A bishop's story
02.07.2010
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The first time I saw 86 year old bishop John Baptist Wang was during the Easter Vigil Mass in the cathedral of his diocese. It was a moving Easter ceremony. There was a large fire outside the church followed by procession into the church with lighted candles. Primary school children read the readings with gusto. Just before the Gloria was sung a huge banner of the risen Jesus was unveiled over the main altar accompanied by a fanfare of trumpets followed by fireworks outside the church.
The symbol of water was in the form of a waterfall set up on the right side of the sanctuary. The congregation shouted aloud in one voice their renewal of faith while holding high their lighted candles. This was very powerful. Just before the liturgy of the Eucharist, Bishop Wang was ushered onto the altar by helpers. He sat in a chair beside me so I assisted him with his standing and sitting during the Eucharistic prayer. In 2008 he had a number of minor strokes that affected the feeling in his hands and his ability to walk unaided.
A few days later I had the opportunity to talk with him. He was still quite frail then, lying in bed with a drip, nevertheless he graciously met with me. He was ordained a priest in 1951 at the age of 28.
In 1999, at the age of 76*, he was ordained bishop by the former bishop of his neighboring home diocese. He pointed out the needs of his diocese as the formation of priests, sisters, seminarians and catechists. The sisters work in parishes, clinics and an orphanage. The priority of the diocese is mission outreach. The diocese is one of the poorer in China that gets some financial assistance from Rome.
A few months later I had the opportunity to return to his diocese. This time the bishop was in better health but still unable to walk unassisted. He shared with me a little of his experience in detention and prison.
From 1965, at the age of 42, he spent 11 years in detention and nine years in prison. It took the officials 11 years to charge him with being an ‘anti-liberationist.’ He said life in detention was tougher than life in prison though life in prison was also difficult. While in prison he shared a small room with seven other men. There was one bed for them to share. If they all slept on their side they could manage to fit onto the bed. If anyone needed to use the toilet at night his space on the bed would be gone. The toilet was in the corner of the room.
They were allowed to leave their room for 20 minutes once a week. Food was passed into the room through a small hole in the door. Meals consisted of soup and a little vegetable. They had a change of clothes once a week. He did not wash his body for the 20 years he was incarcerated! He said the smell in the prison cell was terrible. He was released from prison in 1985 and for political reasons had to leave his home diocese and work in the neighboring diocese where he is now bishop.
When he was in prison his family sent him a dictionary and the book “Tale of Two Cities.” He used these to study English. He added a few sentences of English when he spoke to me saying, “Can I now practice my English with you?” A good grasp of Latin helped him in learning his English.
It was hard for me to fathom how an old man who had experienced so much suffering could be so serene. He didn’t even have a bad word to say about those who kept him captive all those years. I think deep down he has forgiven them though of course I imagine he could never forget what they did to him and others. Serenity is so obvious in his face, his gestures and speech.
On my recent third visit to the diocese I was taken to meet him. He was speaking at the Masses in a village whose total population of 10,000 is Catholic. The bishop, aided by the deacon who takes care of him, showed me around the large parish church that seats about 3,000 people. I was invited for lunch at the home of Bishop John’s doctor who gives him acupuncture which has helped his ability to walk.
Though old and frail, he is strong in mind and spirit. He is waiting for the day when a younger priest can take over the reins. With the coming of age of the younger priests, the old bishops in China can now look forward to retirement.
Fr Kevin O’Neill went to China in 2009 after many years in Taiwan.
* Editor’s note: Normally bishops resign at 75 years of age.
