Letter from Wuhan - Baptism under Covid restrictions

Our correspondent in China writes:

Wuhan's international community of Catholics continues to wait for the day when it can resume its weekly celebration of the Eucharist at Holy Family Catholic Church. The celebration in English or French is particularly important for those who do not speak Chinese. This ongoing wait is shared by international communities in several of China's major cities, the civil authorities exercising caution about large gatherings of people from other countries. However, in an approach that seems to be based on alternative logic, all are welcome to attend the liturgies in Wuhan that are celebrated in Chinese.

A recent request by a family from the Philippines for baptism for a six year-old child met with the kind approval of the parish priest in this side of the city, a decision that also seemed to emerge from the world of the unpredictable.

Having received permission for the baptism, the international community began preparations for a rare opportunity to gather for a liturgical celebration, perhaps a beacon of hope for its future. The last occasion when the community gathered was the 19th of January last year, just four days before Wuhan became an internationally known city as it led the way by entering a severe eleven week lockdown.

The fourth Sunday of Easter will be remembered as a special day by Ingrid Katriel Padua. Her family and friends from the Philippines, as well as thirty members of Wuhan's diverse international community prayed together as the Church celebrated the joyful occasion of welcoming a new member. The presence of the Paschal candle stood as a witness to the resurrection, while Ingrid's baptism by immersion allowed her to experience in a physical way the deep meaning of emerging out of the tomb with the Risen Christ, the essential need for a breath of air overlapping with how the tomb of death mysteriously becomes the womb of new life.

As the members of the international community found their singing voices for the first time in more than a year, there was also a growing realisation that this community had been blessed by a family who had brought a child to the church for baptism, an unexpected event that broke the cycle of restriction for the community to gather for liturgical celebrations on Sundays. Perhaps other changes will gradually emerge that will allow a resumption of the Sunday liturgy that has sustained this community since 2006, a community that has been blessed with members from scores of countries during its steady growth from small numbers, a community that also brings blessings to the Chinese community as it shows the diversity and unity of the universal Church.

A few minutes after Sunday's baptism, the creativity of the international community was to be seen again as one of the leaders requested that all would walk out to the nearby grotto for a group photograph, the photograph destined to be used in the community's annual magazine, a nicely produced publication of several years that is gradually becoming another strand of the history of the Church in this part of China.

In front of the grotto it was appropriate that the centre seats were reserved for Ingrid, her family and her friends. At such a young age she may not yet realise that she has provided Wuhan's international community of Catholics with such a moment of grace, renewed hope for a community in its recovery from the disruption of Covid-19. As one of the youngest members of the community, she is likely to receive a special place in this year's magazine, an expression of appreciation to her for shining a unique light that affirms the wonderful news that Jesus has truly risen.