CHINA

New Zealand Tablet, 2 March 1916, Page 55

CHINA

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH. ' The Rev. Father Boyle, writing in the Irish Catholic, gives the following particulars of the progress of the Church in the diocese of Pekin. At the beginning of the. last century (he says) there were only a few Catholic missions in China, with a small number of Catholics. Even half a century ago conversions in China were comparatively few, but since the beginning of this centurythat is, since the persecution of the Boxers, in which so many thousands of native Christians gave their lives for the Faiththe number is truly wonderful. If we take the diocese of Pekin we find that 38,465 adults were received into the Church during the past year, and 50,000 are at present preparing for baptism in that diocese. The history of the state of that diocese reads like a chapter of the’ history of the early Church. In the diocese of Pekin there are 87 priests, of whom 60 are Chinese. To furnish a large number of edifying, zealous priests is the best proof of the progress of the Church in a pagan country. There are 82 Trappist monks, 47 Marist Brothers (of whom 19 ' are Chinese), 39 Sisters , of Charity, 73 Sisters of St. Joseph, who are all natives; 185 native virgins, consecrated to God, living in their. own homes, as was customary in the primitive Church 46 eccleiastical students in advanced classes, and 135 students in the junior classes. ■ Five thousand seven hundred and eighteen dying pagan children were baptised during the past year. ' Masters and mistresses teaching in various schools number 2715. At the end of last year the Catholics of the diocese of Pekin numbered 193,602. It is no, exaggeration to say that the

progress of the Church- in the diocese of - Pekin is marvellous; This will not astonish us if we* call to mind that a few years ago, in the persecution of the Boxers, 5000 native Christians shed their blood for the faith.' In each base they were offered their lives if they gave up their faith. A church has been erected to their memory in Pekin, and on the wall are inscribed the names of those 5000 ! heroic Christians.