ASIA/CHINA - Diocese of Yu Ci (now Jin Zhong) celebrates the ordination of a priest and a deacon

Yu Chi (Agenzia Fides) – Nearly one thousand faithful of the Diocese of Yu Chi (now Jin Zhong) of the Province of Shan Xin, in Continental China, joined in the joyful celebration in honor of their new priest, Fr. Peter Wu Jian Gang and their new deacon, Joseph Wang Yong Qing. There were 41 priests concelebrating the Ordination Mass, which was presided by the local Bishop. Both young men come from very devout Catholic families. Fr. Peter Wu has completed his studies at the Seminary of Zhong Nan and teaches at the Diocesan Minor Seminary of Jin Zhong. He is also ministering in a parish. Joseph Wang studied philosophy and theology at the Seminary in He Bei and he is also teaching in the Diocesan Minor Seminary and ministering in a parish.
The Diocese of Yu Ci (now Jin Zhong) was erected from territory taken from the Archdiocese of Tai Yuan (Province of Shan Xi) on June 7, 1931 and became an Apostolic Prefecture in 1932, Apostolic Vicariate in 1944, and Diocese in 1946 (with its first Bishop being an Italian Dominican: Bishop Ermenegildo Focaccia), the year of the institution of the Hierarchy in China. Today, the diocese has 20,000 faithful, about 30 priests, 29 seminarians, and around 30 religious sisters from the Diocesan Congregation of the Assumption. The Diocese also runs a clinic with Western and traditional Chinese healing remedies. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 19/06/2008)