Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – As every year, in view of the Chinese new year, the mainland Catholic community has intensified its charity work, especially towards the lonely elderly, the sick, orphans, the young and immigrant workers, who always have the greatest pastoral care attention of the Church, just as do all the weakest members of society. According to information received by Fides there are numerous local initiatives.
The Cathedral missionary group in the Diocese of Wen Zhou, Zhe Jiang province, have already brought the witness of God's love to 15 poor families and to the orphanage, to which they have given concrete support. And the mission continues. As every year, this group which carries various types of food and sums of money visited, among others, a family of deaf-mutes with a mentally handicapped daughter and a son with a malignant tumour; and a widow who thanks to the Catholics was able to keep her baby of two years.... The families who have received visits say, “we are unfortunate and poor, but thanks to God, through these active lay members of the Church, we too feel like Children of God like others.”
Two assistant parish priests and two priests who perform pastoral ministry in the Cathedral of the Diocese of TaiYuan, together with 16 extra Communion ministers, made the charitable and pastoral visits to the families in difficulty. Divided into four groups, they brought Communion to 169 families of sick and the elderly because they feel the Love of Mother Church for them. Since 1994 the Cathedral takes the sacraments to the elderly and sick, and Communion to the sick the first Friday of every month. With the upcoming celebrations, the spiritual and material care of the elderly and sick only intensifies.
The diocese of Fen Yang, that of Shi Jia Zhuang and many others, take care of the young, especially of immigrant workers who cannot return home to celebrate this family celebration with their loved ones. Also, at a fraternal meeting, the Catholic community celebrates the Eucharist and Adoration for them, organised by a seminary to share their faith and life experiences, and to know their difficulties, listening to their needs and trying to meet them. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 20/01/2011)
