Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hei Long Jiang (Agenzia Fides) – To meditate deeply on Sacred Scripture, become more familiar with the Word of God so that Sacred Scripture becomes the “daily bread” of the faithful: this was the goal of an initiative Hundred Days of Bible Reading ” and a Sacred Scripture competition in the parish of Dong Ding, province of Hei Long Jiang. According to reports sent to Fides, the initiative was part of celebrations to close the Year of St Paul. The parish priest Rev Liu De Jun, who launched the initiative said: “the faithful must know Christ and announce Christ and to do this they must be familiar with the Word of God and consolidate their spiritual life”. For 100 days the whole of the New Testament was read in public in the parish church.
At the end of the public reading, on 28 June, some 1,000 Catholics from local Basic Ecclesial Communities took part in a 'Heart of Christ, Heart of Paul' competition to assess the Bible Reading initiative and to close the Year of St Paul. During the solemn Mass to close the initiative prayers were said for the intentions of the Holy Father and the faithful gained the indulgence granted for the Year f St Paul. During the past twelve months, Rev Liu reported, the parish mobilised the faithful to promote evangelisation in the footsteps of St Paul. Every member of the parish was asked to announce the Gospel to people at home, at work, at school…and besides celebrating 85 new baptisms the parish welcomed growing numbers of catechumens. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 07/07/2009 - righe 26, parole 268)
