Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - The feast of Pentecost was celebrated with profound faith and devotion especially by young people and immigrant workers all over the country. Masses, prayers of adoration, celebration of the sacraments of Christian Initiation, meetings for newly baptised Catholics were organised in various dioceses.
On 31 May the people of Xi Wen Zhuang parish in the diocese of Tai Yuan led by the parish priest prepared for Pentecost with a pilgrimage to the seminary, the cathedral, other churches and after the celebration of Mass there was time for meditation and discussion. At the end the faithful left an offering at the seminary to help with the formation of the new priests.
On Pentecost Sunday 14 people were received into the Church at Yang Quan parish in the diocese of Yu Ci, joining 54 new Catholics baptised at Easter.
On Pentecost Sunday Feng Xi parish in the diocese of Tai Yuan organised 24 hours of prayer of adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Parish priest Rev. Meng Bao Tong said “we prayed for three intentions: that the Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith and love; that the Holy Spirit will render our mission fruitful; that the Holy Spirit will protect all our parishioners especially those involved in dangerous work”. During the prayer of adoration passages of Scripture were read and hymns were sung asking the Holy Spirit to pour his gifts on all.
In Bao Ding diocese in He Bei province at least 1,000 people filled the cathedral for Mass on Pentecost Sunday during which 18 people were received into the Church. One newly baptised Catholic girl said: “I was led to embrace the faith by the example of my mother and grandmother and I am so happy to be baptised at Pentecost”. In his homily the bishop said “today we are reaping the fruits of the working of the Holy Spirit”. (Agenzia Fides 09/06/2006 Righe: 36 Parole: 369)
