THE Diocese of Limerick this week launched a new outreach initiative that seeks to recruit lay people to travel to China to teach English and “witness to their faith”.
The programme, which runs under the auspices of the Missionary Society of St Columban, is open to graduates of any discipline, and teaching experience is not essential.
According to Fr Leslie McNamara, who is involved in coordinating the programme, the teaching positions would appeal to recent graduates or people who have taken early retirement.
“I was there for nearly eight years. My experience was very positive, I really enjoyed it. Of course people can have problems at first – it is a culture shock, especially in the poorer areas,” he told the Limerick Post.
“All of your expenses are covered and you would get about $500 a month. You’re supplied with an apartment for free and you get an allowance for electricity and things like that. The cost of living there is very low; typically lunch in the student canteen would be about 80 cent a day. You could easily live on a couple of euro a day.”
Traditionally, roles such as this would have been carried out by priests and missionaries, but due to dwindling numbers, the diocese is now opening up opportunities for lay people.
Fr McNamara explained that religious organisations in China are controlled by the government and open proselytising is prohibited.
However, he added that “the seeds of faith can be sown through one’s lifestyle and in the care and love one shows to one’s students who are instinctively curious about everything their foreign teachers do”.
“Universities in China can find it difficult to fill positions for English teachers, and they are delighted to have native speakers. Teaching is one way that you can witness to the gospel to people who are largely atheist or agnostic.”
“I found that the students I worked with were largely very curious; many of them wouldn’t have even seen a foreign person before they went to university. The students there are so keen to learn. They are so kind and respectful in comparison to teaching here; it’s very different”, he explained.
Anyone seeking further information about the outreach programme can contact Fr Leslie McNamara at lesliemcnamara@gmail.com.
