Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kaohsiung (Agenzia Fides) – A series of celebrations which will be celebrated in turn in the nine deaneries, one a month, from January to September, to intensely pray for the Country, the people, for the diocese and all the faithful, that they will receive abundant blessings and graces from the Lord. Thus the community celebrations from October to December: in this way the diocese of Kaohsiung on the Island of Taiwan is celebrating 50 years of its institution. The celebrations opened with the Solemn Eucharist presided over by Archbishop Peter Liu, on New Year's Eve.
According to information gathered by Fides, from 12 to 28 February a display dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary will take place in the Cathedral on the theme “Faith, special Church, sacred and church images”. During the month of October, on the occasion of the Feast of the Patron of the diocese, a great celebration is planned. In the month of December, during the Festival of Our Lady of Wan Jin, Patron of the basilica, there will be the culmination of the celebrations for the 50 years anniversary of its foundation. For this reason the diocese invites faithful singles, entire families and the parishes to make the pilgrimage.
Addressed to the 45,000 faithful in the diocese, Archbishop Liu just issued his pastoral letter, which may be divided into three parts: looking back over the year 2010; 100 years from the founding of the Country and 50 years since the founding of the diocese; responding to the celebration of the Year for the Laity focusing on evangelization and pastoral care. The Archbishop proposes in his letter a series of reflections: the invitation to “cast off”; the urgent need for sanctity and for priestly vocations; the profound spirituality and practical activities of the leaders of the community; to make the sanctuary of the Mount of the Beatitudes a mode for evangelization; the celebration of the Year for the Laity. Finally, the Pastor of the Diocese of Kaohsing invokes the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Apostle of the Gentiles, St Paul, to realise all the commitments planned in the pastoral program. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 15/01/2011)
