ASIA/CHINA - Xian Xian diocese marks 150th anniversary “Now it is our turn to write a new page in the history of the Church in a new century”

Beijing (Fides Service) - In 2006 Xian Xian (today Cang Zhou)in Hebei Province cradle of the Catholic community in China will celebrate its 150th anniversary. For the occasion the Bishop Li Lian Hui addressed a pastoral letter to his people in which he says: “The name of our diocese Xian Xian was written with blood and sweat by our forefathers whose message was simply: the nature of the Church is love. The first generations of Catholics a hundred and fifty years ago wrote pages of authentic Christian witness. Now it is our turn to write a new page in the history of the Church in this new century. Our greatest concern must be evangelisation and we can be certain that the future of the Church in China will be even more luminous than its past”.
Xian Xian diocese, previously Tcheli-Southwest apostolic vicariate, has 75,000 Catholics, about 100 priests, and 206 churches and chapels. With the help of the universal Church the local community has sent dozens of priests and sisters to study abroad. Every year the diocese welcomes an average one hundred new Catholics. (Agenzia Fides 20/01/2006 righe: 22 parole: 231)