Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pechino (Agenzia Fides) - On Sunday 21 October the diocese of Beijing, which will be celebrating the annual Mission Sunday in communion with the universal Church, will mark the date with a great event, the ordination of 5 new priests by the new Bishop of Beijing Giuseppe Li Shan. The five new priests to be come from Beijing diocesan seminary and there names are deacon Pei Dong, deacon Sun Xiao Ye, deacon Pang Ruo Wang, deacon Deng Jian and deacon Zhang Xiao Zhuo.
Bei Tang, Holy Saviour parish is making last minute preparations for the “great event”, as the parish priest described the ordination when he informed the parishioners. He also explained the choice of Bei Tang Cathedral. A local priest told Fides: “After many years, Bei Tang is at last being restored and resuming its magnificent role as the cathedral. We, the priests and the people, are very proud, following in the footsteps of our archbishops including the first Chinese Cardinal Tommaso Tian. The decision to ordain the priest on Mission Sunday is a sign of our new Bishop's missionary zeal and commitment. It is a gesture to put us in communion with the universal Church following the indications given to us by Pope Benedict XVI”.
Beijing seminary was reopened in 1982 in the suburbs. At first there were only 6 seminarians. In 1999 a new building was constructed on an area of 6,700sq mt. By the year 2000 it had formed more than 70 priests for Beijing diocese and some for other dioceses.. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 18/10/2007 - righe 33, parole 422 )
