Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - On the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Marian feast intensely celebrated in the Chinese Catholic world, and in the context of the Year for Priests, several ordinations to the priesthood were celebrated in different dioceses in mainland China. According to information received by Fides, over 5,000 faithful attended the ordination of 11 new priests held in the Cathedral of Shang Hai. presided by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Xing Zhi Wen, concelebrated by 130 priests come from all the country, and with the participation of 100 seminarians. The new priests are: three from the Diocese of Shang Hai, three from Hang Zhou, two from Xia Men, two from Wen Zhou, and one from An Hui. The collection from the solemn ceremony, was used by the Center for Social Service of Guang Qi for disadvantaged children and families.
That same day, over 2,000 faithful attended the priestly ordination of 6 deacons celebrated in the Cathedral of the Diocese of Tai Yuan. The Mass was concelebrated by 106 priests. Four of the new priests were from the Diocese of Tai Yuan, the other two belong to the Dioceses of Hong Dong and Chang Zhi.
A very special ordination was held in the Immaculate Conception Parish in the district of Ping Yin - where there is a Marian Shrine and the Shrine dedicated to St. Joseph – in the Diocese of Ji Nan, Shan Dong province. This small village, from which have come 20 priestly vocations in recent years, for the first time celebrated the ordination of a member of the parish in the village's parish. There were 27 priests, 15 religious, and a large crowd of faithful who took part with great excitement and joy at the ceremony, praying that there may always be an increasing number of workers in the vineyard of the Lord. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2009)
