Catholic Church in Macau

Catholic church in Macau was built not only with the purpose of prayers and atonement but also as rally point for Portuguese to gather up and act as a midway for missionaries going to deeper part of China and south east Asia.

The Catholic church within Macau has played an important role on the spread of Catholicism in Japan, Vietnam and China and other parts of south east Asia.

In addition to the Jesuits, many others established their own institutions in Macau between the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Franciscans, Augustus, Dominicans, and Sister St.

[3] From the outset, the parish had to obey the appointed colonial leader- the Portuguese Padroado that led to the government over interference in religious affairs and often created friction between the parish and the Portuguese[4] Bishops of Macau: The church in colonial Macau was used by missionaries as a starting point to travel to different parts of Southeast Asia.

In addition, Macau has also been used as a base for evangelism in Japan, mainland China and other parts of Southeast Asia.

[5] The Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, and the Jesuits have transformed a traditional fishing village into a religious city where named “the City of the Name of God” by King of Portugal John IV in 1640[2] The pioneer Jesuit to South East Asia Alessandro Valignano, completed most of his establishments in Macau including organizing Jesuit mission to South East Asia and the establishment of a missionary school.

The college is not only a missionary school, but also a place for cultural and scientific exchanges between Southeast Asia and Europe.

[6] In 1583, Michele Ruggieri and Matteo Ricci were dispatched by Alessandro Valignano from Macau to mainland China, trying to reverse the long failing missionary mission.

[1] In 1576, Pope Gregory xiii separated Macau from the Malacca and empowered the diocese with jurisdiction over most of South East Asia including Japan, China and the islands close by.

After his unsuccessful trip to China trying to settle the controversial conflicts between Chinese traditions and catholic beliefs.

Added to that the compile of dictionary and the creation of a brand new Chinese-English learning method had laid the foundation of running schools.