ASIA/CHINA - Solemn Mass in Zhou Zhi Cathedral for the Feast day of Saint John the Baptist: “let us imitate John and prepare the way for Christ, indicating to everyone the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ”

Zhou Zhi (Agenzia Fides) – “We must imitate St John the Baptist and prepare the way for Christ, indicating to everyone the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling them to convert their hearts to Christ. We must also witness to Christ's presence in life and be worthy heirs of the precursor and preacher of the Gospel”. The was the appeal launched by the priest who gave the homily during a solemn Mass concelebrated by 9 priests at 7am on the feast of John the Baptist at Zhou Zhi Cathedral on 24 June, attended by 200 faithful.
Zhou Zhi diocese in the centre of Guan Zhong plain in the Shaan Xi Province was an apostolic prefecture in 1932, and a diocese in 1951. Today there are 65,000 Catholics, assisted by about 60 priests (many of whom studied or are studying abroad in Europe and the United States), 208 women religious and 120 seminarians. The diocese has more than 200 churches, a hundred chapels and two Marian shrines: Mount of the Cross and Our Lady of Hu Xian. The diocese has a long tradition of faith and vocations. Many of its priests and religious serve in other dioceses, Beijing, Shang Hai, Xin Jiang and Jiang Xi. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 25/06/2008)