Loyola Hall: Jesuit Spirituality Centre

During the month of July a team from Loyola Hall taught spiritual accompaniment in Beijing, China. Vron Smith describes the experience.

‘There are nine million bicycles in Beijing’ so the song goes. There are also over 22 million residents living in an area of 16,800 square kilometres, over 40% of whom are migrant workers from the countryside who are looking for work. Travelling around Beijing, apart from the crowds of people, what is most striking is how young the population is, the average age being around 33 years. It is estimated that around 1% of the population is Catholic, with a greater concentration around Beijing.

The situation of the Catholic Church in China is very complicated. There are the ‘underground’ and ‘patriotic’ Church, but to use those terms is not helpful. Rather, a church, seminary etc. may be unregistered or registered with the government. Previously, to be registered involved being part of the Catholic Patriotic Association who rejected ties with the Vatican. However, many who joined registered churches worked within the restrictions whilst still maintaining loyalty to the Vatican; others chose not to join the Catholic Patriotic Association and became what is known as the underground church. Today that division is much more blurred and there are many Catholics who go to celebrate the sacraments at registered churches who are not members of the Catholic Patriotic Association. Similarly, registered and unregistered seminarians can be found studying together at registered seminaries. For the Catholic Church in China there is an ongoing complex process of reconciliation that requires our prayer.

Eamonn O’Brien, a Columban missionary working with Cultural Exchange with China, contacted Ruth at Loyola Hall about the possibilities of training in Spiritual Accompaniment for Chinese Catholics, resulting in an invitation to Beijing.  Hosted by the Archdiocese of Beijing, Ruth and Vron, together with Paul Nicholson SJ, arrived into the City airport at the beginning of July. We were welcomed by Eamonn and driven to the Beijing Seminary at Houbajia, in the northern suburbs where we settled in to our air-conditioned rooms (fitted in time for the arrival of all those on the course)!

The first day we spent acclimatising by going to Mass in South Cathedral and visiting Tian’anmen Square, the South-facing Gate and Wangfujing St (the Westernised commercial shopping street) before returning in time to welcome the course participants who were arriving from all parts of China by plane and train. All the participants – lay, religious and clergy – were required to have completed a Master’s degree in an English-speaking country and to have some involvement in spiritual accompaniment and/or formation.
After opening introductions the participants undertook a 6 day individually guided retreat (IGR), partly to help us gain a greater understanding of their spirituality, religious language and customs, but also to help them prepare for the training course through experiencing Ignatian accompaniment and giving them time and space to be with God.

Then to the classroom and the sound of chalk screeching across the blackboard. Over the following three weeks, we led the participants through inputs, demonstrations and intensive observed practice, always keeping in mind and in discussion with them about how our model of accompaniment could be adapted to their particular culture. They, in turn, taught us Mandarin, to eat with chopsticks, how to use the washing machine and, most importantly, how great is the need and desire for further formation in spiritual accompaniment within the Catholic Church in China. Our hope is that this first course has laid a good foundation for further collaboration … watch this space!!