Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - On Wednesday, August 4, the episcopal ordination of His Exc. Mgr. Joseph Zhang Yinlin of the diocesan clergy took place at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Anyang (Henan province). The Prelate was approved by the Holy See as Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Jixian (Anyang), of which he was Vicar General.
The liturgical ceremony was presided by Mgr. Thomas Zhang Huaixin, Diocesan Bishop of Jixian. The Council of Bishops allowed the presence of three ordaining Bishops, chosen by the candidate himself, all in communion with the pope and recognized by the Government: Mgr. Joseph Shen Bin of Haimen, Mgr. Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Zhoucun and Mgr. John Wang Renlei of Xuzhou.
The participation of 1,300 faithful and 160 nuns in the solemn religious ceremony and the presence of 75 priests who concelebrated the Eucharist, is an expression of the joy of the diocesan community for the gift of a new Pastor.
Mgr. Joseph Zhang Yinlin was born on March 27, 1971 in Tianjiajing, in the diocese of Jixian. He comes from a Catholic family, he entered the seminary in 1990 and was ordained a priest on 17 August 1996. He carried out his pastoral ministry in Lixian and Xiruciang. Since 2007 he was Vicar General of his diocese, giving assistance to the elderly Bishop.
The Diocese of Jixian is located in the northern part of Henan Province. It currently has more than 45,000 faithful, 36 priests, 120 religious nuns and 4 seminarians.
Mgr. Joseph Zhang, in greeting those present at the episcopal ordination, thanked God for having chosen him, a simple and weak servant, as Bishop, citing the words of St. Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you; for power is made perfect in weakness". "I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me" (2 Cor. 12,9). He also thanked Diocesan Bishop, Mgr. Thomas Zhang Huaixin, for making him grow, for having guided him patiently for many years and for having presided his episcopal ordination. (Agenzia Fides 10/08/2015)
