Dear Friends:

Recently, a member of the underground church had a rare, almost miraculous, opportunity to visit the United States. This visit was his first. He brought with him a plea for help from his Bishop. This person was jailed for more than twenty years because of his faith. In spite of this brief experience of freedom and financial stability in the United States, he courageously chose to return to China to continue his work for the Church. For security reasons, we must withhold the identities of this visitor and of his diocese and be purposely vague in the following report.

This underground diocese has no financial support from its congregation because of the terrible poverty in that region. In recent years, the local government officials tolerated private Holy Masses as long as the diocese can satisfy their financial demands.

Each priest is responsible for a large region. Public transportation is too expensive for the priest. They usually travel on foot! However, their hard work is rewarded by the strong faith of the congregations. When a priest visits an area, the attendance at the Masses is about 300 - 400 people. The Masses are either held outdoors in a deserted field or in a couple of small rooms of a private home that will be packed with 150-200 people. I thought of the many empty pews in the beautifully decorated churches in America.

Although it is a crime to involve young people under 18 in any religious activities or to teach them CCD, the priests, often at great risks, closely supervise them. Although a young man or woman represents an "extra pair of hands" to support the family, the parents are usually very proud and supportive of vocations. There are many seminarians. Hence, this diocese desperately needs financial support. I have promised the bishop to bring his appeal to you. You can support a future priest with only $600 a year, or $50 a month. This must be one of the best ways to spend $50. Please donate any amount you can afford. God has blessed China with many vocations. The parents and the young men are ready to make the sacrifice for the Church, but we need your generosity to make the seminarian’s dream come true.

Retirement or early retirement due to poor health does not exist in the underground Church. Every clergy, well or sick, works in any capacity he can until the Lord calls him. Besides book knowledge, these young seminarians learn first hand from these true shepherds the true meaning of sacrifice, devotion, hard work, and pastoral services.

Because of your support, the Foundation was also able to immediately give this visitor over 500 Mass stipends for his bishop with a promise of our continuous support.

Similar activities are heroically carried out by underground bishops all over China in the midst of a horrible campaign by the Chinese Government to eradicate the underground Roman Catholic Church. There are about 60 underground bishops for 120 dioceses taking care of 8 million souls. This diocese is only one of many that we assist. Please support our work generously.

The Freedom from Religious Persecution Act of 1997 (HR 1685) will be voted on soon in Congress. This bill would establish a White House office to monitor religious persecution. In addition, it would stop US loans to countries sponsoring religious persecution and mandate various other sanctions. This is very important legislation with potential to sanction any country including China deemed guilty of religious persecution. Please contact your congressman and senators in Washington and urge them to vote FOR the bill.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Joseph Kung

President

Biography of Ignatius Pin-Mei Cardinal Kung (Gong)
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