Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Roma (Agenzia Fides) – Various initiatives and solemn celebrations for the opening of the Year of the Priesthood and the closing of the Year of St Paul in communion with the Holy Father and with the universal Church involved Catholics all over China, according to reports sent to Fides.
According to Hong Kong diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao, the diocese opened the Year of the Priesthood on 28 June announcing the opening of a Year for Priestly Vocations celebrated on 1 July. Thousands of faithful took part in the celebrations and so closed the Year of St Paul: Bishop Tong offered incense to a statue of St Paul and lit a lamp on front of a statue of St Jean Marie Vianney. In his homily he urged priests to pray always, to care for altar boys and intensify efforts for formation, to form parish groups for the promotion of vocations and promote ongoing formation for priests as he expressed in his Letter for the Year of Priestly Vocations.
The Chinese section of Radio Veritas Asia, based in Taipei, inaugurated a new programme for the Year of the Priesthood “One minute to speak of the exemplary priest ”, increasing news items on celebrations for the Year of the Priesthood.
In mainland China among numerous celebrations, we mention a solemn mass presided by Bishop Zhang Han Min, of the diocese of Ji Lin, at Good Shepherd parish on 19 June. Together with the many priests and faithful present he prayed that the Holy Spirit might guide the priests of China and the priests of the whole world to make them ever more aware of the responsibility of their mission and to live a life of prayer and profound spirituality in order to be worthy of the Priest par excellence Jesus Christ. The diocese of Fu Zhou opened the Year of the Priesthood and closed the Year of St Paul at the Marian shrine of Rosary Village, after the 4th Pauline Seminar on 30 June. The diocese of Tian Shui, province of Gan Su, opened the Year of the Priesthood and closed the Year of St Paul, on 19 June. The priest responsible for the diocese, Rev Zhao Jian Zhang, said in his homily: “The priest is a mediator, a bridge between God and man…he must identify himself with Christ and help others to recognise the face of Christ. I ask you to pray for all priests that they may be men of prayer and continual sanctification. This is also a year to strengthen ties between priests and the people. A god priest must be a good shepherd, Our example of life should enable us to foster many vocations”. He also asked those present to pray especially for all deceased priests. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 06/07/2009 - righe 42, parole 458)
