Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – At the start of the new year the mainland Chinese Catholic community continues to reap vocational fruits, with priestly ordinations and religious sisters' solemn vows, encouraging youth to follow the path trodden by many young priests, deacons and religious sisters. According to the diocesan Faith publication of He Bei, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin, Ordinary of the Diocese of Hai Men (today Nan Tong), Jiang Su province, consecrated on 21 April 2010 with the Holy See's approval, presided over the solemn profession of perpetual vows of Sister Teresa Shi Ou De on 22 January, a sister from the diocesan Congregation of St Teresa of the Infant Jesus. Sister Shi has a degree in medicine and works on the front line of evangelisation.
In his homily the Bishop stressed the particular meaning of the Liturgy, which he expressly wanted to celebrate in the Cathedral instead of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lng Shan, the “historical” place where the sisters make their vows. Referring to Sister Teresa Shi Ou De, the Bishop said that she “represents the third generation of religious sisters, who can boast of 400 glorious years within our diocese, after reopening their doors in the 1980s. Further, we are celebrating the 80 year anniversary of the foundation of their congregation. I chose the Cathedral, continued the Bishop – because it is the largest church in our diocese, and on this occasion I hope to welcome as many people as possible, especially the young, to stimulate their response to the call of the Lord and to encourage them to discover their vocation, for which our mission of evangelisation has much need.”
The Congregation of St Teresa of the Infant Jesus was founded by Bishop Simon Zhu Kaimin, one of the first Chinese Bishops created by Pope Pius XI in 1926 in St Peter's Basilica – in July 1931. Reopened in the 1980's, precisely in March 1985, currently there are 23 active religious sisters in the parishes, health and social sectors. In its 80 years of existence, the congregation has formed more than 150 religious sisters. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 25/01/2011)
