The present study aims at sketching the history of the first 20 years of the Salesian Orphanage of Macao (the “Orfanato”), focusing mainly on three problem areas of the first Salesian settlement in China: 1. the charismatic urge that brought the Salesians to Macao; 2. the first painful impact with reality; 3. the role played by the Orfanato in the overall strategy of Salesian expansion.
Though limited, this 4-hands research on religious reports in Shenbao is a first attempt to gauge public opinion on youth work, Don Bosco and the Salesians in Shangai based on newspaper records.
The paper sheds light on the contribution of the FMA to the advance of the Salesian spirit in China through their availability, sacrifice, indomitable courage in facing severe challenges and above all their fidelity to the spirit of “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle” by offering to youth and the needy services in keeping with the charism of the institute and in response to the needs of the place and time.
The Salesians landed in Macao on 13 February 1906 to take over the management of a diocesan orphanage and set up a school of arts and crafts, with the aim of expanding gradually into China proper, which they first did in 1911, shortly after the Portuguese republican revolution forced the them out of the enclave.
This study also aims to present the various congregations founded by some of the Salesian missionaries who worked in the East Asian region of the known Salesian world.
The China Mission, which started in 1906, was established as an autonomous entity on 1 January 1923, when the Visitatoria della China was erected, comprising 32 confreres and houses and works in Macao, Heung Shan and Shiu Chow. As new missions in Japan and Siam were being accepted or considered, the Sino-Japanese Province was erected on 28 May 1926. In December of that same year Fr. Pietro Ricaldone set out on a year-long extraordinary visitation of the Asian Missions.By the time the visitation ended in late 1927, there was a Salesian regional presence and a well established juridical structure in East Asia.
This brief paper intends to outline the juridical configuration and development strategies of the Salesian work in China and study the internal and external conditions that influenced its first expansion, in the years 1926-1927, in East Asia. Continue reading “Carlo Socol – “The birth of the China province and the expansion of the salesian work in east Asia (1926-1927)” in “The beginning of the Salesian presence in east Asia”.”
This article would like to present a general view of the political situation of China in the period of 1920-30. Even though China has succeeded in establishing a republic through the revolution, she was still suffering from the civil wars and foreign powers invasion. It greatly affected the daily life of the people, and also, giving a great hindrance for Salesians, along with other missionaries, in their evangelization and educational endeavors. Continue reading “Leong Domingos – “The political situation in China in 1920-30 and its effects on salesians” in “The beginning of the Salesian presence in east Asia”.”
Msgr. Versiglia was forming a group of young catechists to send to the various mission districts, to help the missionaries, for the religious instruction of the women and of children. Upon their arrival, the Sisters found in the mission of 7 Kuneong. They helped each other, specially for the necessary relations with the externs, for the catechumenate and for the oratory.
On this background, we see the great problems of inculturation; development of the Catholic Church in multi-religious contexts afflicted by the problems of international politics; relationships between missionary Religious Congregations, and, not the least, difficulties in communication and mutual understanding between these countries and the General Council resident in Italy.
La Escola de Artes e Oficios poteva vantare di offrire un tipo di insegnamento, con programmi e metodologie sperimentati, che a Macao erano unici nel loro genere. Era il modello delle scuole professionali promosso dalla Congregazione Salesiana, trapiantato, con opportuni adattamenti e con i limiti imposti dalle possibilità reali (non ultima quella del numero e della qualità del personale messo a disposizione dalla Congregazione), in un ambiente così diverso da quello in cui era nato. Continue reading “Carlo Socol – “«Una istituzione che si occupa della classe operaia» la escola de artes e oficios di Macao nel suo primo ventennio (1906-1926)”, in “L’Opera Salesiana dal 1880 al 1922. Esperienze particolari in Europa, Africa, Asia”.”
Nel 1886, nel Testamento Spirituale, don Bosco annotava quella che molti considerano la sua “profezia” riguardo alle missioni salesiane in Cina. L’articolo prende avvio dalla “chiamata missionaria” di don Bosco e, rileggendo criticamente alcune fonti tradizionali ed utilizzandone altre finora trascurate o sconosciute, ricostruisce il graduale maturare del suo ideale e dei suoi piani missionari fino alla rapidissima decisione di inviare il primo gruppo di missionari in Argentina.
Continue reading “Carlo Socol – Don Bosco’s missionary call and China”
Contents:
A different type of writing comes to us from Josephine Giorgi, the second cousin of St. Luigi Versiglia. Josephine lives in Springfield, Massachusetts. The excerpt from a biography of Bishop James Walsh of Maryknoll by Raymond Kerri son exemplifies the apostolic spirit of the two Salesian martyrs along with Bishop Walsh’s deep esteem for them.
Continue reading “Josephine Giorgi – St. Luigi Versiglia and Bishop Walsh of Maryknoll”
In Part One of the present installment (Part Four overall), we shall discuss the last two dreams in a similar manner to the first article. Part Two (Five) will deal with the significance of the missionary dreams, with interpretative comments.
Continue reading “Arthur Lenti – Don Bosco’s Missionary Dreams (Part II)”
Nell’anno centenario della fondazione del primo Oratorio è bene mettere nella miglior luce il grande dono che la Vergine Immacolata fece alla gioventù guidando il suo fedele servo Don Bosco a questa terra benedetta, destinata ad essere centro e foco d’irradiazione delle Opere salesiane a salvezza delle anime.
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