Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Wednesday, April 21, at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Nantong, was the episcopal ordination of Bishop Joseph Shen Bin, of the diocesan clergy, age 41. He has been a priest for 14 years. The bishop was approved by the Holy See as Bishop of Haimen, where he was already Vicar General. The Chinese authorities approved his ordination.
The liturgical ceremony was presided by Bishop Fang Xinyao, Diocesan Bishop of Linyi. Bishops Francis Lu Xinping of Nanjing and Xu Honggen of Suzhou were the co-consecrating bishops. These bishops are in communion with the Holy Father and recognized by the government.
The participation of a thousand faithful in the solemn episcopal ordination, and the presence of a dozen priests who concelebrated the Eucharist, are an expression of the joy of the diocesan community for the gift of a new pastor.
Bishop Shen was born in 1970 in the town of Qi Dong in a family of a long Catholic tradition. He studied philosophy at the seminary in Sheshan, Shanghai and, after finishing studies in theology at the Beijing National Seminary, he was ordained a priest on October 1, 1996.
From 1996 to 2002, he was assistant pastor in the Parish of the Sacred Heart in Haimen. From 2000, he was Vicar General and from 2002 to 2008, he was pastor of Holy Mother of God Parish in Nantong. After the death of Bishop Yu Chengcai, Bishop Shen governed the diocese as diocesan administrator, showing talent as a skilled administrator and able preacher, especially with young students.
The Diocese of Haimen is located in the eastern province of Jiangsu. Currently, the ecclesiastical district has more than 30,000 faithful, most of whom are farmers or workers served by 9 priests, 22 religious, and 3 seminarians.
Bishop Shen said that one of his priorities will be to strengthen the formation of young people. Regarding social commitment, he hopes to help poorer students by facilitating their education and through groups engaged in charitable activities.
For priests, nuns, and lay faithful, the new pastor plans to organize courses on spirituality and culture, to understand and participate more effectively in the work of evangelization.
In entrusting Bishop Shen and his diocesan community to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, the sincere hope is that he can carry out the pastoral ministry which the Church has entrusted to him in Haimen with dedication and love. (Agenzia Fides 04/29/2010)
