Subject: 'austraLasia' #423

SALESIANS, VINCENTIANS TO CELEBRATE MARTYRS TOGETHER

(SUMMARY: SDB and CM communities from Fiji to celebrate Chinese martyrs together - Beijing and Vatican war of words over those whom the former call 'criminals' and the latter 'martyrs').

Julian Fox SDB

SUVA: 29th Sept -- The SDB and CM communities of Fiji will come together on 9th October to celebrate three of the Chinese martyrs who will be canonized on Sunday 1st October by Pope John Paul II. The Vincentian martyr is Fr. Francis Regis Clet, who after three decades of work in China, was martyred in 1820. The Salesian martyrs are Bishop Versiglia, Bishop of Shiu Chow, and Fr. Caravario, his assistant on the apostolic visit that ended in their martyrdom by Chinese soldiers in 1930.

The Fiji-based Vincentian and Salesian communities have decided to celebrate the new saints in a single celebration at the parish Church of St. Vincent at Nausori, on Fiji Day. They will be joined by members of the Chinese Catholic community in Suva.

Meanwhile there is a war of words erupting between the Chinese Government and the Vatican over the canonizations. Yesteray's South China Post reported that "China yesterday fired fresh salvoes in its row with the Vatican over Catholic martyrs, telling the Church to 'repent' past crimes against Chinese people and that the 120 people due to be canonised by Pope John Paul were guilty of 'severe crimes against the Chinese people'.

Monsignor Adolfo Yllana, charge d'affaires at the Vatican Embassy in Taipei, said yesterday the canonisation was the Vatican's decision and more saints would be named next year.

'Let Beijing save their saliva,' he said. 'There will be more to criticise soon.' The Vatican has said that the choice of date - on China's National Day - was purely religious because it marks the feast of St Teresa of Lisieux, patroness of the missions.