Blog of Exposure Trip in China 2015

Those on the Exposure trip admiring the magnificence of the Great Wall of China. This was our first day having

been to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. For further information about this CEC Exposure Visit, please

see the article by John Battle MP. 

On the first Sunday of our visit, we went to the Cathedral in Beijing for Mass.  Afterwards, Bishop William Nolan from Galloway Diocese greeted some of the young parishioners. 

Visiting the graves of some 60 or so priests and religious in a catholic graveyard. The most famous grave is that of 

Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit who came to Beijing in the early 1600's. He so impressed the Emperor by his learning and 

scholarship that when he died he became the first foreigner to be allowed to be buried in the capital city. The 

graveyard has been restored and declared a National Monument.

 To the following:  Please see the article by Bishop Nolan, which describes something of the life of Sr Mary and her family. 

please see the below 2nd article by Bishop Nolan.  "Bishop describes the Church of China". 

please click this link: http://www.gallowaydiocese.org.uk/the-bishop-writes/4590928791

Visiting St Anthony's Church at Pingyao and meeting the parish priest Father Peter, who showed us his plans for three

new churches that he hopes to build in the area. He has no money but he is confident that God will provide. 

In the Church of Sacred Heart in the village of Liu He. Father Anthony Wu is the Assistant Priest there

Father Anthony is holding a photograph of his great great Uncle who in 1900 was

put to death in the Boxer Revolution. His great great Uncle is now a canonised Saint.

Outside the church of St Anthony in the home town of Sister Mary where most of her family still live and where

we received great kindness and a warm welcome

Having lunch round the corner from the church

In the Pastoral Centre just before leaving for the airport to fly to Shenyang

In the diocese of Jinzhong during the retreat of the priests

The grave of Bishop John Baptist Wang who was a great encouragement to Sister Mary Niu in the foundation of her

Community at St. Augustine's

Gillian, who spent a year teaching in China, is holding on for dear life to Helen!

Trying our skills on the local taxis (without success!)

Priscilla receiving a gift from Scotland; a tartan scarf of St Ninian. Priscilla worked in the Catholic Social Services

Centre of Liaoning Diocese and Fr. Joseph (Centre) is the Director. This tartan was especially commissioned for the

visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland some years ago.

Meeting a group of peer educators from different parts of China. They specialise in raising awareness about HIV and AIDS.

This was a programme previously supported by CAFOD over a four year period.

Meeting the staff of the palliative care centre in the main Shenyang general hospital. Dr Wang Yumei and her team of specialist

doctors and nurses use similar practices of hospice care as in the UK in their care for people at the end of life. Kerry Jackson (on 

the far left of the photograph) is the Executive Director of St Gemma's Hospice in Leeds. She said it was a great honour for her to 

visit the Palliative Care Ward in the Shenyang Hospital. 

Dr. Helen Murphy shares some experiences with Dr. Wang. Dr Wang has worked for some time in partnership with the Scottish

Churches China Group (SCCG) particularly around recognising the value of spiritual support for all patients, regardless of

their religion or beliefs. Staff from SCCG continue working with Dr Wang and her team during their regular visits from Scotland to 

the Pillative Care Centre.

Pictures of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement, take pride of place in the entrance to the Ward

Father Jeremiah Cronin from Southwark Archdiocese in South London chats to one of the Patients on the Palliative Care Ward.

This is the logo at the entrance to the Piallative Care Unit. It reads: "A good life, A good death, A good grieving with A good team."

Dr. Wang has a vision which includes widening palliative care education to improve end of life care for all. At St Gemma's Hospice

in Leeds great emphasis is also placed on the value of education and research to improve care for all patients, not only those the

Hospice cares for directly. The two units have begun to consider whether there are opportunities to work together in the future,

particularly around education.

Meeting Bishop Paul Junmin Pei of Liaoning Diocese

Jim thanking Fr Joseph Zhang. Jim worked with Joseph over a number of years during the CAFOD HIV programme

Enjoying our last evening in Shenyang

With some of the parishioners after Mass at Shenyang Cathedral before heading back to Beijing

On our last morning in Beijing before leaving for our return flight back to London. Fr. Eamonn O'Brien joined us for a 

review of the CEC Exposure Visit. We were privileged to be flying to London on the same day as the President of China!