Quote
“Everybody in our church, as well as Catholics in China, we all hope and pray that the pope could come visit our nation. … If Pope Francis comes to China, the farmers in our parish would love to greet him and give him a basket of our delicious apples.”
|Sister Ma Wang-ge, one of three sisters from the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who along with three priests work in the Chinese village of Fufengxian, which has a population that is more than 80 percent baptized Catholics. More than 70 of the roughly 90 permanent villagers are parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. (Catholic News Service)
Profile
Deacon Tom Adams and Evie Adams
Youth and young adult ministers at Sacred Heart Parish, Hawi
Favorite Scripture quote: Deacon Tom — Micah 6:8 / Evie — Matthew 6:9-13
Saint: Deacon Tom — St. Lawrence / Evie — St. Monica
Holiday: Deacon Tom — Thanksgiving / Evie — Easter
Island: Deacon Tom — Hawaii, “da Big Island” / Evie — Molokai, “Kalaupapa”
Parable: Deacon Tom — Prodigal Son / Evie — The Rich Man and Lazarus
Biblical character: Deacon Tom — David / Evie — Job
Prayer: Deacon Tom — The Apostles’ Creed / Evie — Prayer of St. Francis
Saints under 35
Steadfast leader
St. Wenceslaus worked to promote unity and Christianity during his brief reign as duke of Bohemia, which put him at odds with his mother and brother. The political and spiritual sparring ultimately led to his death, which was hailed as his martyrdom for the faith.
Wenceslaus, born in 907 to the duke of Bohemia, was raised and educated by his grandmother, St. Ludmilla. She and Christian forces helped him take leadership of the government at age 15 after his father’s death in defiance of his mother, who supported the anti-Christian movement.
One of Wenceslaus’ policies, seeking peace with Germany, got him into trouble with people opposed to Christianity. Boleslav, his younger brother, backed the anti-Christian forces and played a role in the young duke’s death. At a church celebration in 929, Boleslav instigated a fight with Wenceslaus, who was killed in the ensuing struggle.
Wenceslaus’ tomb later became a pilgrimage shrine. He is the patron saint of Bohemia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. (Catholic News Service, www.americancatholic.org)v
