ASIA/CHINA - Congress on Evangelisation to celebrate 60 years of the diocese of Ning Bo; in 2006 Chinese dioceses celebrate the anniversary of the institution of the local hierarchy

Friday, 12 May 2006

Ning Bo (Fides Service) - “Surrounded by a great number of witnesses we run the race with perseverance with our eyes set on Jesus” (cfr. Heb 12.1-2) is the theme of a Congress on Evangelisation organised by the diocese of Ning Bo to mark its 60th anniversary. The Congress was held in the Multi-Media Hall and began with Mass celebrated by the Bishop Hu Xian De who mentioned other important anniversaries this year: 500 years since the birth of Francis Xavier patron of missions and 420 years since the arrival of the first Jesuit missionaries Fr Michele Rugieri (1543-1607) and Fr. Antonio d’Almeyda (1556-1591) at Shao Xing in the diocese of Ning Bo.
In his speech at the Congress Bishop Hu spoke of the glorious history of the diocese and its courageous martyrs, urging Catholics today to live in Christ and announce the Gospel of the Kingdom of God with self denial and dedication. Fr Wang Jian Fei recalled that the Year of the Eucharist brought spiritual impulse which the community must maintain drawing strength from the Eucharist and putting more effort into pastoral activity such as catechism, Bible study groups, Christian marriage, vocations …. During the closing Mass Bishop Hu thanked God for giving them all so much grace and the courage and confidence and he said “The spirit of the congress can be summarised in three words: spirituality, sanctification (of the family, the parish, individual Catholics) and evangelisation”.
Ning Bo diocese was originally a mission opened by the Lazarist missionaries. Today there are 20,000 Catholics, dozens of priests, 13 churches and chapels and a diocesan congregation of “Virgins of Purgatory” with 8 elderly nuns, 13 young ones and 16 novices.
This year 2006 dioceses all over the country are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the institution of the hierarchy in China and 80 years since the ordination in St Peter’s in Rome of the first 6 bishops of Chinese origin presided by Pope Pius XI in October 1926. (Agenzia Fides 12/05/2006 Righe: 31 Parole: 364)


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