Letter from Wuhan - Christmas Eve Mass in Xiantao

The writer is a Catholic based in Wuhan.

Holy Trinity Church in Xiantao was filled to capacity for the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve, the presence of facemasks being a solemn reminder that this year has been so different to all others. Nearing the end of a year of uncertainty, the prayerful presence of so many people in the church, the collective singing of Christmas hymns and the joyful atmosphere combined to form spontaneous hope for the people. The joy of the evening was emerging from the news of the birth of the Child Jesus, the marvellous event that can unite whatever signs of hope that exist for us all at this time.

As the vigil Mass concluded for this community of Catholics 100 km west of Wuhan, the final moments of the liturgy involved a procession from the altar to the side of the church, all eyes focused on the figure of the Child Jesus held up by the parish priest who then arrived at the Christmas crib, stood for a few moments of silence and then carefully placed the figure of the newborn in the centre of the simple wooden structure, the ongoing singing of hymns adding to the solemnity of these actions. In a year when many Chinese people actually joked about trimming back their plans for this year to the practical essentials of hoping to be alive at the end of the year, the celebration of Christmas is seen by some as a liturgical event that has coincided with achieving their revised hopes for the year.

With the conclusion of the hymns, the emerging silence of the evening found its natural focus at the crib where several people gathered to observe the scene of Bethlehem which was now complete, the visual message overcoming all boundaries of time, culture and language to communicate the wonderful event of the Incarnation, God becoming flesh in a way that unites the infinite dimensions of the divine with our vulnerable human experiences. In a country where limited opportunities for education in previous times left some members of the older generation with a minimal ability to read, the visual message flowing from this Christmas crib took on a special importance in announcing the Incarnation to all who gathered around in silence, this silence standing in contrast to all the activity that was to be seen around the church during the preceding hours.

Later as people departed from the church, a few groups formed near the main door availing of the opportunity to wish each other well for Christmas, the great event of faith that had brought us together on this night. A few of these people were happy to chat for longer than others because they had travelled long distances from villages where there would be no liturgical celebration, their long journeys necessitating that they would stay overnight at the parish centre, their pilgrimage experience presumably supported by our understanding that travelling to witness the great events of the Nativity has been central to the Christmas message ever since the shepherds in fields around Bethlehem set out to witness what was happening so many years ago.

On Christmas Day a few of us took the opportunity to visit four other parishes in the area around Xiantao, our pilgrimage being part of a tradition in the district as people go to see the Christmas cribs in other churches. At each location the silence at the crib was a silence that invited more reflection on the great mystery of Christmas, expressed with its own decoration and style by each of the communities. On a couple of occasions we saw a figure of the Child Jesus that was much larger than all other figures in the crib, the difference in scale not being a distraction to any of the visitors but perhaps even emphasising that the focus is on the child, the infinitely loving and merciful God among us as a helpless infant in need of loving care.

Returning to the church in Xiantao, preparations were nearing completion for evening Mass. As more members of the Catholic community gathered and began singing hymns on this great day, I began to think about all that has happened due to COVID-19 during this year. While this area of China has been the epicentre of a pandemic that has rocked the world, it is also assuring that people of faith in this part of China are uniting their hearts with people of faith around the world to celebrate the hope that God brings to our broken world at Christmas, a hope that transcends time and place, a hope that assures us that God remains faithful. This is the message that can be seen when we embrace silence and look at the Christmas crib that shows us a vulnerable family in Bethlehem, a family that was also tossed about on the historical waves of uncertainty but eventually found its way as God opened up new life-giving possibilities.

In a year that has seen China linked with the rest of the world in an unexpected and challenging way, the need for a more positive and understanding engagement in the new year seems as important as ever. Perhaps the humility of what is to be seen in the Christmas crib can guide us in knowing what is needed as the peoples of the world move ahead together