Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2000

their births, deaths, weddings, and fate-turning ceremonies. After 1949, Taoist priests from the mainland moved south and arrived in Hong Kong. Since then characteristics of both regions can b e found in the local rituals. Times have changed, scripture chanting and rituals for the dead have been modernized. Prof. Lai pointed out that whereas previously ceremonies for births, weddings, funerals were conducted b y a single scripture chanter, there is now division of labour and the ceremonies have been simplified. The period of performing rituals for the dead, for example, has been reduced from seven weeks to one day. Modernization ha s also mad e the preservation of traditions difficult. Apprentices of Taoism no longer spend years learning the different scriptures, ceremonies, and rites from a master. There are only 20 to 30 elderly Taoists who know everythin g by heart. The less experienced ones can only recite summaries extracted from different scriptures,' Prof. Lai remarked. The situation is the same on the mainland. In an attempt to salvage the Taoist tradition, the University's researchers expand their scope of studies to include Taoism in the South China region, striving to recover as many old scriptures an d photos as possible, and to conduct interviews and make video recordings whenever necessary. Ch a r i t y Wo r k by t he Ca t ho l i c Ch u r ch Prof. Frederick Cheung of the Department of History began investigating the 'Charitable Services of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres in Hong Kong' in 1999, being a pioneer in this area of research. Founded in France in 1696, the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres set up a convent in Hong Kong in 1848 and began offering charitable services as part of its missionary work. Although the population in Hong Kong then stood at only 20,000, there could be a few hundred abandoned babies within a short span of a few months. Hence the first task of the Catholic Mission's was to set up nurseries and orphanages. As society developed, the demand for such services was gradually replaced by that of education and health care. Prof. Cheung has planned to expand the scope of his research to include other Catholic missions such as the Franciscans and the Dominicans, hoping tha t a fuller picture of the contribution of th e Catholic church to Hong Kong can be portrayed. St. Teresa's Hospital A nursery Exploring the Social Impact of Religions 21