ASIA/CHINA - Young Catholic Immigrant workers search for work with a nearby church to continue to live their faith

Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – In view of Lent, the mainland Catholic community is intensifying its youth ministry. According to information furnished by “Faith” of He Bei to Fides, “the Church invites young people, especially young Catholic workers, to allocate priority to the life of faith rather than to money, and to not lose their Catholic roots while living away from home and from their places of origin for work.” In addition, the local Catholic community, such as the Diocese of Zhou Zhi and the Diocese of Feng Xiang of Shaan Xi Province, assures them that “the door of the church is always open, because no one is a stranger or a foreigner to the Church.” After the celebration of Chinese New Year spent with the family, the migrant workers have returned to their places of work and the Catholic communities that are located in the industrial area have rallied to welcome them and meet their spiritual and moral needs. In fact, during a survey conducted by Faith in an employment agency for migrant workers, it was found that there are young Catholics who seek a place to work with a nearby church or a chance to find spiritual support in the vicinity. Respondents also asked journalists at Faith to convey their hopes to the Bishops, pastors, priests, so that far away from their homes for work, they may lead “a regular spiritual life” as they did when they were at home, especially at Easter and Christmas. And the local Church is trying to respond to their perceived need with certain initiatives.
For example, from 12 to 16 February, the parish of Xiao Han Cun invited local youth and migrant workers to a five day Spiritual Camp to strengthen their faith and to feel as though they are members in the Church. Three seminarians from the Major Seminary in Shen Yang, along with the sisters of the Congregation of St Paul, guided the meeting on the theme: “Return of the Father”, inviting them to prepare themselves to fully experience this important season of the liturgical year, Lent. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 04/03/2011)