ASIA/CHINA - On the Feast of St Francis Xavier, revival of the missionary commitment by the parish of Wu Qiao in the diocese of Zhou Cang

Zhou Cang (Agenzia Fides) - “Following the example of St Francis Xavier, we all need to intensify and deepen the meaning of missionary, the sense of Christian identity, to revive the mission of evangelization.” This is the intention that guided parishioners of the parish of Wu Qiao in the Diocese of Zhou Cang (Xian Xian), to solemnly celebrate the Feast of the Patron Saint of Missions and of the mission in China, St Francis Xavier, who is also Patron of the parish. According to information received by Fides, on 3 December, the Saint's Feast, a solemn Mass was celebrated followed by procession. Promoted by the Missionary Association of St Francis Xavier parish, founded five years ago, the parish has carried out an intense mission of evangelization in all fields (catechetical, pastoral care, social and charitable) with most involvement by the lay faithful and not forgetting the spirituality of the Christian life of the parishioners.
The Association was founded in 2006, based on the previous Group for Evangelization, to respond to the missionary needs which arose in the year of commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of the great Missionary Saint and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the diocese. The diocese of Xian Xian was the ancient Apostolic Vicariate of South-east Tcheli. Today it has 75,000 faithful, 206 churches and chapels, and nearly 100 priests. Every year there are over one hundred baptisms. The parish of Wu Qiao is a vibrant community in which the laity are very present and active. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 06/12/2010)