SHANGHAI, China (CNS): Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai has asked his flock to intensify evangelisation efforts to mark this year’s 400th anniversary of the introduction of Catholicism to Shanghai.
The Asian church news agency UCA News reported on January 3 that in a pastoral letter released on December 24, Bishop Jin also urged Catholics to renew themselves spiritually in response to Pope Benedict XVI’s call for prayers to Our Lady of Sheshan on May 24.
The Pope made the call in his letter to Catholics in China, released on June 30.
Noting that May 24 is “dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady Help of Christians, who is venerated … at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai”, he urged the Church throughout the world to pray with Catholics in China on that date.
Bishop Jin, 91, a Shanghai native and a Jesuit, started his letter by recounting the story of Catholicism’s arrival in Shanghai in 1608.
Bishop Jin told Catholics “not to forget the missioners”, including Jesuits such as Italian Fathers Matteo Ricci and Julius Aleni and German Father Adam Schall, who contributed to local arts and sciences including astrology and medicine.
Bishop Jin also cited some of the Jesuits’ past works in Shanghai, including the building of about 20 high schools, a university, an astronomical observatory, a meteorological observatory and several hospitals.
In the second half of his letter, the prelate identified ways of renewing spiritual life and revitalising evangelisation in his diocese.
“Evangelisation is the work of all Catholics,” he said, urging his flock not to focus merely on the sacraments and charitable works. Today, there are about 150,000 Shanghai Catholics.
Priests and nuns must work harder at evangelisation, he stressed, adding that churches must be kept open in the daytime for worshippers and visitors.
Religious personnel should welcome and share their faith with visitors, he urged, lamenting that some priests and nuns would rather spend time watching television or being on the Internet.
