ASIA/CHINA - Towards the Year of Faith, the parish of Our Diocese of Sanyuan celebrated the patronal feast

Sanyuan (Agenzia Fides) – In view of the Year of Faith wanted by Pope Benedict XVI, the parish dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows of the Diocese of Sanyuan celebrated its patronal feast on September 15. As reported to Fides Agency by Faith of He Bei, over a thousand faithful attended the solemn Eucharist presided by His Exc. Mgr. Han Jin Ying, the diocesan Bishop and concelebrated by His Exc. Mgr. Zong Huai De, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese. In his homily, Mgr. Han explained the meaning of the Year of Faith inviting everyone to an active participation, "let us respond to the Pope's appeal by imitating the Virgin, bringing the cross to follow Jesus." Some impressions gathered among the faithful: "We regard the celebration today as an important step towards the Year of Faith. We have started our long journey, intensifying it in the last month prior to the opening of the Year of Faith, on 11 October. It is also a sign of communion with the universal Church, and especially with the Pope. "
The Diocese of Sanyuan is the oldest in Shaanxi and is in the central part of the Province. It currently has more than 40,000 faithful, mostly farmers or workers. There are 35 priests, 100 religious women and about ten seminarians studying in the regional seminar of Xian. The Diocese runs several clinics, kindergartens and a home for the elderly. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 17/09/2012)