Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) - According to information received by Fides, the majority of the Chinese Catholic community celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi on June 26th with the celebration of the Eucharist and the solemn procession, thus transforming it into an opportunity for evangelization. Among the various initiatives which we know about, some are mentioned below.
More than 2,000 faithful attended the solemn Eucharistic procession from the parish of Fan Ga Da, of the diocese of Xian Xian (today Cang Zhou), in the province of He Bei. At 7am on Sunday 26 June, after the solemn Eucharist, the Eucharistic procession started from the parish, reached the Marian shrine, the shrine dedicated to St. Joseph, and finally, on the mount of Our Lady of Lourdes, the blessing of the Eucharist was given.
His Exc. Mgr. Joseph Li Lian Gui, Bishop of the diocese of Xian Xian, presided over the celebration of the Holy Mass in the parish of Zhao Lin An, concelebrated by 12 diocesan priests. Four altars in the four main points of the village were set up, where many of the faithful gathered for the prolonged Eucharistic adoration. Mgr. Li also led the solemn Eucharistic procession along the whole village. Many non-Christian farmers attended the religious event, which was thus transformed into an opportunity for evangelization.
The parish of Gao Shan Lu of the Diocese of Liao Ning, dedicated to the Body and Blood of Christ, celebrated on this occasion its first year of life. In fact, the parish church was consecrated and opened just a year ago. During the solemn celebration, the pastor gave the mandate to 19 lay volunteers so "they help priests and religious women to improve the structure of the parish, to promote Eucharistic spirituality of the parishioners with the Eucharistic adoration and the reading of the Word of God, to put into practice evangelism in everyday life through the testimony of love and service". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 06/28/2011)
