ASIA/CHINA - Catechists in the diocese of Fen Yang receive missionary mandate at the beginning of Advent on the feast of St Francis Xavier to prepare the community for the Nativity of Jesus

Thursday, 13 December 2007

Fen Yang (Agenzia Fides) - A group of 24 catechists of the 3rd course for 2007, in the diocese of di Fen Yang, Shan Xi province, received the missionary mandate on December 3, Feast of St Francis Xavier from the local Bishop who encouraged them to “help the community live a fruitful Advent to prepare to welcome the Infant Jesus”. During a week long course - 26 November to 3 December - the Catechists listened to lectures on catechism, Sacred Scripture, methods of evangelisation and mission, Chinese culture and evangelisation. They shared their missionary experience. Now they are fully involved in missionary animation in their respective communities.
The territory of the diocese of Fen Yang previously belonged to the diocese of Tai Yuan and area evangelised in 1633, by Fr. Michacl Friganlt, heir to the great missionary Fr. Matteo Ricci. The first Jesuit mission was opened in Fen Yang in 1699. In 1926 thanks to great efforts and courage by Pope Pius XI and the 'friend of the Chinese' Cardinal Celso Costatini, and the 'Chinese apostle Fr. Vincent Lebbe, Fen Yang was one of the first autonomous dioceses with the creation of a Chinese hierarchy and its first Bishop, among the first Chinese bishops to be ordained by Pius XII on 28 October in 1926 in St. Peter's Basilica. Today the diocese has 16,000 faithful, 31 priests, 35 women religious and there are 14 major seminarians. The diocese has 48 churches and chapels. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2007 - righe 24, parole 273)


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