Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) - “Vocations Training” is the main theme of the Forum for the modern formation of vocations, organized by the Faith Institute for Cultural Studies (FICS) in collaboration with 16 mainland Chinese diocesan seminaries, which concludes today. According to a statement sent to Fides by FICS, the two days of meetings and debate, from 13 to 15 December, were attended by about 70 participants representing 10 major seminaries and six diocesan minor seminaries in mainland China, 20 religious congregations and some diocesan congregations, who came from all over mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany and the United States.
According to Father J. B. Zhang, FICS director, today “the formation imparted in seminaries must be given the same importance as human, intellectual and scientific training.” Fr Zhang has traced the history of vocational training over the last 30 years, identifying successes, difficulties and problems, highlighting “the need to open the seminary to the laity and women religious.” Looking to the future of vocations formation on the continent, he spoke optimistically of “more than 300 priests, men and women religious, seminarians and lay people who have studied abroad and now work on the mainland with adequate religious training.”
The Faith Institute for Cultural Studies was created in 1999 during the “Seminar for young priests of today” which brought together Chinese priests who had completed their studies abroad. Its purpose is to invite academics and Chinese scholars, in addition to those known at the international level, to dedicate themselves to the analysis and study of religious thought and related themes, to find appropriate ways for cultural evangelization in China. Its four main roles are: to establish the FICS library and archives; to promote religious research and study, especially Catholic, through the award of scholarships; to provide regular seminars or forums; to translate and publish Christian literature and historical material. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 15/12/2010)
