Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Xu Zhou (Agenzia Fides) – The Parish of Feng Xian in the Diocese of Xu Zhou, Jiang Su Province, has paid tribute to three Canadian Jesuit missionaries killed during the Second World War, with testimonies of several witnesses and a solemn Eucharist celebrating the anniversary of their murder on March 18. According to information received by Fides, over 600 faithful attended the solemn Mass celebrated by the parish to commemorate the 67 years since the martyrdom of three missionaries. Two elderly persons, who were witnesses to that moving story, told of the martyrdom of three Jesuits Canadian Province of Quebec: their names in Chinese are Fr. Tu Shan Xiu (age 53), Fr. Long Ren Chang (age 39) and Fr. Na Shi Rong (age 37). Finally, the community went before the graves of three missionaries, where they all prayed and asked for their intercession for the community and the mission of evangelization at Feng Xian, in China, and worldwide.
According to the testimonies of those who lived this tragic period, the three missionaries arrived in the district of Feng Xian in the Diocese of Xu Zhou between 1938 and 1941, the years when the Japanese invaded that area. Despite the very difficult situation, the missionaries were able to carry out their pastoral ministry by opening the local school, a shelter for refugees of war, a service for mass media ... In 1942, when war raged, the missionaries welcomed in the parish three guerrillas who asked for their help because they were being chased by the Japanese. Thousands of refugees were already hidden by the missionaries in the parish, and this infuriated the Japanese. Some time later, they found an excuse to stop the missionaries. They refused to leave the church and their parishioners to save themselves. Thus, they met the enemy with great courage and were brutally killed on March 18, 1943. Even in the face of death, they gave a moving testimony of faith (which is still alive today), praying to the Lord and invoking his mercy. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/03/2010)
