ASIA/CHINA - Feast of Saint Maria Goretti in the parish dedicated to her in the diocese of Zhou Zhi offers an opportunity to encourage parents to provide moral education for their children

Zhou Zhi (Agenzia Fides) – More than 300 Catholics of Fu Feng parish in the diocese of Zhou Zhi, in Shaan Xi province, mainland China, celebrated the feast day of their patron saint Maria Goretti, on 6 July. Reports sent to Fides, say a solemn Mass was concelebrated by six priests at 6am for workers, seeing it was a working day, recalling the testimony of Christian life lived by Maria Goretti who died to defend her chastity and purity. In the homily the priest called on parents “to transmit to children the healthly principles and example of Maria Goretti” and he mentioned in this regard videos seen recently on the internet which question the morality and behaviour of young people today. “We have to admit that the immorality of young people today is the responsibility of adults– the priest said - who fail to give a moral education to their children. The family, especially the Christian family, must assume its responsibilities”.
Celebrations for the feast day of Saint Maria Goretti concluded at 6pm with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Fu Feng parish is a community of intense religious life assisted by priests and religious of the Congregation of Franciscans of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Recently, the parish closed the Year of St Paul and opened the Year of the Priesthood, in communion with the Pope and with the universal Church. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/07/2009 - righe 23, parole 248)