Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shang Hai (Agenzia Fides) - “This is a new beginning for us and the start of a path of service. The ordination of deacons on the feast of St. Luigi Gonzaga, patron of young people, is important and significant. We invoke his intercession that we may do the Lord's will”. Ten new deacons ordained on 21 June the feast of St. Luigi Gonzaga, had this to say in a spirit of profound gratitude after their ordination. According to the diocese of Shang Hai, hundreds of people came from near and far for the ordination in the Cathedral presided by Coadjutor Bishop Xing Wen Zhi, and concelebrated by more than 70 priests mainly from the diocese. The ten deacons promised to give their whole life to serving with dedication. They thanked their families, friends and formators who accompanied their vocation with love and asked them to continue to pray for them and their new mission.
The ten new deacons, from the dioceses of Shang Hai, Nan Jing and Xia Men., will serve in parishes. Shang Hai has always been an important diocese. Today it has aboue 110 chapels and churches, a community of about 110,000 Catholics, assisted by 70 priests and 80 women religious. The famous Marian Shrine Our Lady of Shan is here. The diocese has a Catholic publishing house, and associations respectively of Catholic Intellectuals, young people, university students, and it promotes evangelisation in all fields. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2007 - righe 27, parole 300)
