El ejemplo del superior general

En la mañana del 21 de octubre del 2007 en la iglesia parroquial de Sallent tenia lugar la celebración de la Misa Conmemorativa del Bicentenario del Nacimiento de S. Antonio María Claret. La iglesia estaba abarrotada de gente e incluso la mayoría de los sacerdotes concel-ebrantes tuvieron que permanecer de pie toda la Misa. Durante la Eucaristía yo estuve orando por el P. Abella, nuestro superior general; pedía que fuera símbolo de unidad para todos los claretianos.

Como el sermón fue en español, yo no entendí ni una palabra, pero sí pude darme cuenta de que la gente le escuchaba con suma atención. Yo por mi parte, y en mi corazón, gritaba vivas a Claret y al P. Abella. Yo no había traído ni alba ni estola. Pero el P. Abella, que se había dado cuenta de mi apuro antes de empezar la Misa, me dijo: “ponte esto” a la vez que me ofrecía el alba y la estola que él había traído de Roma para uso personal. Con ese gesto comprendí que el superior general era heredero del espíritu atento y generoso de nuestro funda-dor.

Cuando yo todavía era seminarista me quedé una noche en la residencia de Hirakata, donde residía el P. Abella, entonces todavía superior provincial. Cuando a la mañana siguiente bajé al comedor para desayunar, vi que estaba fregando los cacharros de la fiesta de la noche an-terior. Me acerqué  y al saludarle me respondió diciendo: “la labor del provincial son estos pequeños quehaceres”.

Me siento orgulloso de que el P. Abella, que como superior general recorre el mundo, esté dispuesto a aceptar estas pequeñas y calladas labores en nuestra congregación claretiana. Fr. Shinji Takenobu

総長の後姿 (うしろすがた)

２００７年１０月２１日正午から、聖アントニオ・マリア・クラレットの生誕２００周年を記念するミサがサリエントの聖堂で行われた。共同司式をする司教は１０名、司祭は１００名を超えた。聖堂は超満員で、共同司式する司祭の多くはミサ中ずっと立ったままであった。ミサの間中、わたしは、アベイヤ総長のために祈り続けた。総長が全クラレチアン会員の一致のしるしとなりますようにと。　アベイヤ総長の説教はスペイン語だったのでわたしには一言も理解できなかったが、人々がその言葉に聞き入っていたのはよくわかった。わたしは、クラレット万歳(ばんざい)、アベイヤ総長万歳(ばんざい)と心の中で叫んだ。　その朝アベイヤ神父は、日本から祭服とストラを持ってこなかったわたしに、「これを着なさい」と自分がローマから持ってきた祭服とストラを貸してくれたのだ。クラレットの精神を総長は完全に受け継いでいると思った。　わたしがまだ神学生だったころ枚方のレジデンスに泊まり、朝早く食堂に降りていくと、アベイヤ管区長は、前夜のパーティで使った食器を１人で洗っていた。その後姿に向かって声をかけると彼は、「竹延君、管区長の仕事は雑用係(ざつようがかり)ですよ」という返事が返ってきた。　総長として世界中のクラレチアン会の雑用係をしておられるアベイヤ神父さんはわたしの誇りだ。竹延真治ＣＭＦ

Huangshan – Tunxi: A Former Claretian Enclave in China

Some 80 years ago Claretian missionaries arrived in Tunxi, Anhui Province in China and their residence was a few meters away from the famous Tunxi Street. They were forced to leave in 1949, but they left behind a vibrant Christian community. But let me tell you first about the surrounding place, half hour away by car:The Yellow Mountains or Huangshan Mountains

The famous scrolls of Chinese black and white paintings of high mountains, rocks, trees and sea of clouds come alive in Huangshan Mountains in the south Anhui province. It is a marvelous mountain area, now on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. There is an old saying well known throughout the country “No need to see any other mountains after Huangshan!”Huangshan has spectacular landscape with its four unique scenes: interesting shaped rocks, waterfalls, unique shaped pine trees growing out of rocks, and its sea of clouds. Huangshan has all, the steepness, the grace, the elegance, and so on. Huang Shan Mountain area is such a marvelous place with spectacular vista and its ever-changing scenes attract tourists in all seasons and inspire countless Chinese painters and poets for thousands of years.

The Huangshan mountain range comprises many peaks, 77 of which exceed 1,000 meters in altitude. The World Heritage Site covers a core area of 154 square kilometers and a buffer zone of 142 square kilometers.

The mountains were formed in the Mesozoic, about 100 million years ago, when an ancient sea disappeared due to uplift. Later, in the Quaternary, the landscape was shaped by the influence of glaciers. In many cases, stone pillar forests were formed.

And now back to the city of Huangshan:
Tunxi Ancient Street in Huangshan City (China)

At the foot of the Mt. Huangshan, in the bend of Xin’an River, lies the beautiful mountain town called “Tunxi “. The “Tunxi Ancient Street” can be found in this old city.

The street is about 1.5km and the sides of the street are laid with slab stones.

There are hundreds of old but well preserved rows of shops, evoking a bygone era in buildings that are simple and elegant. It is a commercial street that is only for pedestrians.

An ancient Western-European architect once visited the old street and said that he had found “The Eastern Ancient Rome.”

First built over 700 years ago, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the street is flanked by some buildings from this period.

Most of the buildings are only three stories high, stone-based and brick-laid. They are decorated with small green tiles, wood carvings in the Hui style, ancient shop signs, and red-lacquered with double eaves on the roofs. They are simple and elegant, magnificent and clean.

The street with centuries-old history dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Emperor Huizong (1082-1135) moved his seat of government to Lin’an (now is Hangzhou), when many architects and workmen were conscripted to construct the new capital. After returning to their hometown, they imitated the structural style to build architecture along the street, so Tunxi Ancient Street was formed.The place where the Claretians had their residency, very near the old Tuenxi street, is now occupied by a luxurious hotel.

Another Claretian Enclave: SHEXIAN

Surrounded by green mountains and crystal water, the ancient city in Shexian County is rich in cultural relics, residences, a memorial temple, and memorial arches. The county is an art museum of classical architecture.

Shexian County, situated at the foot of Mt. Huangshan, is reputed as ‘the Town of Arches’. More than 250 arches constructed in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties are scattered around the county.

Archway is known as ‘Paifang’ or ‘Pailou’ in Chinese. Paifang was a unique architectural form in ancient China.

Paifang is a unique architectural form and a reflection of traditional Chinese culture. Shexian was blessed with many archways, hence ‘the Town of Arches’.

In the heart of this ancient city there is the remnant of another church serviced by Claretians in 1940’s. Now is in ruins. Several families are living inside the former church. How we wish we could restore it! For that we believe that only the Chinese Historical Conservation Society could convince the local government to have the political will to do it.