Meizhou (Agenzia Fides) - The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, always celebrated in a special way by the Chinese Catholic communities, was marked this year by a commitment to charitable causes in favor of compatriots in need. On the day of the feast, last Saturday, June 29, new aid collected by the Chinese Catholic Charities Network arrived in the area most affected by the recent floods: the Wenfu district of Jiaoling county, which includes the city of Meizhou (Guangdong province).
At the request of the Bishop of Beijing, Joseph Li Shan, and the Bishop of Shanghai, Joseph Shen Bin, the staff of the Jinde Charities organization, together with Joseph Liao Hongqing, Bishop of the Diocese of Meizhou, brought school supplies to two flooded schools in the disaster area, while the affected population received a shipment of food and basic necessities. The day before, Bishop Joseph Liao visited lonely and sick elderly people in the affected area. On the same day, Jinde Charities signed a donation certificate of 220,000 yuan (equivalent to 30,000 euros) with the civil authorities. The donation is intended for the purchase of school equipment for the central primary schools in Songyuan Town, Meixian District, and the central kindergarten in Renju Town, Pingyuan District, which were severely damaged by the floods.
Thanks to the generous donations of Chinese Catholics and in coordination with the local authorities and the Diocese of Meizhou, Jinde Charities continues to collect donations, purchase essential goods and relief supplies (rice, oil and other foodstuffs) and send them to the disaster area.
In the Chinese dioceses, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul was celebrated with great devotion. Bishop Francis An Shuxin led the solemn Eucharist for the patronal feast in the Cathedral of the Diocese of Baoding. Bishop Paul Meng Qinglu of the Diocese of Hohhot presided over the celebrations in the parish dedicated to the two martyred Holy Apostles in Baochang County, Xilin Gol District, together with 33 priests from nine dioceses in the province. In his homily, the Bishop recalled the 10th anniversary of the founding of the parish and looked back on the valuable and fruitful pastoral work of the community. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2024)