ASIA/CHINA - The memory of the dead in the light of faith urges evangelization

Monday, 11 April 2016 local churches   missionaries  

Faith

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - According to Chinese tradition and culture, following the lunar calendar, the Day of the Dead falls on April 5. Even the Chinese Catholic community, which dedicates the memory of the dead on November 2, still wanted to recall in this circumstance all the dead with Eucharistic celebrations and special moments of prayer, remembering the many foreign missionaries who gave their lives for evangelization in China and wanted to be buried in Chinese territory.
According to information sent to Agenzia Fides, among the various initiatives we have to mention a parish of the Diocese of Xi An, that wanted to live the day with a three-day seminar on "Faith and Life". A hundred parishioners, according to the story of the pastor, shared the Word of God, "which is the source of faith. The purpose of Christian faith is to receive, proclaim and live the Gospel, so that the Gospel is incarnated in life and life is interwoven with the Gospel". So the "Day of the Dead is an important time to recall the memory of the life of faith and, on the footsteps of the ancestors, to live our lives by announcing what we have received".
The community of Bao Tou recalled in particular father Fan Luyi, nicknamed "the good shepherd of the steppes" who died on March 23 at the age of 97. In front of a giant image of the Merciful Jesus, placed in the church, the faithful testified that "in his priestly heart there was room for everyone except himself. He really followed Jesus, lived faith and served the Church with his life". His loyalty to the Church was also remembered, as well as his commitment to revive the community. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 11/04/2016)


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