SIEGBURG (AsiaNews/SE): The 11th European Catholic China Colloquium, which lasted for three days, took place in Sankt Augustin, between Siegburg and Bonn, in Germany and had a particular emphasis on Youth in China. It came to an end on August 25th.
The gathering hosted by China-Zentrum saw nearly 120 attendees from about 15 countries. Approximately 50 of those present were lay people, scholars, religious women, priests from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, and individuals living in Europe for educational or pastoral purposes. Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki from Cologne attended the gathering and celebrated a Mass.
Furthermore, delegates from Orthodox and Protestant missionary groups were welcomed to exchange their valuable insights at the event. The previous gathering occurred in Germany five years ago. Since then, various significant events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the emergence of intense conflicts, have brought about numerous changes, both globally and in China. The colloquium focused on an important and timely theme: the young people.
During a keynote address, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., talked about the youth ministry in Hong Kong. He described several initiatives led by the diocese via the Diocesan Youth Commission to involve and support young people. With a significant number of Catholic schools in Hong Kong, engaging in pastoral work with youth in schools is crucial for nurturing their faith.
The Youth Commission arranges training programmes for school pastoral workers and leaders of the Catholic Students’ Association at the university level. Hong Kong is home to 22 higher education institutions, which include 12 universities and other establishments. Saint Francis University has an established chaplaincy office. The diocese has regularly taken part in the World and Asian Youth Days and has organised its own Diocesan Youth Days to involve young people in the Church’s life.
Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., talked about the youth ministry in Hong Kong. He described several initiatives led by the diocese via the Diocesan Youth Commission to involve and support young people. With a significant number of Catholic schools in Hong Kong, engaging in pastoral work with youth in schools is crucial for nurturing their faith
Cardinal Stephen spoke about the Light Up Project initiative, which aims to support the youth detained following the 2019 protests. The diocese assists their education during their time in custody and helps them reintegrate into society by supporting them in finding employment and reuniting with their families. This programme addresses their educational, emotional, and psychological needs. Additionally, the diocese is focused on supporting young people who are still encountering social challenges in the aftermath of the protests.
Father Bruno Lepeu of the Paris Foreign Missions Society has been closely involved with Chinese Catholic youth for many years. He shared how these young people are renewing the life of the Church with their faith, providing a sense of hope. Father Bruno emphasised that despite facing faith challenges, the youth actively engage in Bible reading, trust the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and embrace their baptismal mission. This has led to the formation of a vibrant and participatory Catholic community, offering a positive and encouraging experience for all involved.
Two young female Catholic scholars highlighted that millennials seem detached from traditional cultural and political values and are renouncing the existential goals of previous generations. This generation has a sense of frustration, unhappiness, and desperation, and it’s difficult for them to find the right path. They also dwelt upon the tragedy of frequent suicides, particularly during the Covid-19 lockdowns, which affected entire families.
Jesuit Father Antoine Ren provided a detailed look at the experiences of young Chinese Catholics studying in Europe. They were surprised that many Europeans seemed to have lost their faith despite Europe being traditionally considered a Christian continent. The students also found it confusing that European Catholic communities were divided between traditional and progressive factions. They realised that faith and politics are intertwined in Europe as well.
Gao Shining and He Guanghu, two well-known scholars of Christianity from Beijing, formerly from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the People’s University of China, spoke about recent theological developments in China. Christian theology in China has experienced substantial growth over the years. However, it now grapples with the intricate issues brought about by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, global conflicts, the emergence of extreme nationalism, and a tendency towards centralised thinking.
Father Bruno emphasised that despite facing faith challenges, the youth actively engage in Bible reading, trust the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and embrace their baptismal mission
Father Fabio Favata from the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions discussed the psychological, emotional, and sexual challenges that young people encounter during their training in seminaries. Father Joseph Gao Jingchuan, a Chinese priest living in Germany, presented an innovative study that examined the problem of child abuse in religious settings in China.
Young individuals in China and around the world face similar challenges in their lives, experiencing emotional distress and uncertainty about the future. The difficulties that young people encounter are universal and affect us all, including young Catholics who are not so different from their peers. They feel uneasy with traditional religious practices and formal worship ceremonies, which they readily abandon. Regardless of their religious beliefs, the Chinese youth are also similar to their global peers with whom they share the digital and social media landscape, as they are to older generations in their own country.
