Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Fen Yang (Agenzia Fides) - “Keeping the faith, knowing truth, meeting the Lord, walking together in Love, establishing the true value of marriage” is the theme for the Youth Encounter in the Diocese of Fen Yang, in the province of ShanXi, which took place at the beginning of Lent. Priests, seminarians, and an active layman from the local Church, directed various testimonial discussions on the sacrament of marriage, the life of faith, the foundation of love, and family life according to the Church’s teachings. Over 100 young people attended, the majority being over the age of 18, and single. According to the local parish priest, the “diocesan Pastoral Center has always made matrimonial ministry a priority, especially nowadays, considering the growing number of mixed marriages and divorces. For this reason, the youth of today are in need of a concrete Christian guidance, in order to face the situation…not only them, but their parents as well. Not just any initiative will do; there is a need for guidance and for examples of Christian marriage. We also offer an opportunity to Catholic young people to meet one another, come together, and form a family among them.”
The Diocese of Fen Yang has had a long and important history of evangelization. The territory belonged to the Diocese of Tai Yuan, that was first evangelized in 1633, by Fr. Michael Friganlt, disciple of the great Jesuit missionary Fr. Matteo Ricci. The Diocese of Fen Yang saw its first Jesuit community in 1699. In 1926, thanks to the great effort and zeal of Pope Pius XI, in support of his “Chinese friend” Cardinal Celso Costatini, and “the Chinese apostle” Fr. Vincent Lebbe, Fen Yang was among the first autonomous diocese with the creation of the Chinese hierarchy and with the first Bishop being among one of the first Chinese bishops, consecrated by Pius XI on October 28, 1926, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Today, the diocese has 16,000 faithful, 31 priests, 35 religious, and 14 major seminarians, as well as, 48 churches, chapels and prayer sites. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/3/2008; righe 25, parole 340)
