Cang Zhou (Fides Service) - In Cang Zhou diocese, Hebei province, where most of the Catholics in mainland China live, (more then 1 million) 2004 is the Year of Youth. To mark the year the diocese held its 1st Diocesan Youth Congress on the theme “Rise and go your way! ” (Lk 17, 19). During the congress more than 1,000 young people guided by their Bishop and with 150 priests and men and women religious reflected on the relationship between faith and life and difficulties with regard to evangelisation. The participants reflected on a different theme on each of the 4 days: walking the path of faith; removing doubts about faith; authentic practice of faith; defending the faith.
At the end of the congress the participants produced a statement in which they confirm their obedience to the call of the Lord and show their willingness to lead an authentic Christian life and to walk towards holiness; they assumed commitment to bear witness to the faith and carry the Gospel into life.
(Agenzia Fides 1/6/2004 Lines: 16 Words: 180)