ASIA/CHINA - Religious vows and retreats taking place in several female religious communities on mainland

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – According to information received by Fides, several congregations of women religious on the mainland are intensely living the Marian month of May, in communion with the Chinese faithful, who have a great devotion to Mary. There are many congregations that have chosen this time of year for religious professions and retreats.
On the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, two Sisters of the diocesan congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Diocese of Nan Chong, in the Province of Si Chuan took perpetual vows. More than 600 faithful attended the solemn liturgy concelebrated by 11 priests. 25 representatives of other religious congregations were present from Chong Qing, Wan Zhou, Gui Zhou Hai Men, etc.. Earlier in this Marian month, five nuns of the Congregation of the Heart of Our Lady of China took their temporary vows in the Marian shrine of Hu Xian, located on a mountain top in the Province of Shaan Xi. Three novices and two postulants of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Diocese of Qing Dao recently celebrated the rite of entry into the novitiate and postulancy. The ceremony brought special joy in the diocese, as the congregation is finally seeing new vocations after 20 years. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 15/05/2010)