Salvatorian Archives

SALVATORIAN MISSIONS IN CHINA
PART I - FUKIEN DISTRICT (1922-1949)
(Click on any of the photos to see a larger version)

Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS and the First Communion class of 1947

(From the 1947 report to the Generalate by Fr. Ludwig Heitfeld SDS) - "In the summer of 1940, we were thinking of building a beautiful new church.

Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS and the first two Chinese Salvatorian candidates

Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS, the Apostolic Prefect of our Shaowu Mission, gave his permission and blessing to the new enterprise. But then came a combination of hindrances, influenced by the ruthlessness of war, and it put a delay in all our efforts.

But in July 1944, our lucky star shined brightly again. All the Christians in the mission knew that July 30 would be the 40th anniversary of the Apostolic Prefecture and it was also close to the birthday of Msgr. Inigo Koenig. He came here to celebrate his birthday among these first Catholics in the region and he was struck speechless by their generosity. A nice little piece of property was presented to him for the building of a new church by Mrs. Andrew Fan and her son John, descendents of Jacob Fan, the first Catholic here. A "Golden Book" was handed to him, in which were written all the names of the Christians and their pledges for the new building foundation. We all were wiping tears from our eyes when we saw and heard what was taking place - it completely surpassed our comprehension. We all went over to the new property which Msgr. Koenig blessed and we erected a wooden cross as a sign of triumph. Here we would build the new church with the name of St. Andrew.

In the weeks that followed, the plot of land was developed and the digging began for the new church. But suddenly there came a halt - we were forbidden by the local government, and the missionaries were to be imprisoned again! It came like a bombshell in our midst. Fr. Ludwig went to meet with the local Christians to console them and he begged them to carry that cross with him until they could meet again. It was a severe blow to have to give up on this lovely station.

Altar in one of the Salvatorian Chinese Mission churches

But the missionaries are always pioneers of hope. After a year of imprisonment, we were once again in Shaowu. It was January of 1946. The new church could once again be built and in April the cornerstone was laid for the new St. Andrew's Church. Rain hampered the construction over the coming months, but finally on October 28, the church building was finally finished. A month later, on the Feast of St. Andrew itself, the church was formally dedicated."

But the takeover of China by the Communists in 1949 was a threat to every Christian mission and the foreign missionaries as well as the new Chinese Salvatorians were compelled to leave the country.

(From an April 1949 letter to the Generalate by Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS - Apostolic Prefect of the Fukien District) - "Since Peking and Tiensin have fallen and the Yangtseh River, the last natural defense against the Red Army in the south, has been crossed, all China has been seized with a great panic. For now, all the pastors will remain at their stations. We will try to save our most important mission institutions and reduce the mission personnel to those absolutely needed, while evacuating the others in time. Our missionaries may be forced to leave their posts later. I have given permission for Mass to be said at any time of the day, without anyone being bound by the Eucharistic fast. Mass may be said without vestments or sacred vessels, using only a simple glass chalice and plate, and using any kind of wheat bread. The three American Sisters went back, along with the three Chinese candidates, at the beginning of February and we have been notified of their safe arrival. Fr. Coloman and two of the Brothers have left for America.

In the photo on the left, Sister Katharina Tang (standing, second from left) who was a Candidate at the time, and Sister Anna Yu (standing far right) were among those who fled to the United States. Sister Anna died in 2004. Sister Katharina recently came back to the United States after returning to Asia to minister in Taiwan for a number of years.

They are both pictured later in life on the right - Sr. Anna (above) and Sr. Katharina (below).

"The second group left later by boat in the direction of Foochow. Fr. Leonard left with the two Chinese scholastics in order to bring them eventually to Manila to continue their studies. Many of the Sisters left at the same time.

The third group leaves tomorrow. The remainder of the Sisters will leave, including Sister Norbertine, and she will be missed terribly by all the people, as she was their only dentist.

A few of us, including myself, will remain here for now. We will try to send information by every ways and means, especially to Rome. We fear, however, that our communications will be cut off. I have sent them word as to how to interpret my messages, as I doubt we will be able to write freely. Try to tell relatives of the missionaries and the Sisters not to fear too much for us, as long as there is no negative news. The important thing to do is to please pray for us.

For now, everyone waits and listens for what the radio brings. Nanking fell last Saturday. Shanghai is surrounded and now the Reds are advancing towards Nanchow. No doubt Foochow and Nanchang will soon have their turn and then we will be within their reach.

If it is possible, I will soon write again. If not, console yourselves with the hope that we shall meet again, either here or in the better world to come. ~ Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS / Written in great haste."

Msgr. Koenig and several other Salvatorian priests were later detained (under "house arrest") for not leaving the country by a specific date. Two years later, he managed to get a letter out.

(Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS - in a letter dated May 15, 1951, from detainment in Shaowu) - "For a long time I had wished to write to you as I am aware of your concern for us. Our situation is unpredictable, each day can bring about an essential change. We received news from Foochow that the Chinese priests and Christians held a three-day meeting, with the result that they elected a Bishop. It was decided that the foreign missionaries should be entirely separated from the Chinese Christians and that they should refrain from any official function, such as no longer saying Mass in church. The money in the banks is frozen so we are penniless and now without work. We received from the neighboring mission a Chinese priest, a pious and zealous pastor of souls who can be of great help. The faithful will not be entirely abandoned. In the meantime we are like captives in our own house. People are very accommodating insofar as no one disturbs us. We were told that there is no problem for us foreigners to render a kind of menial service to the native priests in their mission work. It is but natural that our people ask themselves again and again how all this is to continue. Our greatest consolation and peace come from our consciences, knowing that we come with the best and most unselfish of intentions to spend ourselves for the sake of the people. They are told that we are emissaries of the capitalists, but they know that this is either a wicked calumny or gross ignorance of the facts. Up to now, our good Father in heaven has watched over us. To his fatherly care and providence we entrust also our future. The most they can do to us is to take our lives. They can never hurt our souls."

That was the last communication from Msgr. Koenig in China. The next word about them would come two years later from a Dominican priest - Fr. Louis Scheerer OP - in Hong Kong.

(In a letter to the Salvatorian community dated June 1, 1953, Fr. Sheerer writes:) - "I welcomed to safety on May 17th our missionary neighbor, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Inigo Koenig SDS. He is the Apostolic Prefect of Shaowu, Fukien, which district is under the Salvatorian Fathers. Fr. Leonard Gerke SDS, present superior of their house in Macao, came to welcome his superior. Here are a few facts related by Msgr. Koenig: On May 14, 1952, he was taken to prison to serve his sentence. The judge had showed him that his crimes merited at least 23 years of imprisonment, or possibly death. For two weeks he was in prison in Shaowu city, then he was transferred to spend the rest of one year's term in the jail in Kienyang city. For six months, Msgr. Koenig was in one small room, 15 square feet, with six other prisoners.

There was one bed for the six of them; they had to lie one with his head at the top and the next at the foot of the bed in order to squeeze all six men onto the one bed. Next to Msgr. Koenig was a man with manacled hands and feet, who could not change his clothes and was the center of swarms of body lice. When they were ready to expel Msgr. Koenig on May 14, 1953, the Communist officials announced that due to the great leniency of Mao Tse-Tung's Communist government, the rest of the sentence was remitted and he was being exiled from China forever. Armed guards accompanied him from Kienyang to the border of Hong Kong, and he was released to the freedom of Hong Kong on May 17th. He says he has difficulty with his memory after the incessant trials and questionings. His eye sight is dim due to malnutrition. However, great improvement has been made during his short stay here."