Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tai Yuan (Agenzia Fides) - “ The life and spirituality of Saint John Bosco” was the theme of a week long retreat for priests organised by Tai Yuan, 8 - 13 October. Saint Don Bosco is well known and loved in China. Salesians runs schools of all grades and help evangelisation through education for children.
“I am a priest now and forever”: these words of Don Bosco were the central theme for reflection during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The retreat was given by Salesian Fr Zhang Mo Shi, from Kao Siung diocese, Taiwan. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was the central moment of each day of the retreat. Reflection on the life and spirituality of Don Bosco gave the priests a new vision and new awareness of their vocation. “Don Bosco life was one of prayer, sacrifice, love for others, a desire to bring salvation to all, above all young people devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Eucharist”. As priests “we do everything for the Lord for the glory of God. We must make the Lord the centre and goal of our life”.
The first Bishop of Tai Yuan diocese (1890) in the province of Shan Xi, was Bishop Gregorius Grassi OFM martyred in 1900. The area was evangelised by Jesuit Fr Yulius Aleni in 1620 who was a companion of Fr. Matteo Ricci, and by his successor, Belgian Jesuit A. Vagnoni, known as the “Apostle of Shan Xi. Today the diocese has 27 churches, ninety places of prayer and mission stations, a bishop, 50 priests, 30 women religious and about 80,000 Catholics. Two bishops, 24 priests, religious and lay Catholics, beatified in 1946, were canonised by Pope John Paul II 2000. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2007 - righe 25, parole 358)
