An
Australian and an American Jesuit re-trace the steps of pioneer missionary
Matteo Ricci in a new film to be premiered next week at St Ignatius' College,
Riverview in Sydney.
In
2009, Fr Jeremy Clarke SJ from Australia and Fr Jim McDermott SJ from the
United States travelled to China to film a documentary to commemorate the 400th
anniversary of Ricci's death.
Carrying
a camera, a tripod and little else, the two Jesuits traveled the length of
China, retracing the footsteps of Ricci and the other pioneers of the early
Chinese Church.
The
60-minute film features famous cities and historic sites, including the old
Jesuit observatory and the cemetery where Ricci was buried. The film is a celebration
of the 400-year history of Chinese Catholicism.
The film will be launched
on Friday 26 February at The Regis Multipurpose Hall, Regis Campus, Saint
Ignatius' College, Riverview from 6.30 to 8.30pm. The
director and producer, Fr Jeremy Clarke SJ, will introduce the screening.
Entry
to the premiere is by donation, with proceeds going to the work of Jesuit
Mission. There will be cheese, wine, tea and coffee available in the foyer of
the hall before the screening.