(ANS – South Orange) – The School of Theology of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, conferred an honorary doctorate in theology upon Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai, SDB, in an academic ceremony on November 8, 2012. The ceremony took place in the University’s Immaculate Conception Chapel and was attended by a couple of hundred seminarians, including 11 Salesians (not all of them seminarians).

The archbishop was honored for his dedication to the theological formation of priests, his translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church into Chinese, his service on the International Theological Commission, and his service to the Church as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark presided over the ceremony, which was coordinated by Monsignor Joseph Reilly, rector of the School of Theology. The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States was also involved in the planning and sponsored a reception for the archbishop following the ceremony.

After receiving his honorary doctorate, Archbishop Hon gave an address entitled “Love and Wisdom: Cardinal Costantini’s Experience in China.” He cited the experience of this first apostolic delegate to China (1922-1933) as an example of the wisdom that a missionary should display:  “The proclamation of Christ should go hand in hand with healing the people.”

Then-Archbishop Costantini’s proclamation was based on four F’s: formation of the people, fostering their religious arts, friendship with all, and faith in God. All these were based on respecting the culture and character of the Chinese as the only way to lead them to Christ. Archbishop Costantini called Christ the tao who recapitulates all wisdom, in effect the synthesis of East and West.

Published 09/11/2012