Salvatorian Archives

Salvatorian Archives - in the tower of St. Pius X Parish

SALVATORIAN ARCHIVES
2506 N. Wauwatosa Avenue
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213-1135

414-453-3875
414-453-7570 - FAX
 
  Bro. Edward Havlovic SDS - Province Archivist
Michael R. Hoffman SDS - Assistant Archivist
The Salvatorian Archives is located in the three-story tower of St. Pius X Parish,
on the corner of N. Wauwatosa Avenue (N. 76th Street) and Wright Street.

July 2010 - Web note: This website is maintained constantly. The materials below are all available. ~ Salvatorian Archives

CLICK HERE for a brief description of available DVD's, CD's, and publications - or on any of the pictures below for a particular item.

 From the pages of Salvatorian history:



CD-ROM

Eucharistic
Whisperings

by Fr. Winfrid Herbst SDS

The entire eight-volume series on one cd-rom

Memories of St. Nazianz - Salvatorian Seminary

DVD

DVD

Memories of Blackwood - Mother of the Savior Seminary

Memories of Lanham - Divine Savior Seminary

DVD

DVD

The Passion of the Savior

On Whose Shoulders We Stand

Updated pages are also available here.

CD-rom
or
Printed
Binder


SALVATORIAN MISSIONS IN CHINA
PART I - FUKIEN DISTRICT (1922-1949)

(Click on any of the photos to see a larger version)

The history of the Salvatorian Missions in China is a story filled with
triumph and tragedy, life and death. The selfless and brave Salvatorian
missionaries sought to bring the Gospel to a people with a very different
language and culture. Thousands heard and accepted that message. But
in time an intolerant government forced them to leave, along with several
Chinese Salvatorians who also had to leave their families and their
homeland behind in order to live their faith and their religious vocation.

To tell this story, we use the words that come directly from people at the time,
condensed from letters and reports to the Salvatorian Generalate in Rome.

(From the 1940 report to the Generalate - Author unknown) - "It was the Fall of 1922 that the first Salvatorian Fathers arrived in China. They were assigned to Three of the first Salvatorian missionaries in Chinathe western part of the province of Fukien by the Holy See after they had lost their former mission in the province of Assam in India. The name of the new mission in China was "Catholic Mission of Shaowu" and prior to the arrival of the Salvatorians it was under the direction of the Spanish Dominicans. It belongs to the Apostolic Prefecture of Foochow. The Spanish Fathers had had two mission stations with resident priests in that far-off region of Fukien, and there were about 800 Catholics to care for.

Some time after the arrival of the Salvatorians, two new stations were established. Due to political unrest and banditry, mission activity and progress were hampered and slow. In 1927, Protestant missionaries fled Fukien to places of greater safety, but the Salvatorians remained at their posts. However in 1931 they also were forced to leave their beloved mission field, but only after they suffered numerous trials and hardships. One of the Fathers (Fr. Melchoir Geser SDS) was + Fr. Melchior Geser SDS - Killed in Chinakilled and a few days later all of the missionaries except one were captured by outlaws and held as prisoners until ransom was paid. After their release they sought refuge in the capital of Fukien and they remained exiled there for a time. In 1934, three missionaries returned to the mission, and in 1935 the rest followed suit.

Even though the mission suffered much from a material point of view during those trying years, the Christians marvelously persevered in their faith. Since then, our mission has made satisfactory progress. The number now lists a total of 3406 Christians and 4453 catechumens under instruction. 769 children are taught in the schools."

(From the 1946 report to the Generalate by Fr. Peter Huentemann SDS) - Our newly-appointed Superior, Fr. Matthew Laser SDS, is a missionary who has served nearly twenty years in China and is well-known in the whole of western Fukien, is beloved and popular, very learned, especially in the Chinese language, and the joy among the Christians on his appointment was extraordinarily great, as the many letters he received would prove that. Sister Adolphina SDS, who has worked very successfully for about twenty years in Kwangtseh as a nurse and catechist, just celebrated her Silver Jubilee of Profession. The whole city sent congratulations and gifts - the pagans as well as the Christians - as Sister Adolphina has done so much charitable work for everyone without any distinctions. She is an angel of charity!

Salvatorian
												 studentsIn September we received great news from Rome. Our two Chinese students for the priesthood were permitted to enter the Novitiate - they are our first Chinese Salvatorians! The day they entered Novitiate was a great event for us Salvatorians - a satisfaction and consolation after all the troublesome years in the Mission."

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