Marcel LeJeune on a Renewed Methodology for Catholic Renewal

"During much of the 20th Century, in both Russia and China, Christians were viciously persecuted under Communism. But in the modern era, we see Russian Christianity stagnating (at best and declining in many ways), even though the government now officially advocates for Russian Orthodoxy. Yet, in China, the growth has been exponential. Why? What can we learn?

"While most Russians still identify as Russian Orthodox, few go to church (less than 10%). The story is very different in China. Chinese Christianity has grown so rapidly that China is poised to become the most Christian nation by 2030, if trends remain the same.

"The Russian Orthodox Church was the official Russian Church and was given preference by the Czars and government for many centuries. Then the Russian Revolution changed it all. Once the Bolsheviks took over, the Orthodox no longer had government support. Later this changed to persecution. The Church shrank. The Institutions of the Orthodox Church suffered. Fewer parishes. Fewer priests. Less money. Shrinking attendance at church. Sound familiar? Part of the reason was that the leadership was intent on maintaining social prestige and institutional management. But, the story is different in China.

"For most of the 20th Century in China, Christianity was considered a Western religion and not accepted by the people. There were small pockets of Christians, but there was not large amounts of growth until later in the century. It happened in house churches and the underground churches primarily"

In a recent Catholic Missionary Disciples commentary, writer Marcel LeJeune reflected on the importance of individual Christians to sharing their faith organically; of relying on God's Providence to provide; and of fighting persecution by adapting, praying, evangelizing with proclaiming the kerygma, and focusing on the radical decision to follow Jesus, even while persecuted.

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Catholic Missionary Disciples: The Key to Catholic Renewal: A Renewed Methodology