Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bao Tou (Agenzia Fides) – Practice charity, carry out the commandments of the Lord, and live in mutual solidarity: these are the recommendations of the priests of the parish of Qing Shan in the Diocese of Bao Tou, in Mongolia, in addressing the faithful for Lent. The priest and his vicar, along with the seminarians, are accompanying the Lenten journey of their faithful by sharing spiritual experiences and making acts of practical charity, such as visiting the sick in the hospital, the elderly, and those living alone, bringing them the warmth of their presence and solidarity, as well as the sacraments, copies of the Holy Bible, and religious books to read.
According to information collected by Fides, through these visits they have also conquered the paramedics of the hospital, who said they were willing to return the visit by going to meet with the parish priest and the Catholic faithful at their church because, they said, they are the only religious community that takes care of the soul of patients, after three decades the hospital being open." At the same time the priests told the faithful that "these acts of charity should not be confined only to Lent, but continue throughout our Christian life."
The Diocese of Bao Tou received the Good News of the Gospel during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) and the Christian community had a great development in the nineteenth century, largely thanks to the efforts of the Scheut Missionaries (CICM). Today, the diocese has more than 30,000 people with about a dozen diocesan priests and religious of the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 13 parishes, and 5 mission stations. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 27/03/2010)
