In the past few days, many Catholics in and outside of China have remembered Fr Yu Heping, also known as Heping (peace in Chinese), on the first anniversary of his death.
On 8 November exactly a year ago, his family received news that his body was found that day.
The priest's body was found
in a river near the city of Taiyuan (Shanxi).
Since then, the
police maintained that the clergyman's death was a suspected suicide,
but many Catholics do not believe this version. Meanwhile, Fr Yu’s body
is still at a morgue, though an autopsy was done.
Fr Joseph is a priest in northern China. Speaking to AsiaNews,
he said that "Fr Yu will always be remembered for his contribution to
the Chinese Catholic community, especially the underground Church."
"He promoted meetings and contacts between Church members and priests
in the official and underground communities. He organised a series of
study seminars, including one on the impact of the Second Vatican
Council on the Church in China. Catholics from all over the country came
to discuss it.
“I enjoyed those seminars,” Fr Joseph said, because “I learnt a lot
about various issues, and met many Catholics from the different regions
of China. "
Fr Yu exerted great fascination on young people. Each year, he would
organise an annual walking pilgrimage that could last days. Thanks to
this, young people could understand the ancient tradition of the Church
as a way to seek faith and spirituality.
“Although he is no longer with us, some young people, to this day,
continue to undertake those initiatives as a way to remember him."
After studying abroad, Fr Yu returned to China about ten years ago,
and taught courses in theology in underground communities. He offered
lessons in Church theology and teaching to young people, as well as
priests, nuns and seminarians, improving their level of knowledge.
Fr Yu also cared for the underprivileged and the poor in less
developed areas.
A documentary shows him working for "some forgotten
Catholic communities” in Yunnan (southwestern China).
He helped them raise funds to build a prayer house as well as a teach
children and women to read and write. He urged people to donate
clothes, blankets, rice and other food for poor Catholics.
"His efforts,” said Fr Joseph, “were an example of what Jesus asked
us to do, namely serve the least of our brothers and sisters.”
For instance, “He helped some women, former nuns, in their forties
and fifties, who had left their religious congregation for various
reasons, including illness.
“Many of them only had a primary education and could not easily find
work. Some were sick, but eager to serve the Church and lead a spiritual
life. Fr Yu organised retreats for them and provided spiritual
counselling as well as material help."
To commemorate the first anniversary of Fr Yu’s death, some Catholics also posted a documentary on weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, showing his mission and service to the Church.