MACAU (UCAN) -- A group of young Macau Catholics have taken part in a "Walk for the Family" to raise funds for trips they expect to take this summer to mainland China and to Thailand.

About 40 young Catholics joined the two-hour walkathon on July 9. The Diocesan Youth Pastoral Center in Macau organized the event.

The funds raised by the walk will help pay for materials and equipment the young people will use when they go in service to school children in a village in central China's Shaanxi province, and to HIV/AIDS patients at the Camillian Social Center in Rayong, Thailand, about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok.

At present, 27 young volunteers are expected to make the trip to Shaanxi, and 15 are to go to the Camillian center in Thailand.

The local Church has planned yet another summer activity this year for young local Catholics. Before the China and Thailand trips begin, 26 local Catholic youths will attend the Fourth Asian Youth Day in Hong Kong July 28-Aug. 5.

Clarence Kuong, coordinator of the walkathon, told UCA News that the young walkers wanted not only to raise funds for their trips, but also boost their team spirit and "express gratitude to sponsors through their walking."

The local Church aims to collect 150,000 patacas (about US$19,500) for the summer projects, and about 40,000 patacas was raised by the recent walkathon.

"Family" was chosen as the walkathon theme, Kuong explained, because that idea would help the participants reflect on their place within the family as well as on prevailing family problems, and to show concern for families.

Grace Sou Sio-choi, secretary general of the Diocesan Youth Pastoral Centre, told the walkathon participants that St. Joseph's Seminary was selected as their starting point because that place was the first mission station from which Catholicism was eventually introduced into China.

She also noted that St. Joseph the Worker Church, directly facing mainland China, was chosen as the walkathon's destination to symbolize the heartfelt prayers of young Macau Catholics for their counterparts in the mainland.

Father Pedro Chung Chi-kin, Macau diocese's vicar general and director of its Diocesan Youth Pastoral Center, pointed out at the kick-off ceremony that "family" is also the theme of the coming Asian Youth Day. He said he hopes the young people's trips to mainland China and Thailand will bring laughter to families in those lands and help realize the dream of "one world, one family."

Among the guests attending the ceremony were Father Domingos Un Wai-meng, rector of Saint Joseph's Seminary, and Rebecca Lau Yuen-peng, chairperson of the Macau Catholic Biblical Association.

Energetic walkers carrying a big wooden cross led the march, and the others followed them, singing and dancing through the streets despite the afternoon heat. Along the way, they paused to pray for families at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Nativity, St. Lazaro Church and Guia Hill Municipal Park.

Tammy Chio Chu-cheng, a participant, described the wooden cross to UCA News as "very eye-catching," and said the young people let go of their shyness and sang wholeheartedly. Tou Man-i, a fellow walker, said the walkathon was a success because "we have drawn public attention, and made clear the aims of our fund-raising campaign, especially to our sponsors."

Another youth, Chang Peng-peng, expressed thanks to the police for clearing their route. Despite some steep roads, she and the others completed the walk, something she attributed to their "perseverance, team spirit and enthusiasm."

Chang also told UCA News she realizes that school children in mountainous areas of mainland China must walk long distances to school, so she wants to tell her schoolmates to treasure their opportunity to have an education.

Upon reaching their destination, the walkers prayed for the Church in China.

(Accompanying photos available at here