On August 21, 2018 afternoon, on occasion of the commencement of Verbiest Institute KULeuven 13th International Conference on the History of the Catholic Church in China, the Chinese Memorial Garden was inaugurated at the Chinese College in Leuven. In the garden inauguration ceremony a bronze statue of Theophiel Verbist (CICM founder) and commemoration plates of Msgr Jeroom Van Aertselaer and Fr. Joseph Rutten (CICM), Fr. Matthew Xue (CM) and diocesan priest Fr. Jacobus Zhang were unveiled. All of them dedicated their life to evangelization work in Mongolian lands. Around 100 people, friends and supporters of Verbiest Foundation, were present. The ceremony had a festive and joyous atmosphere in Chinese style. After the unveiling and the customary group picture, those present have a time to meet and share a simple agape in the grounds of the Chinese College.
Chinese College Leuven and Verbiest Foundation will continue the work in the memorial garden as remembrance of the missionary figures from the Low Countries and China.
As Confucius said: “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.”
(子曰。溫故而知新、可以爲師矣。Analects 2.11)”
Chinese College Leuven and Verbiest Foundation will continue the work in the memorial garden as remembrance of the missionary figures from the Low Countries and China.
As Confucius said: “A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.”
(子曰。溫故而知新、可以爲師矣。Analects 2.11)”