The Salvation——the Research On Social Work Of The Catholic Action Association Of Shanghai(1912-1937)

Catholic Action was derived from Rome,Italy in the middle of the19th century,it was introduced into China in the beginning of the20th century,which is a laity organization that devotes exclusively to social ministry activities,it’s established as an aim of "maintain the morals and manners,go against the heathenism,assist the the preachers with inadequacies,concentrate on glorifying God and edifying people" for the purpose of cultivating the responsibility of ordinary Catholics for apostles’ preaching. With the aim of regaining the Christianity in former times from the secularized society with each passing day.The most integrated institution was established by the Catholic Action of Shanghai in various Catholic organizations of many places in the Republic of China,which was extremely classic,however,for some reason,researches upon the organization haven’t drawn much attention from the academic circles,the related thesises and writings are precious little few. The article concentrates on elaborating the ministry activity when simultaneously sorting out many issues with respect to foundation process,institution setting,recruiting of membership and training,etc.,the activity itself is for the purpose of carrying the idea of Catholic through the mundane life of modern China,which was an outcome in the background of intrinsic requirement of the policy of "localization" policy of Catholicism led by the Vatican at that time,the prime objective is to let the preaching approach of the Catholic adjust to the changing social circumstances as a result of era development,it includes lots of social service work with regard to Christian mission work,goodwill&charity and medical service,etc:In the aspect of charity,some large-scale hospitals,including Sacred Heart Hospital,Mother Heart Hospital,Songjiang Joseph Hospital and Charity Nursing Home,were established by the Catholic Action of Shanghai as well as15big or small branch offices and several Foundling Hospitals,in addition,the aid clinics of disaster-hit area add up to the number of82in Shandong Province,the philanthropies that they were engaged in including medical treatment,breeding of orphans,infant care and famine relief,etc.,it played a very important role in the aspect of assuring victims and creating a stable society; In the aspect of education,the Catholic Action of Shanghai was dedicated to developing elementary education,15primary and middle schools were established including Genco Middle School and Zhengxiu Middle School,etc,along with5pauper technical schools,whose made important contributions to developing the preaching talents as well as moralizing the common people and enlightening the wise training; As the very goodcestor of believer of a religion,preaching was all along the first and foremost objective of the Catholic Action of Shanghai,there were more than150preach institutions were established in many ares in Shanghai in its25years of social ministry activities,and more than10,000Catholics were introduced into the church.In general,the ministry activities of the Catholic Action of Shanghai expended the the secular influence of Catholic in Shanghai as well as,to some extent,promoted the development of social economy and culture in surrounding ares of Shanghai,whose made major contributions to urbanization of modern Shanghai. The ministry activities were difficult to generate a profound influence by the reason that it was restricted to the traditional range of activity of the Catholic, the practical contributions were extremely limited,which was far away from the primary objective of social Catholicism required by Catholic Action of Shanghai. However,the target of Catholic Action of Shanghai was faced with is Shanghai the center of China’s social economy and culture at that time,as a Catholic organization with the membership less than one hundred people,the Catholic Action of Shanghai was incapable of undertaking the historical responsibility at all. Moreover,Shanghai had always been the base camp of Catholic in China,the work of Catholic Action was inevitably restricted by the reason that the strong power of Catholic and the strict management to Papists. Therefore,the achievement was rare for Catholic Action of Shanghai under such kind of background,we can not be too harsh on it.