While we were gone
With our original schedule this summer, we were to be back in Beijing in early August, plenty of time ahead of the Pope's visit to Seoul. I was considering trying to make it there, but before I had the chance to book flights and hotels, Randy had to extend his time in the US. We would be remaining until after Pope Francis left.
Over the summer I looked to a few Beijing Catholic websites, to see if they were announcing any group or individual trips to Korea, but there weren't any such advertisements. Even with my home parish, the Beijing Seminary, being home to a part of the city's Korean Catholic community, there was nothing. Not being around to hear the announcements or get the bulletins, I had no idea what, if anything, was being planned openly.
More after the jump
As the Pope's jet crossed over into Chinese airspace, he sent a cable of greetings. This was published on one of the Beijing Diocesan websites. But then after that, there was not much else. I read various reports in the Western media, including reports of both successful and thwarted attempts by Catholics trying to leave Beijing to go to Seoul. But I never heard anything directly.
It was with a little trepidation I showed up for Mass our first Sunday back in China. Would there have been problems, especially with the ties between our Seminary and Korea? Would I notice anything different?
Everything seemed pretty much the same. The new semester had not yet begun, so only a few seminarians were present, including four of the seven expected freshmen. I spoke briefly with one of the priests about our summers, and all he said was his was busy preparing for the incoming class.
The next week, August 31, was the night before the start of classes for every school and university in China. In attendance were all the returning seminarians and their seven new brothers. That Mass was another time in which I couldn't help but notice how the lectionary matched with the Chinese season.
With the start of the new school year, the seminarians, returning and new, were electing to spend another year denying themselves and following Jesus. It isn't an easy calling to follow anywhere, but in China they have other challenges, too.
Over the summer I looked to a few Beijing Catholic websites, to see if they were announcing any group or individual trips to Korea, but there weren't any such advertisements. Even with my home parish, the Beijing Seminary, being home to a part of the city's Korean Catholic community, there was nothing. Not being around to hear the announcements or get the bulletins, I had no idea what, if anything, was being planned openly.
More after the jump
As the Pope's jet crossed over into Chinese airspace, he sent a cable of greetings. This was published on one of the Beijing Diocesan websites. But then after that, there was not much else. I read various reports in the Western media, including reports of both successful and thwarted attempts by Catholics trying to leave Beijing to go to Seoul. But I never heard anything directly.
It was with a little trepidation I showed up for Mass our first Sunday back in China. Would there have been problems, especially with the ties between our Seminary and Korea? Would I notice anything different?
Everything seemed pretty much the same. The new semester had not yet begun, so only a few seminarians were present, including four of the seven expected freshmen. I spoke briefly with one of the priests about our summers, and all he said was his was busy preparing for the incoming class.
The next week, August 31, was the night before the start of classes for every school and university in China. In attendance were all the returning seminarians and their seven new brothers. That Mass was another time in which I couldn't help but notice how the lectionary matched with the Chinese season.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?"
With the start of the new school year, the seminarians, returning and new, were electing to spend another year denying themselves and following Jesus. It isn't an easy calling to follow anywhere, but in China they have other challenges, too.
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