After 1900, Catholic education in Hong Kong was on the right track and the number of churches increased. The church should provide appropriate education for young people who want to become priests. Junior high school education can be carried out through small monasteries. The number of students in the small convent is growing rapidly, and it is going to crowd out the students in the overhaul institute. The house next to the Bishop's Cathedral could have accommodated underage students, but the convent really needed additional buildings to enable students majoring in philosophy and theology to complete in seven years. But for pastoral areas, it is difficult to prepare suitable teachers for a few overhaul students. Other parts of China are facing the same problem. In the past, major repair colleges in Macau and Penang provided education for students from neighboring parishes, and many students were sent to Rome or Europe for training. However, with the increase of overhaul students, there must be other ways. Finally, many pastoral areas in the south think it is necessary to combine the major repair hospitals in various places into one. The new major repair hospital will not only serve one pastoral area, but serve the whole region.
1922, Archbishop Gang Hengyi, the first representative of the Holy See in China, intended to open a monastery in Hong Kong to train young people in South China who were interested in monasticism. 1924, Archbishop Kong Hengyi held the first Catholic Congress of China in Shanghai, and one of the resolutions of the Congress was to establish fourteen monasteries in China. South China General Monastery is one of the eleven general monasteries established before 1936. Compared with other monasteries in China that were closed within one or two years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the monasteries in South China were opened from 193 1 to 1964 and handed over to the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong. Because of this, * * * lasted for 33 years, which is the longest one.
Selected location
The letter from Archbishop Ganghengyi to the Ministry of Communications of the Holy See shows that the then Governor Jin was willing to provide "relevant convenience" for the temple land and other related matters. In his letter, he also indicated that he had visited some land in the suburbs of Hong Kong. He described that ... is located at the foot of the mountain, with a very good geographical position and convenient land and water transportation. "If you want to buy that piece of * * *100000 square meters of land, Archbishop Gang Hengyi speculated that it would cost about $3,000.
He also told the Ministry of Communications that it was a very suitable time to build a hospital, and pointed out more clearly that no matter what political or economic crisis occurred in Hong Kong, Hong Kong would still be under the jurisdiction of Britain, so it was inferred that Hong Kong was a safe place. Building a hospital here can also facilitate contact with various pastoral areas in South China, and it will not involve any political issues. At that time, bishops also agreed that the best training condition for establishing a convent in Hong Kong was for those who were interested in disciplining and herding the congregation. However, it should be mentioned that there were still ten monasteries in politically unstable Chinese mainland at that time.
It was also said that the South China General Convent was located in Hong Kong because Guangzhou was the only city suitable for setting up the South China General Convent at that time, but the pastoral area in Guangzhou was raised by the French Foreign Missionary Club in Paris. At that time, the French government always opposed the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and China. If the South China General Convent is built in Guangzhou, its operation will be subject to the French government, and the construction of the General Convent in Hong Kong can just avoid this political problem.
Land purchase
In March 1927+0 1, Bishop Enrique of the Pontifical Pastoral Area of Hong Kong wrote to the then Governor of Hong Kong Jin for the first time, saying that Archbishop Kong Hengyi wanted to build a monastery in Hong Kong. The letter also stated that after selection, Bishop En hoped to purchase land near the Sham Wan Cemetery in Aberdeen, Southern District of Hong Kong, and the estimated land purchase and construction cost was HK$ 200,000. In a later letter, Bishop Yan said that he would buy it at the price of HK$ 65,438+0,000 per acre, and the balance would be repaid within three years.
As the lot is close to the cemetery, and some cemeteries may be located in the lot, the Government first sent personnel from tung wah hospital to inspect the cemetery. However, there are many trees in this area, and many tombstones cannot identify who was buried. At that time, the staff of Donghua Group Hospital were busy with the tomb-robbing project in Matouwei, so the tomb in the convent had to be left in 1928 Tomb-Sweeping Day.
1927 65438+On February 22nd, the plot was officially approved and will be sold in the form of private contract. On March 9th, 1928, tung wah hospital authorities also pointed out that the grave excavation project would be completed before Tomb-Sweeping Day that year. On July 30th of the same year, the relevant government departments set the land price at HK$ 6,400, while the cost of boundary markers was HK$ 365,438 +0.25, the total cost was HK$ 64,365,438 +0.25, and the annual land rent was HK$ 640. Although Bishop En wrote to apply for educational land, he only had to pay a "symbolic official rent", but it failed. Finally, the rural housing lot No.315 near the Sham Wan Cemetery in Aberdeen, Southern District of Hong Kong, was sold to the Pontifical Pastoral Area of Hong Kong as No.3 1928 on September 3.
