A Chinese Saint ?

[douglaslam]

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/18/3040655.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_MacKillop

www.smh.com.au/world/pope-confirms-her-place-in-history-20101017-16p7c.html?autostart=1

For weeks, the airwaves and newsprint in this country have been saturated with the imminent canonisation of Sister Mary Mackillop to sainthood. In fact, the good Sister is entombed only about ten minutes away from my place by suburban train. I sat up late one evening to watch a TV doco. on the Catholic nun's life story. Beliefs aside, she was quite a fighter for the poor and against the church hierarchy.

Well, it is now official, Sister Mary Mackillop is now St. Mary of the Cross, the first Catholic Saint from Australia. There is much celebration by Catholics and non-believers alike. Australians love a winner.

It takes years from nomination to acceptance/beatification to confirmation/canonisation by the Pope. In the interim, there must be two verified miracles accredited to the nominee.

I am not being disrespectful or cynical in asking : has there been a Chinese male or female made a Catholic saint ? Has there ever been an Asian created as one at all ? Is this another mountain to climb?

I know China would certainly not want to have anything to do with the Vatican in creating sainthood. What about Chinese outside of China, is there anyone on the beatification list awaiting canonisation? Catholic devotees in our midst could perhaps clear the air for me.

[sdcheung]

In my Orthodox Catholic Church (Eastern Orthodox Church) we have the Feast of the martyrs of the Chinese Boxer Rebellion..whose feast day is June 10th

www.orthodox.cn/history/martyrs/9908ocmc.htm

[chansomvia]

Hi douglaslam

Sorry to rake up this 5 year old subject but as drove recently on The Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide and stopped at Penola to see the place where Mary MacKillop started her work at the Centre and church. Let it be said that we should pay homage to all people who have suffered, and will continue to suffer, because of religion. Mary MacKillop did not die because of her religion unlike many saints but she suffered by being excommunicated unjustly by her superiors, this to a nun is a fate worse than death. She was later re-instated by the same superior from his death bed. And made a saint by the superior's superior after she passed away.

I mention this as there were a few hundred Chinese Martyrs who were killed because of their Catholic religion and were made saints before the present government. Any Chinese waiting to be canonised? Although of the same faith I have my reservations on many decisions made by our as well as other religious leaders so have not much interest in following this path. Onwards with our search for our roots.

How are your October plans?

Regards

Joe

[douglaslam]

Hi Joe, it's hard to believe it was almost five years ago when I wrote the piece on Mary MacKillop. Good to see you reviving it, and breathing life back into it as it were.

Yes, I am going ahead with my trip to China in October or earlier if circumstances dictate an earlier departure. I have been approached to lead a small group of people to China for a roots search journey. The number has not been finalised. I know the patriarch of the group, who, at 87 years of age, came to Australia as a toddler. Now, he, his children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren want to know where that journey started from. I have been to their ancestral village in 2013 and 2014 to find the homes, take photos, and lay the ground work. I have established contact with two respected villagers to smooth things out and *s. I did not mention it on this Forum because they are not members.

I will post some photos of my trip to Europe and England one day. I didn't do so because it is irrelevant to Chinese genealogy. It is just self-indulgence.

Cheers,

Douglas

[lachinatown]

Go ahead Douglas, we are always interested in your trips.
Love to see your pictures.

[chansomvia]

Hi Douglas

I second lachinatown encouragement for you to post the Europe and England trip memories, you have a keen discerning eye and never afraid to call a spade a spade. And an excellent writer. The pictures and comments would be of interest to many members and non-members. I find that for forum postings there is no need for pictures to be sent in the raw form, a reduction in pixels does not make much difference and saves a lot of time and bandwith.


Going with an experienced person to China opens up a lot of avenues, so the choice of inviting you to lead a group of born in China and overseas born Chinese is an excellent one. I love to hear the unedited comments made by the overseas born Chinese when the see the real China.

Joe