ASIA/CHINA - From the Easter Vigil to Divine Mercy Sunday, Chinese Catholics have been welcoming new members of the Church who received the Sacraments

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - From Easter Sunday up to the feast of Divine Mercy (March 30, the Second Sunday of Easter), Chinese Catholics have had the joy of welcoming many new members who, following their catechumenate, have received the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. According to information received by Fides, in the Diocese of Hong Kong alone there were 2,800 baptisms. The community of Tie Ling, in the province of Liao Ning, in continental China, received 9 new members baptized on Divine Mercy Sunday, in addition to the 11 that were baptized on Easter, for a grand total of 20 new members. There are many Catholic communities in continental China that received new members during Easter time. The statistics are still being recorded and will be published by Fides as soon as they are available.
According to the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of Hong Kong’s diocesan bulletin), among the 2,800 catechumens that were baptized on Easter are entire families, as is the case of the four Wu sisters from Most Holy Redeemer Parish. The oldest sister said, “We all studied at Catholic elementary schools and high schools. Our Catholic education and Catholic friends are what planted the seed of evangelization in us; it’s what encouraged us to investigate further in the faith. Now we are hoping to convince our parents as well to start catechism classes. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2008; righe 18, parole 231)