ASIA/CHINA - “Today our thoughts go our mothers and sisters and first of all to the most perfect of women, Mary, our heavenly Mother”, says a priest in Beijing

Beijing (Fides Service) - To mark March 8 international Women’s Day special prayers were said in many churches in Bejing: “Today our thoughts go to our mothers and sisters and first of all to the most perfect of women, Mary, our heavenly Mother”, said one priest in his homily at Mass. The priest continued: “Women have endowed missionary activity with their sensitivity, creativity and thoughtfulness, bearing much fruit for evangelisation and promoting many priestly and religious vocations. The mother is the guide for the family which the basic nucleus of every healthy society. On this day dedicated to women we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect all women and especially women missionaries”.
The Catholic community in China has always valued the important role of women in the Church and in society, working for the promotion of women all the year round not only on 8 March. Many parishes have systematic initiatives to increase participation of women in the life of the Church and society, making them leaders in every field. We recently reported that Fei Xiang parish in the diocese of Han Dan Hebei province organised a five day formation course for over 200 women preparing for charity and missionary work. (Agenzia Fides 08/03/2006 Righe: 24 Parole: 290)