Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Han Zhong (Agenzia Fides) - Three years after the earthquake, the diocese of Han Zhong in the province of Shaan Xi, which was strongly hit by the earthquake on May 12, 2008, is regaining its pastoral and missionary activities. According to information received by Fides, in recent days Mgr.Yu Ren Shen, Senior Bishop of the diocese, consecrated the new church of the parish of Xi Xiang - which was built in 1870 and destroyed by the earthquake in 2008 - thanks to the commitment and the generosity of the faithful, the Bishops, priests across the country and the local authorities: all have contributed financially to bear the expense of one million Yuan (equivalent to approximately 200 000 €). The vitality regained of the diocese is also expressed through its pastoral duties: at Easter 15 catechumens received the sacraments of Christian initiation and in May the course of permanent teaching for priests and religious was held.
The Diocese of Han Zhong is proud of its nearly four centuries of evangelization. According to the diocesan website, in 1635 the French Jesuit missionary Fr. Etienne Faber (or Le Fevre) arrived in Shaan Xi Province, bringing the Gospel to this fertile land of China. In 1885 the Holy See divided the Diocese of Han Zhong from the diocese of Shaan Xi and appointed an Italian missionary as the first Bishop in 1887. Then other 5 Italian Bishops followed, especially the PIME Missionaries, who were engaged in local mission at the end of the nineteenth century. Today the diocese has 21,000 faithful, two Bishops, 33 priests, 7 seminarians, 20 parishes, and 22 chapels, three clinics run by the nuns of the Congregation of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Annually there are about a thousand newly baptized. The diocese is very active in pastoral and evangelization activities, and also in the health care, educational and charitable field, with clinics and schools. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 09/06/2011)
