Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yin Chuan (Agenzia Fides) – In the northwest, historically known as the poorest and most underdeveloped area of mainland China, there has been a great wave of immigration to the provinces of Ning Xia, Qing Hai, Gan Su...Among the migrant workers are many Catholics and their families. In light of this new reality and the pastoral demands it brings with it, the local Church has decided to “make sure that not one of our brothers and sisters in the Lord lacks the warmth of the Father's House.” The 90 year-old Bishop Liu Jun Shan, Ordinary of the Diocese of Yin Chun, of the Province of Nin Xia, and his Coadjutor Joseph Li Jing, have urged the priests to celebrate the Mass for Catholic immigrants from the Diocese of Yong Nian in the Province of He Bei, who work in the industrial zone of Yin Chuan, where there are no places of worship.
Today, this community has nearly 80 workers and their families. The industrial area is far from the city and the churches, “but not far from the Church” said Bishop Li. There are in fact four priests that carry out their ministry in “mobile Churches,” offering Mass and the administration of the Sacraments, so that “the presence of the Father's House may always be maintained, so that Catholics can always follow Jesus wherever they are...The Diocese of Yong Nia, where they come from, is one of the strongholds of Chinese Catholicism. How can we let their sheep be dispersed? We have the duty of bearing witness to the Gospel by pasturing this flock.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 19/05/2009)
