Han Dan (Fides Service) - Recently in Han Dan diocese a local congregation of women Religious, Sisters of the Holy Spirit and the Mother of God, welcomed 23 new professed Sisters, celebrating the highest number of perpetual professions at one time for this community. More than 20 priests and about 1,500 people took part in the celebration with joy and enthusiasm. The event was welcomed as the start of a new spring for religious vocations in mainland China.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Spirit and the Mother of God was founded in 1923 by Father Joseph Cui, later to become the first local Bishop (1946-1951). It was suppressed in 1952 but came back to life in 1988, growing in vitality and missionary service. Today there are 137 Sisters, 88 with perpetual vows, 11 novices and 23 postulants. Their service of evangelisation consists of healthcare, education in kindergartens and schools and teaching sewing, embroidery and preparation of church linen and vestments.
Han Dan diocese covers 19 civil districts. It is situated in the south of He Bei province and among a population of 8.3 million there are about 130,000 Catholics. The area was first evangelised in the 16th century by the great Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. Today the diocese has more than one hundred churches and chapels, 41 priests, 40 seminarians and 200 women religious belonging to two diocesan congregations including the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and the Mother of God. The diocese runs a number of dispensaries, medical centres and institutes of social assistance .
(Agenzia Fides 23/11/2004 Righe: 29 Parole: 301)