ASIA/CHINA - Catholics in the Diocese of Lin Yi help poor students at the start of a new academic year

Lin Yi (Agenzia Fides) – In light of the beginning of the new school year, Catholics in the Diocese of Lin Yi (Province of Shan Dong), led by Bishop Fang Xing Yao, have raised 2,000 yuan each for about 20 university and high school students from underprivileged families (Catholic and non-Catholic alike). With this gesture, “we have done our act of love. The donation also comes from non-Catholics, so the gesture takes on even more meaning. Christian charity spreads like a drop of oil in water,” the local priest commented. The Diocese of Lin Yi, like so many other Chinese Catholic communities has always taken great care in attending to social needs, especially for the most needy, because, as the priest pointed out, “the Good News is communicated through concrete actions and convincing testimonies.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 2/9/2008)