Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Fei Cheng (Agenzia Fides) – The Diocese of Ji Nan, in the Province of Shan Dong celebrated World Mission Sunday with a solemn ordination to the priesthood. According to “Faith,” the ordination took place Friday, October 22, at the Cathedral of Hong Jia Lou in the Diocese of Ji Nan. There were 49 priests who concelebrated with the local bishop. They were from the Shan Dong province, Inner Mongolia, from Shan Xi, from He Bei, and from the three provinces in northeastern China where the towns or dioceses of the 5 new priests are located: Ji Nan, Yi Dou, and Yan Tai.
Ten deacons, some 20 religious and more than 1,500 faithful attended the solemn rite. In giving thanks, on behalf of the new priests, Fr. Shi Xu Min, said: "In time of despair, I invoked the Lord to give us the grace of preaching and pastoral duties. We solemnly pledge you our full commitment in pastoral ministry, to shepherd the flock entrusted to us by the Lord." Fr. Zhao Le Yuan, another one of the newly-ordained priests, is an only child and is also the 12th priest of his village (home to the Marian Shrine and the Shrine dedicated to St. Joseph of the Province of Shan Dong) ordained in the last 30 years.
The day after the ordination, the newly-ordained priests were already in the place of mission assigned to them, ti celebrate World Mission Sunday with the faithful. On October 23, three of them concelebrated at the celebration of the centenary of evangelization celebrated at the parish dedicated to St. Francis. On this occasion, the new priests encouraged their peers to answer the call of the Lord with determination, to become witnesses of Christ. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 25/10/2010)
