Catholics across China celebrate the Year of the Horse with charitable acts to help the poor, elderly, and vulnerable communities.
Newsroom (02/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) As millions in China prepare to welcome the Lunar New Year—the Year of the Horse—Catholic communities across the country have turned tradition into an opportunity for compassion. Throughout January, believers have been carrying out charitable projects and pastoral missions aimed at supporting those most in need, according to a Jan. 30 report from the Vatican’s Fides news agency.
The initiatives, rooted in the Christian values of mercy and service, reflect a growing engagement of Chinese Catholics in social work that transcends parish boundaries. Their focus this year centers on care for the elderly, the sick, and others who might otherwise feel left out of the celebrations marking the nation’s most important holiday.
Nanjing: A Warm Winter for the Vulnerable
In Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, the Catholic charitable foundation Nanjing Ark launched a campaign called “A Warm Winter,” targeting people with disabilities and those living in poverty. The foundation has provided direct assistance to blind children, patients cured of leprosy, and elderly citizens battling illness.
Working with local civic organizations, Nanjing Ark contributed 20,000 yuan (US$2,877) to families with sick children facing financial hardship. Volunteers distributed 40 eye care kits to teenagers as part of the “Luminous Childhood” project, conducted in partnership with an eye hospital. They also visited the Municipal Center for the Prevention of Occupational Diseases, extending support to former leprosy patients, and delivered 50 new quilts to economically struggling elderly residents.
Compassion Across Regions
In the Apostolic Prefecture of Lindong in Bayannur, Inner Mongolia, the local Dengkou community organized awareness drives and support activities for isolated elderly individuals and students experiencing academic or economic challenges.
In southern China, the Sacred Heart of Charity Association of the Diocese of Meizhou led solidarity campaigns inspired by the teachings of Jesus. Their outreach focused on inclusion and mutual aid—values deeply tied to both the Catholic faith and traditional Chinese notions of community harmony.
Meanwhile, in Wuxi City, the Taihu community extended compassion to adults with autism, visiting rehabilitation centers to help foster social connection and shared celebration during the festive season.
From Shanghai to Guangzhou: Faith in Action
Members of the Shanghai Catholic Intellectuals Association visited nursing homes, bringing greetings and heartfelt messages of joy, health, and warmth. Their visits not only offered personal care but also symbolic recognition of the dignity of the elderly, often left alone during urban migration peaks.
Farther south, in the Archdiocese of Guangzhou, twenty volunteers from the Tian’ai (“Love of God”) Association reached beyond city limits, visiting rural areas to deliver pastoral care and companionship to the elderly and disabled. Their journeys emphasized a shared message of hope—that even those far from the bustling centers of celebration are part of the same spiritual family.
The Spirit of the Horse
In Chinese astrology, the horse symbolizes vitality, independence, and renewal—qualities resonating with the faithful who view this season as a chance to channel positive energy into service. The Year of the Horse, beginning February 17 and lasting until February 27, is traditionally seen as a time to pursue goals with confidence and generosity.
For China’s Catholics, these acts of mercy offer a living testimony to faith in action. Amid the fireworks and festive meals, their quiet service stands as a reminder that true celebration lies not only in abundance but in extending compassion to others.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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