Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - No less than 262 catechumens received the sacraments of Baptism, first Holy Communion and Confirmation at Immaculate Conception parish in Beijing on Sunday 1 July the day after the Papal Letter addressed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholic of China was made public. Local sources told Fides, “It was a moving event. The 262 new members of the Catholic family were welcomed by all the parishioners on the most important day of their lives. Some were young workers, others adult intellectuals, whole families including parents and grandparents…. The Mass lasted several hours and despite the heat everyone was attentive and took an active part in the celebration. The people who came for the next Mass at 11am, celebrated in English, had to wait for a long time but they participated in the spiritual rejoicing”. The newly baptised were overjoyed at becoming members of the Catholic family the day after the publication of Pope Benedict XVI Papal Letter to the bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in China, a most important event in the history of the Church in China and in the spiritual journey of each individual Chinese Catholic. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 02/7/2007 - righe 15, parole 194)
