SINGAPORE – There are ways for the Singapore Church to further engage their counterparts in China, an experienced missionary working there said here recently.Father Jeroom Heyndrickx, CICM (right), conducted a talk in Mandarin Jun 15 for laypeople at Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, as part of a series highlighting recent developments of the Catholic Church in China and opportunities and challenges presented.
The priest has been in Taiwan since 1957 and made frequent trips to China since 1982. He praised efforts made by the Singapore diocese in conducting training and formation for the Catholics in China in areas such as Marriage Encounter.
However, he also suggested training RCIA sponsors and facilitators in China, an aspect which he described as what the “Catholic Church in China needs most at the moment”.
He explained that although many laypeople in the Church in China are enthusiastic about serving as catechists or RCIA sponsors and facilitators, many are hampered by a lack of knowledge and understanding to effectively impart the Catholic faith. Fortunately, the laypeople are eager to learn, he pointed out.
Said Father Heyndrickx: “I believe that the Catholic Church in Singapore diocese can cooperate with the various dioceses in China.”
By Darren Boon
darrenboon@catholic.org.sg
Written with information from Patricia Chia
