ASIA/CHINA - Ten years on seventy couples renew marriage promises during a special Mass centred on the Christian understanding of married life and the family

Friday, 10 March 2006

Beijing (Fides Service) - Seventy married couples recently renewed their promises 10 years on during a special mass at Gao Qing parish church in the diocese of Zhou Cun in Shang Dong coastal province of China. In the same Mass 6 other Catholic couples married in the registry office had their marriage blessed by the Church Shan Dong. At the end of mass people who had been married for over 50 years spoke of their experience, education of children handing on of the faith. In his opening address the priest said: “We have a duty to prepare people to live marriage as it is understood in the Christian faith and to present the image of the couple and family as we see it and live it. And the Catholic community as a whole must meet the needs of society. In view of the increasing number of separated or divorced people we felt the need to spread awareness particularly among the young people of the profound dignity and value and beauty of marriage and family life as taught by Christianity”.
Zhou Cun diocese started as a mission opened by Franciscans from the United States of America. It was made a diocese in 1946. According to the Guide to the Catholic Church in China the diocese has a community of 35,000 Catholics assisted by 12 priests, there are about 60 places of worship and 360 basic church communities. The present Bishop of Shang Hai Xing Wen Zhi comes from the diocese of Zhou Cun. (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2006 Righe: 25 Parole: 271)


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