Chicago church plays big role in life of city's Chinese community

Published: 2007-05-18

CHICAGO (CNS) -- St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church looks more Italian than Asian from the outside, despite the dog statues guarding the entrance. Inside, the marble and gilt interior features a rococo reredos and stained-glass windows, replete with images and statues of saints revered in Italy. The pastor, Xaverian Missionary Father Michael Davitti, speaks with a hint of an Italian accent as he explains the Chinese characters and artwork that adorn the walls. There are Indonesian images, gold on black lacquer, and Chinese characters painted at the tops of the pillars. They read, "Together in Christ, we are one happy family." That is the goal for Father Paul Limin Wang, a priest from China's Hunan province who is receiving his doctorate in ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago this May. Father Wang, who is active at St. Therese and who also travels to Atlanta to celebrate Mass for Chinese immigrants, said one way the U.S. church could help Chinese Catholics who come here to study would be to get them together -- especially those from different communities within the church in China. Some communities are registered with the Chinese government and some are not.

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