Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Xi An (Agenzia Fides) - "I am an example of faith and witness. We and the whole Church will always be grateful for their contribution", said the parish priest of Bei Tang of the diocese of Xi An, Shaan Xi Province of mainland China during a visit to several homes and convents that host the elderly bishops, priests and religious who are there to rest because of their age, in view of the traditional mid-Autumn Festival, which according to the farm laborers’ calendar, this year falls on Monday, September 12. In fact this festival is a traditional festival of the family and is symbolized by the "moon cake", eaten on this occasion by all members of the family. According to information gathered by Fides, the Catholic community of Bei Tang, like many other Catholic communities scattered in China, has decided to recall in this circumstance the elderly bishops, priests and nuns who have dedicated their lives to the Church offering in many cases a heroic witness. As for example a 90-year-old nun who spent 40 years in prison, and today still works in her garden, because, she says, "I must not be a burden on my young sisters who must devote time and energy to the mission of the Lord, certainly not to assist me". The vegetables and medicinal plants cultivated by the nun are then sold and the money gained is used for the community. As the parishioners of Bei Tang say, these religious elders "always touch us with their simplicity and their immense generosity". During these days they visited the 91-year-old Bishop of San Yuan and thirty elderly priests and nuns, bringing them the affection and gratitude of the entire community.
(NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/09/2011)
