Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kiangchow (Agenzia Fides) - Bishop Augustine Zheng Shouduo of the apostolic prefecture of Kiangchow (Xinjiang/ Yuncheng) Shanxi province, 670 km south west of Beijing died on Sunday 16 July 2006 at the age of 89, at the end of a long illness. Ordained a priest in 1949, in 1982 he was appointed first bishop of Kiangchow apostolic prefecture (Xinjiang/Yuncheng).
Found guilty in 1964 of anti-revolutionary activity and sentenced to 15 years forced labour, Bishop Zheng Shouduo lived the trial with courage, honesty and humility earning the admiration of all. It is said that a high school teacher who had harshly criticised the bishop was so impressed by his witness that in the late 1980s he asked to be baptised.
All who met Bishop Zheng remember him as a man of cordiality, who had good relations with people, a hard worker who gave priority attention to the formation of priests and religious. Of his spiritual life people remember his humility and his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Apostolic prefecture of Kiangchow (Xinjiang/Yuncheng) today has at least 10,000 Catholics, mostly rural communities in 17 counties over an area of 17,000 sq. km: 29 priests, 27 ordained by Bishop Zheng, 40 women religious members of the Pu Zhao diocesan congregation started by the Bishop.
The local Catholics are very active in social and medical assistance with clinics for eye infections, other hospitals, dispensaries and a home for abandoned children and children with disabilities.
On hearing the news of the Bishop’s death more than 1,000 people gathered for a special prayer vigil. The funeral on 25 July was attended by various bishops, about fifty priests and also local government authorities with whom Bishop Augustine Zheng Shouduo had frank and cordial relations. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/8/2006 - Righe 27; Parole 345)
