ASIA/CHINA - As New Year kicks off, ecclesial base communities relaunch initiatives for growing in the faith

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – With the start of the new year, a number of ecclesial base communities have launched training courses to help the faithful deepen in their faith life and be authentic witnesses of Christ in the environment where they are. We report some of the initiatives sent to Fides. The parish of Yan Quan in the Province of Shan Xi organized a winter course for young people, which was held February 9-11, with the theme of the meaning of life and the value of faith. They were three days of "purification of the soul, to spiritually “recharge” young people and help them live their lives in harmony with the faith, getting closer and closer to the Lord," confirmed priests who organized the event.
Seminarians of the Congregation of St. Joseph and Franciscan seminarians, with the help of local religious, organized a short faith formation course for thirty young migrant workers who had returned home for the New Year and students on school vacations. The initiative was held at the Parish of Qian Jia Tan in the Diocese of Feng Xiang, Province of Shan Xi. According to the priest who was the spiritual director, he wanted to send a message to young people: "Jesus loves you and is waiting for you. Your conversion is all it takes."
The Diocese of Zhou Cang has especially geared its activity towards immigrant workers and businessmen, taking advantage of their return home for the New Year celebrations. February 18-21, 45 people gathered to exchange their experiences on how to live the life of faith at work. In addition to offering support and comfort in the faith, through the teachings of the Church, the priests of the diocese also tried to meet the needs the people expressed by proposing a pastoral visit to the place where they work, because "it strengthens their faith" and is also a way to help them "bear witness to the faith in their environment." (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 23/02/2010)