Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Liaoning (Agenzia Fides) - Three years have passed since the life of the Catholic community in China began to be conditioned and, so to speak, "slowed down" due to the Covid 19 pandemic. At last now many ordinary activities of Catholic communities Chinese have been able to resume their normal rhythms and liveliness. An example is the case of the parish of Chaoyang, in the ecclesial community of Liaoning, where a formation course on the mission and the role of the laity in the life of the Church was held from March 20 to 22.
"While you walk the path of personal sanctification, you have the task of accompanying and guiding other believers, and helping the priest and the whole Church on the synodal path", said the parish priest, Father Zhao Yunlong, in the brief introductory presentation he gave at the beginning of the course. The priest encouraged the laity to take advantage of this precious opportunity to walk together in the daily life of the Church.
Father Xu Yinchen, the priest who led the course, explained the meaning of the word 'lay' and the exemplary story of many lay people who have contributed to building the Church in China. "Lay people are called to be light in the world and salt of the earth, to embody the life of faith in daily life with words and deeds, and to be an example for others. Especially lay people like you, who play an important role in parish life.
Chaoyang Parish, which is part of the southwestern deanery of Liaoning, has a community made up largely of elderly people who are nevertheless very lively and enterprising when it comes to engaging in pastoral and charitable works.
Among the many activities carried out by the parish community there are also community adoration, which is celebrated every day of the year, every afternoon from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., family visits, the collection for World Mission Day, destined for the seminary, disadvantaged families and students with financial difficulties, as well as recreational and sports activities in which families, children, youth, Catholics and non-Catholics participate. In addition, the community medical clinic has always served the entire local population.
In the formation course on the mission and the role of the laity in the life of the Church, more than seventy catechists, lay people active in the parish and leaders of groups from the base communities participated. During the solemn Eucharistic liturgy celebrated at the end of the course, the participants received the missionary mandate. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 30/3/2023)
