ASIA/CHINA - Five new deacons in the Diocese of Tai Yuan

Tai Yuan (Agenzia Fides) – Over 4,000 faithful from the Diocese of Tai Tuan (Province of Shan Xi) participated in the ordination of 5 diocesan seminarians to the diaconate, on February 4. Bishop Li Jian Tang, the Diocesan Bishop, presided the solemn liturgy along with 40 priests.
The new deacons made their promises and later shared their vocation stories. Each of them prayed to the Lord saying “Send me, for the salvation of many souls, for the conversion of all China.”
Before the ordination, the Cathedral hosted a spiritual retreat to prepare the entire community for the event. There were meditations on the Word of God, the Way of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, and Mass during the three-day spiritual preparation for this great diocesan celebration.
One of the guests invited for the occasion, to offer spiritual guidance, was Fr. Tian Cun Xing, Professor at the Seminary in She Shan, in the Diocese of Shang Hai. According to the assistant pastor of the Cathedral, Fr. Pan Li Zhong, “we were able to deepen in our faith and trust in the Lord, purifying our heart and soul. We are ready to face the new year and the mission of evangelization with a renewed spirit. We are stronger now, because soon we will have 5 pastors to take care of this flock of faithful.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 06/02/2009)