Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tai Yuan (Agenzia Fides) – Some 78 women religious from 23 Chinese provinces representing almost every female religious congregation in mainland China, took part in a solemn Eucharistic Procession with thousands of lay faithful. The meeting was held recently at the parish of Yang Jia Pu, diocese of Tai Yuan and, according to information sent to Fides, dressed in their respective religious habits the sisters drew the attention of people watching the procession, filling the faithful and the priests with pride. At the meeting the religious reflected on the meaning of life in the Catholic dimension, the importance of the family and of family prayer to consolidate and hand on the faith.
In the life of the Catholic Church in mainland China, religious Sisters play a fundamental and indispensable role in pastoral care, evangelisation, charitable and social work. They befriend and console abandoned children, disabled persons, old people left alone, people with AIDS or leprosy. They are called “the guardian angels of hospital wards ”, always present for every emergency, earthquakes for example. During the terrible earthquake in Si Chuan on 12 May 2008, the earthquake victims soon turned to the sisters, Xiu Nv, for every kind of help with confidence and affection, and often with gratitude: “Have a little rest Xiu Nv… we need you Xiu Nv”. Although they never speak explicitly of the Gospel or try to forcefully evangelise anyone, their presence and service is the most convincing witness. Without clamour or slogans the sisters, 'precious signs of the loving presence of God' soon draw people to become followers of Christ ”. According to the most recent statistics, November 2006, in China there are about 5.000 professed women religious and about 600 novices. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 03/07/2009 - righe 27, parole 296)
