Friends in Wuhan

Fr Kevin O'Neill, Han Weiwei and Fr Dan Troy. Photos: Fr Dan Troy

“Your room will be beside my room”, is a familiar phrase spoken by Han Weiwei when we sit by the Yangtze River each two weeks. He also says that further up the corridor some of our mutual friends will need to share rooms. With a broad smile, he occasionally mentions the room numbers. These details are not part of hotel arrangements for a holiday with friends later in the year. Instead, he is telling those of us who are with him that when we get to heaven, this is the way the rooms will be assigned to us. With good humour he also confirms that while we will have different rooms, we will thankfully be together for our meals every day.

Each time I have been with Weiwei over the past few years, there is no shortage of surprises. About ten years ago we met for the first time at Holy Family Church in Wuhan. He was attending Mass with his mother and grandmother, always happy for an opportunity to meet with others.

As a few other people also became friendly with Weiwei, it was decided that a couple of social outings might be a good idea. One day we went to an aquarium. On another occasion, we went to a park. Each of those days concluded with a simple meal at a restaurant. Following each outing, Weiwei would talk with delight for a few weeks about what had happened during the visit to the park or the aquarium. In his retelling of the stories he always seemed to find something new in the experience. It was also obvious that he had really enjoyed the time with others.

When the pandemic hit Wuhan four years ago, there was no possibility of us being able to meet. However, to my complete surprise, the lockdown actually led Weiwei to take the initiative in our friendship. He called me on the phone every day. It was thoughtful of him to do this and it is something that I greatly appreciated. Those varied and unpredictable conversations were always interesting. They were also greatly entertaining. At the end of each phone call, we would say a prayer and promise to talk again the next day.

A year after the pandemic began it was possible for us to meet again without any restrictions. Along with Theresa Li, a Catholic friend, a new routine developed. Each two weeks we began to go to the park beside the Yangtze River, quite close to Weiwei’s home. Occasionally other friends joined us. During these outings, Theresa brings some snacks and fruit. I bring peanuts, fruit and water. Weiwei brings his good humour.

During each visit to the park, we sit on a bench and share out the food. Looking at the scenery, the ships and an occasional swimmer, we have varied conversations that can literally cover anything from heaven to earth. Occasionally Weiwei will suggest that he will sing a song. In traditional Chinese style, as he prepares to sing in public for his small audience, he reminds us that we need to clap so that he will be properly encouraged in his efforts. If the season is suitable, we will seek out a wildflower and present it to him as he sings, bigger flowers often being presented to open-air singers in China as an expression of appreciation while they sing. As he ends his song we provide generous applause, all of which is warmly received by him.

An interesting feature about Weiwei is his ability to speak about the details of the Catholic faith. His room in the family’s humble apartment has many religious pictures. He speaks of Our Lady as being his own mother.  An occasional conversation at the park leads Weiwei to tell us that he is an angel who was sent by God. While official Church opinion might be slow to support his self-declaration in this area, his good intentions are clear to all, that his faith is precious to him and that he is willing to speak about it with others. Last year his birthday was celebrated with a small cake prepared by his mother, nicely decorated and angel wings attached to the side of the cake. He appreciated his mother’s affirmation in all of this. 

As memories of the pandemic continue to fade into the past, the daily phone calls from Weiwei have continued over the past couple of years. During some of these phone calls, I mention to him that the pandemic was a time when one thoughtful person called me every day on the phone. As I move towards mentioning the name of the person who made those daily phone calls, he will jump in with the answer, “Weiwei!”.

One of Weiwei’s great qualities is that he gets deep joy from a story that is told over and over again. The reliving of an experience through a conversation brings new life to him on every occasion. Perhaps there is the whispering of an angel’s message in all of this, a message that invites us all to return to the meaningful events in our lives to discover anew the real treasure that God has given to us in those experiences.

Columban Fr Dan Troy lives and works in Wuhan, China.

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