Regarding the situation of land purchase at that time, the current convent of the Holy Spirit issued a statement in the Catholic Daily on June 5438+February 65438+March 2009, pointing out that it was difficult to find land at that time, and the cardinals issued a 180-day salute, asking the believers to pray for the blessing of the missionary owners, so that the monastery could be successfully built and made a promise. Finally, the monastery opened on June 3rd, 1930+65438. According to the records of Gongjiao Bao at that time, the sheepskin letters made at that time have been kept behind the Latin stone tablet until today. According to The Story of Catholicism in Hong Kong written by Father Tian Yingjie, Bishop En and several Jesuit priests inspected this land in Huangzhukeng on February 25th, 2007/kloc-0, and agreed that it was a suitable place, and made three commitments, namely, to dedicate the temple of the future monastery to the Virgin of China, to worship the Eucharist for one hour every month for five years, and to celebrate the annual ceremony of Saint-Deland. 1930 10.3 is the foundation stone laying ceremony for the South China General Convent,19311that is, all saints' day officially opened, dedicated to the Virgin of China. According to the parish document quoted in The Story of Catholicism in Hong Kong, the information of the architect is written on the scroll in the stone tablet.
build
The two cornerstones of the Holy Spirit Monastery: one on the left is Chinese and the other on the right is Latin.
In the construction of the general monastery, St. Peter's Engineering Office is responsible for all the costs of the construction of the general monastery in South China, and then all the costs will be shared by the parishes and monasteries involved in the next 20 years-pay the land price of 1926 first, and pay the rest later. Since the decision-maker who urged the establishment of the South China General Convent was the Ministry of Communications of the Holy See, in addition to the parish where the students were sent for training, the Ministry of Communications would also bear part of the expenses. Since the sovereignty of the South China General Convent belongs to the Ministry of Communications of the Holy See, the Ministry of Communications has to bear the funds on behalf of the pastoral areas without financial resources. However, the final funds are still not enough to complete the planned monastery, but only one-third of the original planned quadrangle design.
In terms of manpower, Archbishop Gang Hengyi initially hoped that the South China General Convent would be managed by the Ming Dow Society (which was in charge of several parishes in Fujian at that time), but it was rejected; Finally, the monastery was entrusted to the management of Irish Jesuits, so the next six deans were all Irish Jesuits. During the thirty-four years that the Jesuits presided over the South China General Convent, no student was asked to transfer to the Jesuits, nor was he sent to the South China General Convent to study.
living expenses
The living expenses of the students in Southland General Convent are borne by the parishes and monasteries sent, and the Ministry of Communication of the Holy See will also provide funds and subsidies to the parishes and parishes. Since the regime change in Chinese mainland after 1949, many monks have flocked to the South China General Monastery. In addition to the financial support from the Ministry of Communications and the parish mentioned above, the monastery also seeks donors for some monks to support the lives of hospital students. Living expenses and tuition fees will be paid directly to ordinary monasteries, while pocket money will be given to students. Students basically don't need to spend money after entering the monastery, and hospitals don't want students to spend money outside their daily lives to cultivate students' frugality. Pocket money will be provided and reimbursed by the school. However, some students in Hong Kong bring their own pocket money and can buy some daily necessities. As for students from the north, if they don't have pocket money, they should make a list of their daily necessities, give them to the dean, and then the janitor will buy them, and the expenses will be reimbursed at the monastery. If students bring pocket money from home, it will be kept by the hospital and returned during the holidays for their own use. The convent also allows families to order pocket money. As for trainees with donors, they sometimes receive pocket money from donors.
Jin Duo and Jin Mu.
During the thirty-four years in South China General Convent, 230 graduates were successfully promoted to priests. The first priests were Feng, Liu Rongyao and Ye Yinyun (1934). Among the graduates, there is a cardinal (former Hong Kong Diocese Hu), an archbishop (former Archbishop of Kuching Diocese) and fifteen dioceses or assistant bishops. There are seven graduates who hold the post of bishop, but they have never held the post of bishop (such as shepherd, rector or parish agent).
