[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-430351-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-430351-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","in-the-footsteps-of-saint-francis-xavier-personal-journey","In the Footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier - Personal Journey","","A first-person report on a September pilgrimage undertaken to follow the footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier. The journey links key sites across Macau, Nagasaki, Shanghai, and Beijing, including memorial chapels, shrines, museums, cathedrals, and historic observatories shaped by Jesuit influence. The narrative highlights guided learning, shared Mass reflections, and daily structured activities, drawing lessons about preservation and change, renewal, valuing the present, and turning spiritual experiences into action through Ignatian school mission.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/religion-spirituality/","Religion & 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group’s purpose?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The group travelled to Macau, Nagasaki, Shanghai and Beijing to follow the footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier and experience key religious and historical sites connected to his mission and Jesuit influence.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What reflection questions guided the daily activities?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Common questions included where the pilgrim saw God today, what gave life today, and what was not life-giving, followed by sharing ways to bring experiences into action after returning home.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What themes are emphasized in the journal reflections?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The reflections focus on preservation and looking after what matters, accepting and becoming an instrument of change, seeing old and new together alongside the need for renewal, and valuing the present with awe at modern 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Sangchuan Island where St Francis died in 1552;  \n2) Painting on canvas from the Jesuit Residence in Macau, symbolising the church bridging the divide between Macau and China;  \n3) The ruins of St Paul’s in Macau. Built from 1582 to 1602 by the Jesuits, the cathedral was the largest Catholic Church in Asia at the time;  \n4) The Ancient Observatory in Beijing, many of the instruments were created by the Jesuit Ferdinand Verbiest in the 1670s.  \nIn the Footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier  \nDuring the September school holidays I was privileged to represent John XXIII College on a pilgrimage by following the footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier.  \nWe travelled to Macau, Nagasaki, Shanghai and Beijing. Fifteen people from Jesuit and Ignatian schools around Australia made up the group, including Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ and Fr Rob Davoren SJ. Our guides were Fr Jeremy Clarke SJ (China) and Fr Michael Ryan SJ (Japan) .  \nWe saw where Francis Xavier died on December 3 , 1552 on Shangchuan Island which is just off Macau, a few miles short of mainland China. It had been his goal to carry the Gospel to China, but he barely arrived there when he was stricken with fever and died. We visited the chapel built in 1869 in his honour, restored as recently as 2006. While in Macau we visited the home of the present Jesuits, and had a Massin their Chapel. The picture (above right) is hanging in their home.  \nIn Nagasaki, Fr Michael Ryan SJ was the perfect tour guide leading us through places of interest. The group spent some time at the Shrine of the 26 martyrs. The Martyrs Museum is proud to showcase a letter from Francis Xavier to the King John III of Portugal -written in 1546. This Shrine was a symbol of endurance and hope for the local people in the aftermath of the atomic bombing which destroyed the city during World War II. Whilst there we also visited the Atomic Bomb Museum and saw many displays showing the effects of the bombing and had time to reflect in the Peace Garden.  \nShanghai, our next destination, is a dynamic city ‘on the move’. The world’s tallest tower, the SWFC Observatory, is 474m tall which we used as a vantage point to view the city. We attended Sunday Mass at the Xujiahui Catholic Cathedral, also known as Cathedral of St. Ignatius, and then visited a nearby library which featured many books brought into China by the Jesuits, some dating back centuries. The bullet train  \nwhich travelled at 431kms per hour was an experience too! Later we travelled overnight by train to Beijing. There the group visited the Old Summer Palace and the Ancient Observatory side by side as astronomers, architects and engineers. We went to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall and saw, from a distance, the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube, so familiar from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  \nFr Jeremy Clarke SJ with his vast knowledge of Chinese history made a wonderful tour guide. We came to understand the enormous contribution made by the Jesuits to Chinese culture and development. All the pilgrims enjoyed their time, and as well as sharing the travels also shared about life in Jesuit schools around the country. Weare most grateful for this remarkable opportunity where from 1644-1911 Jesuits and Chinese Catholics worked.  \nEach day was planned in such a way that we the group would participate in a structured activity. With four Jesuits travelling with the group there was no problem finding a Priest to celebrate Mass. Mass was celebrated in various Churches, Chapels and hotel rooms. These masses allowed for reflection as well as celebration of the Eucharist. Each day time was set aside to reflect and share the experiences of the day as well as prepare for the activities of the day to come. Common questions in our reflections were where did I see God today? What gave me life today? What was not life giving? At our last liturgy we were asked to share ways in which we could","cbCairnpXjmWz0sh","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCairnpXjmWz0sh","pdf",318753,"English","# In the Footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier\n## Travel itinerary and guided visits\n## Reflections and spiritual lessons\n## Closing remarks","[{\"question\":\"Where did the pilgrimage travel, and what was the group’s purpose?\",\"answer\":\"The group travelled to Macau, Nagasaki, Shanghai and Beijing to follow the footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier and experience key religious and historical sites connected to his mission and Jesuit influence.\"},{\"question\":\"What reflection questions guided the daily activities?\",\"answer\":\"Common questions included where the pilgrim saw God today, what gave life today, and what was not life-giving, followed by sharing ways to bring experiences into action after returning home.\"},{\"question\":\"What themes are emphasized in the journal reflections?\",\"answer\":\"The reflections focus on preservation and looking after what matters, accepting and becoming an instrument of change, seeing old and new together alongside the need for renewal, and valuing the present with awe at modern achievements.\"}]","In the Footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier - Personal Journey | PDF",1790652594]