The great ordeals of the peoples of Myanmar and China
May 2008: These last weeks have been overshadowed by the grave news from Myanmar and China. As Brother Alois said in one of his Saturday evening meditations, “In the face of situations of suffering close to us or far away, we cannot remain indifferent.” We want to try to be close to these people, both now and in the future, when everyone’s attention has moved on to other news. In both these countries, sorely afflicted by the cyclone and the earthquake, brothers were visiting Christian communities just a few weeks ago. The communion with those who have been affected has only been increased by what has happened.
Our solidarity has been expressed in a practical way by humanitarian aid sent by Operation Hope to two non-governmental organizations in China: Jinde Charities and the Amity Foundation who are involved in relief activity in the disaster area. (According to Xinde, the Chinese Catholic newspaper, this was the first humanitarian aid to arrive from abroad). This spring, these two important NGOs, whose social activity is Christian inspired, already collaborated with Taizé following the natural disaster that occurred in the South of China and they remain in close contact with us.
On May 24, which was proposed this year as a special day of prayer for China, two groups of Chinese were in Taizé: one from Beijing, and the other a group of young people studying in France. For this special day, Brother Alois wrote the following prayer:
“Together with young people of all continents gathered together on our hill of Taizé, we pray today for China, this country well beloved by us all. God, our hope, pour out your compassion on all those who are going through the great trial of the earthquake in China. When we are disconcerted by the incomprehensible suffering of the innocent, enable us to be witnesses to the gospel by our lives and to make the consolation of your Holy Spirit more visible. You want neither human distress nor misfortune on earth, and your love for each of us will never fade away. We entrust the Christians in China to you: support them by the continual presence of your Holy Spirit.
Pilgrimage of trust in Hong Kong
On Tuesday evening 13 November 2007 Christians of different denominations came together for prayer in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Hong Kong.
At midday the same day, there was a gathering at St John’s Anglican Cathedral, for those who work in the centre of Hong Kong.
Brother Alois and other brothers of Taizé took part in both of these events.
“The leader of the France-based Taizé religious community who is visiting Hong Kong has praised the faith of Chinese Christians but at the same time warned against certain negative effects of China’s rapid economic development. ‘In China there is a long tradition, a very ancient civilisation, in which the gospel has been able to find an echo and an underlying meaning,’ Brother Alois, prior of the Taizé Community, told more than 700 Christians at an ecumenical prayer meeting at Hong Kong’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. At the same time, however, he warned against some of the consequences of China’s rapid economic and technological development. ‘If these innovations bear within them many promises for the future, they must not make us forget what is essential,’ he said.” Ecumenical News International 14 nov 07.
Every month, St John’s, the Anglican Cathedral of Hong Kong, welcomes Christians who work in “Central”, the financial district. During the mid day break, they come together to meet and listen to a guest. Knowing that Brother Alois was coming to Hong Kong, the “Christians in Central” group invited him to join them and, judging by the questions that were put to him, the meeting aroused much interest in a very warm atmosphere. The Archbishop, the Most Revd Paul Kwong, took part in the meeting.
“It is a great joy to come to pray with you in Hong Kong. Our Brother Roger, the founder of our community, came here thirty years ago. He lived for several weeks in a shack, beside the sea at Aberdeen, sharing the life of the poor people living on the junks, not far from the Little Sisters of Jesus.
Since then, some of my brothers have lived as a small fraternity in Taipo. Others have come back frequently to Hong Kong. They have also visited Christians in mainland China, who are so present in the prayer of our Community. And young people from Hong Kong come to Taizé on pilgrimage.” Brother Alois on the evening of 13 November.
The Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Zen, was present for the prayer. This was a very joyful occasion, not least because it gave an opportunity for Christians of different churches to work together, especially Catholics and Anglicans. For several months prior to the 13 November gatherings, there had been a series of prayers in churches of different denominations. “When we heard that the pilgrimage of trust was to visit Hong Kong, we were all thrilled. To prepare for the prayer on 13 November, our choir members and the young people from the prayer group, in communion with brothers and sisters of other protestant churches had a series of prayer meetings with practices and rehearsal of songs. This is the first stage of communion in Christ.” Eleonor Lam, of the Catholic Cathedral.
“The message was one of hope and truly mirrored the problems faced by many today in Asia”, commented Maggie, from Kowloon Union Church:
“Brother Alois gave us much to think about. He said: For God, every human being is sacred. Christ stretched out his arms on the Cross to gather together all of humanity. And he sends us out to pass on the love of God to the very ends of the earth.” Eleonor Lam
The next day, Brother Alois was eager to go on pilgrimage to the places where Brother Roger and the others - with a team of young adults from every continent - had stayed beside the South China Sea in November 1977. Even if the neighbourhood has now completely changed and the shack has long since been replaced by high rise buildings, it was possible by boat to get a glimpse of how Aberdeen was then, filled with junks with refugees from continental China.
Later, a visit to the Holy Spirit Study Centre gave an insight into China today. Headed by Bishop John Tong Hon, the centre is made up of priests, sisters, laypeople, and professionals doing in depth research on China, particularly in what concerns the life of Christians there. The centre has become a reference for people seeking to understand the reality of modern China.