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CD-ROM
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Eucharistic
Whisperings
by Fr.
Winfrid Herbst SDS
The entire eight-volume series on one cd-rom
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DVD
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DVD
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DVD
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Updated pages are also available here.
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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  the 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  killed 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!
 In 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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