Abstract:

Joseph Freinademetz (1852-1908), pioneer of the SVD mission in China, successfully dedicated more than half of his life to the China mission, first in Hong Kong, then in South Shandong. Today, the Catholic Church in China needs to face many external and internal challenges of evangelization. The purpose of this study is to discover the relevance of the mission spirituality of Freinademetz to the contemporary challenges of missionary evangelization in China. Inspired by Freinademetz’s five missionary virtues (zeal, openness, love, suffering, and prudence), Chinese Catholics can go forth as evangelizers, bearing witness in the areas of inculturation, dialogue, reconciliation, and formation. Trusting God in faith, enduring with hope, and speaking the language of love, they are challenged to go forth in holiness.

Final Defense:

Board of Examiners: Fr. Antonio Pernia, S.V.D., S.T.D. (Principal Examiner), Fr. James Kroeger, M.M., D.Miss. and Fr. Aristotle Dy, S.J., Ph.D.

Proposal Defense:

Board of Examiners: Fr. James (Adviser), Fr. Aristotle Dy, S.J., Ph.D., Fr. Antonio Pernia, S.V.D., S.T.D.