Ongoing Formation in China

It was a new type of experience for all the 30 plus who attended who attended in Mainland China (May 19-20) and the over 60 who attended in Taiwan. Fr. Tom McKenna, CM of the eastern Province,reflected on the two themes of the 350th Anniversary year – Charity and Mission.

Full text of report…

Having our first CM Ongoing Formation Program (in celebration of the 350^th Anniversary of the deaths of Vincent and Louise) was a new type of experience for all the 30 plus who attended who attended in Mainland China (May 19-20) and the over 60 who attended in Taiwan.  Among those attendants in China were several Tianjin Daughters of Charity, 5-6 Tianjin Diocesan priests, our own Chinese confreres (4), and 2 foreign CMs and among those who attended in Taiwan — in addition to CMs and DCs — there were people who work with us in our Ministries here in Taiwan (the Provincial Office Staff, St. Anne’s Home, St. Francis Old Folks Home, St. Vincent’s Senior High School, and our parishes).Each contributed in his or her way to the success of the Program.

Our guest speaker —Fr. Thomas McKenna, CM (of the USA Eastern CM Province) — shared his reflections on our two main themes for the 350^th Anniversary year – Mission & Charity.    He began with the mysterious Trinity and that as members of the Vincentian Family       are all continually being ‘sent’ to the poor in the societies in which we live. And like Jesus Himself who was sent by his Father, our aim is to touch peoples’ lives and bring them back to the Father.  Not being able to speak Chinese, Fr. Tom patiently depended on the translation of Fr. Richard Preuss, CM. With two non-Chinese trying to give some reflections to group of Chinese reminded us of the importance of the Father, the Son, — and especially the Holy Spirit