January 29 is the feast day of St Joseph Freinademetz SVD.

St Joseph was the first member of the fledgling Divine Word Missionaries to be sent out on mission, when the founder of the SVD, St Arnold Janssen, assigned him to China.

He stayed for many years in China, during turbulent political and cultural times, and he faced many challenges, but he came to know and love the Chinese people and was loved by them in return.

“I do not consider missionary life as a sacrifice I offer to God, but as the greatest grace that God could ever have lavished upon me,” he said.

To learn more about the life and mission of this humble and holy missionary, click here: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031005_freinademetz_en.html.