Saving the Nation and the Spirit: Catholic Relief Work in Macau During World War II

After the full-scale outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese forces extended their influence into South China, leading to the gradual normalization of refugee flows in Macau. With many inland refugees stranded in Macau, the Catholic Church in Macau, centered on St. Lazarus’ Church, Macau, carried out relief work for refugees from three aspects: poverty alleviation, educational support, and food relief, in line with the spirit of combining spiritual salvation with national salvation. Overall, by leveraging its social influence, rallying Chinese Catholic parishioners, and collaborating with other social organizations, the Catholic Church in Macau not only integrated relief with education to sustain cultural and educational continuity during the war but also saved the lives of large numbers of civilians. It played a significant role in the process of resisting Japanese aggression and saving the nation, demonstrating the unique form of resistance in Macau as a “neutral zone.”