ASIA/CHINA - Chinese faithful help victims of natural disasters

Friday, 6 April 2018 solidarity caritas natural disasters christianity local churches

Maryknoll

CHINA

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Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - 21 dioceses of mainland China have responded to the appeal launched on the occasion of the "National Collection Day for the victims of natural disasters" with great generosity. As Catholic Faith news Agency in China reports, the initiative celebrated on March 25, Palm Sunday, was promoted by Jinde Charites, the body that has been taking care of Catholic charitable works for 20 years, and was welcomed with great availability by bishops, priests and laity.
The statistics of the offers collected are encouraging: last year the equivalent of 157 thousand euro was collected, then spent by Jinde Charites for material and health aid, psychological support and reconstruction, for the areas of Hu Nan, Ji Lin, Gui Zhou, Hua Lian, Taiwan.
The solidarity of the Chinese faithful towards the victims of natural disasters was moving. As noted by Msgr. Yao of Inner Mongolia, "it is important to unite the hearts, appreciating the strength of the faithful to help the needy. We respond to the appeal of charity towards the brothers in distress with love, as Pope Francis teaches".
Jinde Charites was founded in May 1997 in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, and obtained government approval in 1998. In 20 years of mission it has helped organize social services and charity initiatives, in active collaboration with local churches. It has invited "dioceses, parishes, congregations and religious institutes, associations and ecclesial movements to adhere to the special Day of the Chinese national collection held every year on Palm Sunday". According to the organization, "rescuing people affected by natural disasters and saving lives has its origin in the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ" and requires "a revival of charity among the people of the Chinese faithful". Today, Jinde Charites is active in 18 provinces and is always ready to intervene where natural disasters, earthquakes, droughts and floods occur. (Agenzia Fides, 6/4/2018)