Many pastors went to China in Jin Duo before the outbreak of the Second Civil War, and then returned to Chinese mainland to serve. Some trainees who came to study after 1949 also returned to China after their studies. By 1950, many trainees could not go back to Chinese mainland, so they stayed in Hongkong. Some priests still belong to the original parish in name, and their jobs are lent to the diocese of Hong Kong, and their living expenses are paid by the original priory. 1970, Bishop Xu of Hong Kong diocese announced that all graduates of South China General School living in Hong Kong were welcome to transfer to the clergy class of Hong Kong diocese, and the loan of graduates of South China General School to Hong Kong diocese came to an end.
Graduates of South China convent can not only lend a way to Hong Kong diocese, but also choose to transfer to other dioceses. However, unlike ordinary examples, graduates of South China General Convent must obtain the consent of themselves, the old parish and the new parish, and the consent of the Ministry of Communications of the Holy See.
close
Although the South China General Convent reopened after 1945, since the establishment of People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, no monks have been sent to South China, so in 1964, the Pontifical Information Department transferred the former site of the South China General Convent to the management of the Hong Kong diocese, and the Holy Spirit Convent, originally located in Taikoo House in Pokfulam and donated by the Paris Foreign Missionaries Association, moved to South China. Although the South China General Convent managed by Jesuits was closed, Jesuits still held the post of professor in this newly established parish convent and played an important role. By 2009, there were still three Jesuits teaching in the Holy Spirit Monastery.
In the thirty-three years' operation, * * * has six deans, whose names and terms of office are as follows: Father Kangning (Father Kuni, SJ)1931-937 Father Ma Liang (Father Omira, SJ)1937. Richard harris (SJ)1947-195/kloc-0 years ago Joseph Garland, SJ) 195 1 year-1957 Father Huang Yongyao (Fr. John Wood, SJ) 1957-1963 father Fr. John Foley (Agent) 1963.
The Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1957, originally located in Pokfulam, Hong Kong Island, on a piece of land provided by the Paris Foreign Missionaries Association. 1964, the Vatican handed over the site of the South China General Convent to the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, and the Holy Spirit Convent moved in and developed, and the cultivation of clergy gradually localized.
Teaching development
The School of Theology and Philosophy of the Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1970, and the current dean is Father Robert. At first, it was jointly organized by the diocese of Hong Kong, the diocese of Macao, the Jesuits and the Salesian Society (Franciscans were invited to join in 1985), and believers were accepted from 1973. Since then, the monastery has gradually changed from an institution that provides full-time training for clergy to an institution that provides opportunities for its members to further their studies. The Department of Theology and the Department of Philosophy of the School of Theology and Philosophy have successively become affiliated schools of Catholic University from 1974 to 1976. The Department of Religion was also established in 1989, which was also recognized by the theological seminary of Pontifical Communication University. Later, in 1994, the Department of Theology was approved by the Pontifical Communication University to offer a two-year master's degree in theology. Therefore, the Department of Theology needed to be upgraded from an affiliated college of the Pontifical Communication University to a member college of the university. Finally, 1997, the Ministry of Public Education finally approved the promotion application of the Theology Department.
course
At present, the School of Theology and Philosophy of the Holy Monastery offers bachelor's degree courses in theology, philosophy and religion for ordinary members. The course fee is HK$ 9,000 per year, that is, HK$ 400 yuan per credit.
In terms of master's degree courses, the Holy Spirit Monastery also provides master's degree courses in theology for all Catholic priests, lifelong deacons, nuns, monks and parishioners, but applicants must first obtain a bachelor's degree in theology with honors; Those who do not meet this requirement will be decided by the admission committee set up by the headmaster whether to accept their application. Charge HK$ 450 yuan per credit, no audit.
Monks in parishes and monasteries who are preparing for Jin Duo and do not intend to continue their master's degree in theology can also consider enrolling in the Year of the Shepherd immediately. Monks studying for a master's degree in theology need to study the main subjects part-time within two years. In order to meet the present and future needs of the parish, this course is not only for monks, but also for members of herdsman groups, nuns, herdsman workers, preachers and lifelong deacons. The average student can complete the pastoral year course within one year at the earliest, and will be awarded a diploma by the college after the course is completed. In 2009, the monastery had 15 students, but only 1 1 of them belonged to the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong. 20 10 There are sixteen trainees from Hong Kong, Macao, Mexico and Vietnam.