‘Em Procissão Solene a Deus Orando, para os Batéis Viemos Caminhando’—The Long Ebb-Tide of Catholic Public Piety in the Former-Portuguese Enclave of Macao

When the City of Name God Macao marked 400 years Portuguese administration in 1956, Catholic community’s participation was by a wide range activities that included liturgical celebrations, public processions and other devotions involved large numbers lay faithful, members confraternities, addition to clergy religious enclave. Twenty-one later Diocese celebrated its own quatercentenary with celebrations decidedly more sober character at retrocession Chinese control December 1999, than few events hierarchical presence civic ceremonies, Church all but invisible. As plans for 450th anniversary, some former richness has begun return. This paper outlines long ebb tide now-nascent flow piety over this period reference seeks offer tentative explanations grounded theological, ecclesial, political cultural winds have blown across Pearl River Delta since end Second World War.