Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Xi Chang (Agenzia Fides) - More than 500 faithful of the diocese of Xi Chang, in the province of Si Chuan, participated in the solemn Eucharistic Concelebration during which they thanked the Lord for a hundred years of evangelization. Also during the Mass on 14 December, presided over by Bishop He Ze Qing of the Diocese of Wan Zhou, in the same province, three diocesan priests were ordained. According to information received by Fides, the solemn Liturgy was concelebrated by 26 priests. The head of the Diocese of Xi Chang emphasized the fact that the celebration of one hundred years of evangelization “is a sign of taking off for the new missionary effort in today's society.”
The Diocese of Xi Chang (originally Ning Yuan) was a mission of the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP). It has been a member of the Apostolic Vicariate of Kientchang since 1910 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Ning Yuan in 1924. Today the diocese has more than 30,000 faithful, dozens of priests, 40 female religious of the diocesan Congregation of the Holy Family and of the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of the Holy Family, 11 parishes and six mission stations. Moreover, the Congregation of the Holy Family is also a point of reference for the formation of religious vocations for all dioceses in the south-west of the continent. From 1993, the year of its founding, to 2005, it has formed some 90 religious of the region. Being an industrial town (here is the China Xi Chang Satellite Launch Centre), the Church is very active among the workers and at the hospital. The Missionary Oblate Sisters work at the Rehabilitation Centre in De Chang. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 28/12/2010)
