Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) announced in a statement yesterday that it will issue a set of four stamps to mark the “450th Anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Macau”.
The statement said that the four stamps, which feature several iconic buildings closely associated with the Catholic Church, namely the Diocesan Curia*, St. Lazarus’ Church, St. Joseph’s Seminary Church, and the head office of Caritas Macau.
According to the statement, the souvenir sheet’s design depicts an ancient map serving as the background, featuring the new Catholic Centre, aiming to showcase Macau’s pivotal role as a hub for the eastward transmission of Catholicism.
The bottom of the souvenir sheet, the statement noted, displays a row of churches that are part of Macau’s UNESCO-listed World Heritage, with the aim of showing the profound historical, cultural, and social importance of the Catholic Diocese of Macau.
The statement said that the issue will be available for sale at the General Post Office (GPO) on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (亞美打利庇盧大馬路), the Communications Museum on Estrada de D. Maria II (馬交石炮台馬路) and Post Office on Rua do Campo (水坑尾街).
According to its official website, the Catholic Diocese of Macau was set up on January 23, 1576 by Pope Gregory XIII through the Bull super Specula Militantis Ecclesiae** (“Bull on the Watchtower of the Militant Church”), the first diocese created in the Far East in modern times.*** The earliest diocese in the Far East – the archdiocese of Beijing – was erected in China in 1307, during the reign of the Yuan Emperor Chengzong, according to the website, adding that in 1313, during the reign of Yuan Emperor Renzong, the Diocese of Quanzhou in Fujian was established.
In the early years, the Macau Catholic Diocese was responsible for a wide swath of Asia, including China as a whole (including Macau), Japan, Korea, Tonkin (North Vietnam), and the islands around the continental Far East.
*The Diocesan Curia is the administrative body of a diocese in the Catholic Church. It assists the bishop in the governance of the diocese and carries out various administrative, judicial, and pastoral functions. – Poe
** The phrase “Bull super Specula Militantis Ecclesiae” refers to a papal bull (an official decree or letter issued by the Pope) that addresses matters relevant to the Church, particularly regarding its mission and guidelines for its followers. – Poe
*** The phrase “in modern times” refers to the period of history that is characterised by significant social, political, technological, and cultural changes, typically beginning in the late 15th century and continuing to the present day. – Poe
This handout digital souvenir sheet and set of four stamps, by the Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) yesterday, marks the 450th Anniversary of the Macau Catholic Diocese. The stamps and souvenir sheet will be issued today.
