Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – During the Easter Season, Chinese Catholics are living out their life of faith through various initiatives, such as pilgrimages, formation meetings, and retreats. According to information received by Fides, 32 Tibetan faithful on pilgrimage in the Diocese to Xi An were deeply moved after attending the Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Joseph Dang, diocesan bishop, as they had never seen a bishop in their lives. Some of them really cannot even see a priest more than once a year. To respond to the pressing desire of these pilgrims to attend a Mass celebrated by a bishop, both Bishop Dang himself and the pastor of the Cathedral showed their maximum availability in changing the Mass schedule. Four Tibetan faithful, wearing the distinctive luxurious Tibetan dress and visibly moved, brought gifts to the altar at the offertory. Then they knelt before the Eucharist for a long time. According to the faithful present, it was a "moving experience of faith" through which they could live an "intense spiritual pilgrimage," experiencing the grace of the Lord, and feeling "a duty to bear witness to the faith." Moreover, the Marian Shrine, the Shrine of the Cross of the Diocese of Xi An, welcomed the Tibetan Catholics on their pilgrimage with warmth and sympathy.
Among other initiatives that have marked the life of the ecclesial communities in China at this time, we recall the annual retreat on the theme: "Encounter with God in Love," which brought together seventy faithful in the area of Fu Hu, in the An Hui Province. In three days of intense spiritual “re-charge,” under the guidance of priests and religious, the participants shared their thoughts and their prayers on three themes: "God is the God Who Lives With Me," "Suffering with Jesus," and "Renewed Love.” The 21 main lay groups of the Diocese of Nan Chong have been able to hold a formation meeting with the faithful of Wan Zhou. Bishop He Ze Qing, Bishop of Wan Zhou, presided at the opening of the meeting, encouraging those present to have a vision of the Universal Church and be ready to preach the Gospel with determination. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 29/04/2010)
