’s future ‘is in prayers’

(May 25, 2011) Catholics in Hong Kong marked the World Day of Prayer for China on Tuesday with Holy Mass. More than 500 Catholics joined the evening event with prayers and a Mass on the feast day of “Our Lady Help of Christians,” hosted by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Hong Kong. During the two-hour event, retired bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen
Ze-kiun appealed for prayers for what he described as “pastors who are lost.” Tapes of mainland priests were also broadcast. Commission officer Or Yan-yan said the purpose of the broadcast was to have three priests sharing their first-hand experience to help local Catholics, understand better the current situation of the Church in China. An underground priest said the Church was in a state of confusion after the illicit ordination in Chengde and the Eighth National Catholic Representatives Congress last year.
In his homily, Cardinal Zen reminded the congregation of the Pope Benedict’s call in the May 18 general audience, to pray for those who are “ensnared by the allurement of opportunism.”
Or Yan-yan said she thought religious freedom had turned for the good since the papal letter, but the Chengde ordination and the congress have proved that the government does not respect religion, which makes her feel helpless and perplexed. However, from history and with the pope’s call, she believed that prayers can bring change and that is all everyone can do for now, she said.