Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “Fill with Water and Draw Wine” was the theme of a three day Seminar for local Catechists organised by the parish at Beijing’s Catholic Cathedral Bei Tang from the 29th to the 31st January. The Beijing religious instructors were joined by eight catechists who teach at Xi Kai Cathedral diocese of Tian Jin in a programme of sharing and reciprocal enrichment. Conferences on day one were given by teachers from Beijing Diocesan Seminary on various topics including “the new Catechism of the Catholic Church”, “the Message of the New Testament”, “Giving a correct historical vision to catechumens”…. During the morning of 30 January there was a friendly meeting of the catechists of these two parishes, the most important in the two great Chinese cities. The catechists discussed evangelisation and how to teach the faith in great cities to young people, immigrant workers and men and women of all ages and professions. The parish priest of Bei Tang, Rev. Xiao presented the Bei Tang catechetical organisation and proposed a twinning for evangelisation with Xi Kai parish which was warmly welcomed. On the last day of the Seminar besides discussion and comparison of catechism programmes and concrete initiatives, the participants visited Bei Tang parish and its activities of catechism.
Tian Jin diocese’s Xi Kai Cathedral dedicated to St Joseph and built in Romanic style in 1914 to seat 2,000 is locally known as the French church. The parish community of 30,000 is lively and fervent and uses modern technology in its activity for evangelisation, being one of the first to open its own web site, and recently adding an Evangelisation Blog. Tian Jing diocese has a large Catholic community. Tian Jing city is one of China’s great metropolitan centres like Beijing, Shang Hai and Chong Qing. According to the Guide to the Catholic Church in China 2004, the diocese has a community of 100,000 Catholics, assisted by 30 priests and 40 women religious of the Community of Charity and there are a few dozen seminarians. (NZ)(Agenzia Fides 09/02/2007 Righe: 36 Parole: 397)
