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| | PROJECTS ***PROJECTS***
PROJECTS***
A Call
to the Whole Vincentian Family
Come, See and Teach in
China
In the
Spirit of
St.
Vincent
de Paul
Recently
our former Superior General, Fr Robert Maloney, CM. wrote:
"I am convinced that it is time to be more concrete
in planning about our mission in China and to work
actively
at finding places e.g., ... in universities as English teachers, ..."
 
 
As
coordinator of the Vincentian Teaching Program (VTP) for
China
, I would like to invite each
group of the Vincentian Family in English speaking countries to reflect on how
you and your group might help in his service to the Chinese students. Are there
individuals in your group who feel called to dedicate one year to this
Vincentian project? How can the group encourage and support him/her/them?
Did you ever consider the possibility of teaching in Mainland
China
?
If you have, then
read on.
If you have not, perhaps you are now, so please read on.
Perhaps you cannot, but a member of your group would feel called to, if asked,
please continue to read on.
Vincentian History in
China
:
In 1699, in the
same century in which
St. Vincent
lived, the first Vincentians arrived in
China
. They were Fr. Louis Appiani
from
Italy
and Fr. John Mullener from
Germany
. In 1711 the Italian
Vincentian, Fr. Teodore Pedrini, was appointed tutor to the children of the
Emperor of China. By his open manner he quickly became a trusted teacher and
guide. As a friend of the imperial children he tried to communicate to them some
understanding of Christian values.
In these 305 years
since the arrival of the first Vincentian there have been well over 1,000
Vincentians who have worked in
China
. About 1/3 of them have been
native Chinese. The Daughters arrived in the mid-nineteenth century and have
left a profound legacy of service to the poor in many different provinces of
China
. In the past 6 years, the
Vincentian Family (CM's, DC's and laity) have a total accumulation of over 80
semesters of teaching the Chinese university students.
The Need for the Vincentian Charism in Today's
China
25 years ago
China
opened up to the world. In
the past several years there has been an enormous economic growth especially in
the cities. The majority of the Chinese population, however, lives in the rural
areas where the recent economic boom has not reached. At present I am teaching
at a university where half of my students are from the countryside. Their
parents are struggling to give them an education so that they can break out of
this cycle of poverty.
One result of the
economic growth is the number of poor who have to resort to begging on the
streets in the cities and towns. How can we influence our students so that they
can analyze the causes of this extreme poverty and look for effective methods to
respond to this lamentable situation which grows more acute each day?
Basically my questions would be "What would Christ and
St. Vincent
do in this situation?" "How can the Vincentian Family respond
in a concrete and practical way?" "What experiences do we have in our
Vincentian tradition which can be of service to the poor in
China
?" "How can the
Chinese organize now and in the future to respond to the "cry of the
poor", to those left behind or left out of the economic growth?"
Testimonies of Vincentian Teachers
One teacher
emphasizes the purpose and role of the teacher in China: "As teachers we
have a privileged role, namely, to be companions of educated young Chinese
adults at an important time in their lives and in their country's history, to
encourage them to search for moral values and to be with them as they
search."
A second teacher
expressed her initial experience and feeling: "In the beginning, I felt
like a tiny, tiny drop in a swelling ocean, but I know that even this tiny drop
has made a difference to some."
A Sister reflects
through the Bible: "The Gospel of Luke speaks of John the Baptist
as one who `shall go before the Lord to prepare His
way.' That is the best description of a priest, a brother, a sister or a lay
person teaching in
China
."
An Irish priest wrote several years ago as he personally shared about his call:
"The Spirit is God's finger touching the world. ... God's Spirit has tapped
me on the shoulder more than once. ... (The latest) had to do with going to
China
. The touch came in a letter
from Fr. Robert Maloney." Perhaps the most recent letter mentioned at the
beginning of this article will be the "touch" for new persons to "Come,
See
and Teach in
China
".
Qualifications to be a Vincentian English Teacher
We are looking for
men and women with a commitment to Christian service in the Vincentian Way, who
are English speakers with a university degree to teach for one year and who have
good health (a check-up is part of the screening process), aged between 22 and
70, and who are adaptable, that is, open to the challenge of a new culture.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I need to know
how to speak Chinese? No. The knowledge of the Chinese language is not necessary
since all the classes are conducted in English. The overall emphasis is on
conversational English and composition.
Where will I live? The university provides, free of charge, accommodation for the foreign teachers. Usually the apartment includes a living
room, a bed room, a small kitchen and a private bath.
Will I be alone there? No. We usually place 2, 3 or more at the same
university or nearby universities so that there is a type of community and
mutual support.
What is the role of the Vincentian Family group if a person from their group
comes to teach? Encouragement, a sending ceremony, communication, prayer
support, perhaps some financial aid, etc.
If we have more questions, who can answer them? You can send me an e-mail with
your questions:
Fr Thomas Sendlein CM
Email: VTPTeach@aol.com
In the space for subject please type: Teach and, in the e-mail,
please identify yourself.
What is
the Process for Inquiring about Teaching?
If you or your group are interested:
Time frame:
Usually for the semester which begins in August, all the paperwork should be
done by March; for the semester which begins in February, all should be done by
September. The contract is for one year.
Before you arrive in
China
there will be at least one
orientation program to give you relevant information about various themes which
will help you to adapt more easily to the new culture and situation. It is also
an opportunity to meet both other new teachers and those who have already taught
in
China
.
Talk/Conference about the Vincentian Teaching Program:
If there is a
meeting of the Vincentian groups in a certain country or region and there is a
real interest in knowing more about the teaching program, please notify me at
Fr
Thomas Sendlein CM EMAIL:
VTPTeach@aol.com
In
the space for subject please type: Teach
In conclusion, please pray for this Vincentian project so that we may be led by
the Lord in serving the Chinese students and the poor in
China
.
Looking forward to your correspondence.
Fr
Tom Sendlein CM
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