God’s Servant First

By Fr. Alo Connaughton mssc

We had the privilege of welcoming “Fr. Thomas Y” to the office of the Irish Columban magazine, The Far East. Occasionally his name had cropped up in conversations of older Columbans who had worked in China. The casual observer could be forgiven for assuming that this lively, smiling 70-year-old had probably live a tranquil, uneventful life.

He was born into an old Catholic family in 1929. As a young boy in Nacheng, he had known some of the Columban missionaries and the local bishop, Patrick Cleary. He decided to study for the priesthood in Shanghai. His studies were interrupted by a 16-months jail sentenced for being a member of the Legion of Mary. On his release he continued his theological studies on his own and was ordained priest in 1957.

After Christmas in 1957 he was again arrested and jailed. Between then and 1988 his life was spent in nine different jails and labor camps. He remembers especially the Shanghai prison that housed 10, 000 inmates, the small cell where 60 prisoners had to sit in rows Buddha-like all the day long, and the , and the labor camp where he worked 16 hours a day carrying buckets of earth. All of this happened because he was a faithful priest of the Catholic Church.

With God, all would be well

Had the ever regretted his decision to become a priest? No. in good times and bad never lost the conviction that God was near and that all would be well. He often experienced this closeness of God. Much of the time his fellow prisoners and even the guards treated him well. Often too he was able to give encouragement and hope to others, especially the younger prisoners.

Reflection against insanity

How did he retain his own sanity? By revealing of the quiet times to reflect, by praying, by singing religious melodies and hymns, by reciting Latin prayers and by writing letters. In later years, when the prison regime was easier, visits from family and friends were a great support. And he was encouraged too to know that his friends were a great support. And was encouraged too to know that his friends on the other side of the world never forgot him.

Since his release during the past 10 years he taught for a time in the seminary in Shanghai but has principally dedicated himself to parish work, he has been able to reopen the parishes in his area closedown almost 50 years ago with the explosion of the Columban Fathers Luke O’ Reilly, Michael Halford and Pat Sheehy.  At first only the older people became involved in parish activities but in recent years many young people have begun to participate.

Third Church

Today there is no trace of bitterness because of his past experiences. He recognize that there are difficulties to be faced in the Catholic Church in China because of what is known as the official (government recognized) Church and the underground Church. Where does he belong himself? Smiling he says, “A kind of third Church. I have friends in both groups and I try to work with all. Like all situations, it has two sides and finding a solution calls for understanding.”

He remains convinced that the prospects for the Catholic Church in China are good. One gets the impression that, at this stage of his life. It would take a lot to discourage Fr. Thomas Yu. Like Saint Thomas More his faith has been out to lest and he has paid a high price for being God’s servant first.