Chinese Migration in Italy and New Evangelization:Pastoral Experiences and Reflections
2013-09-11 13:24:37 作者：Monica Romano and Fr. Francesco Pesce Founders of TherAsia, a Non-profit Organization Based in Rom 来源：信德网
The paper aims to offer some reflections on challenges and opportunities for the Catholic Church and community in taking care of the Chinese migrants in Italy. Inevitably, it will primarily refer to the Catholic Church and community in Italy, which the consolidated and more recently evolving Chinese presence (not without tension) in the Italian society call to a “local urban mission”, perhaps in the spirit of the “new evangelization”. A mission that is not only among the little (but spiritually alive) Catholic community, which at times struggle to actively participate in the community life or where Christians of old generation are found together with newly “Italian” conversions, but also among Chinese migrants, who are in the large majority non-Christians and non-Catholics. Situations often requiring different approaches and sensitivities, but for which the announcement of the Gospel constitutes the foundation, the framework and the priority.
The paper will first provide a basic overview of the Chinese migration trends in Europe, Italy and Rome. It will elaborate on the socio-economic situation of the Chinese migrant community in Italy, with reference to the most recent evolutions that may have implications for pastoral work. It will also present some experiences on the spiritual and Christian life of the Catholic community and will share some experiences and options on the part of the Church to provide pastoral and spiritual care, as well as some social assistance to the Chinese migrants. Finally, on the basis of the analysis and experiences above, as well as of the cultural and spiritual background of the Chinese people, the paper will offer some reflections on what could be done to serve even more and better the Chinese migrant community in Italy -as suggestions for the Italian Church, but perhaps also for the Chinese brothers and sisters living in Mainland China, in the spirit of the Universal Church.
The paper will first provide a basic overview of the Chinese migration trends in Europe, Italy and Rome. It will elaborate on the socio-economic situation of the Chinese migrant community in Italy, with reference to the most recent evolutions that may have implications for pastoral work. It will also present some experiences on the spiritual and Christian life of the Catholic community and will share some experiences and options on the part of the Church to provide pastoral and spiritual care, as well as some social assistance to the Chinese migrants. Finally, on the basis of the analysis and experiences above, as well as of the cultural and spiritual background of the Chinese people, the paper will offer some reflections on what could be done to serve even more and better the Chinese migrant community in Italy -as suggestions for the Italian Church, but perhaps also for the Chinese brothers and sisters living in Mainland China, in the spirit of the Universal Church.