Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
by Marta Zhao
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – “I do all things for the sake of the Gospel”. With these words, Matthew Zhen Xuebin, the new Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Beijing, who was ordained today, Friday, October 25, in Beitang ("Church of the North"), the cathedral dedicated to the Saviour, introduced himself, quoting the famous phrase of the Apostle Paul. In his final speech of thanksgiving, the new Bishop said: “I am grateful to the Lord for his grace in choosing me, a humble servant, as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Beijing. I am aware that I do not have the qualities required for the task entrusted to me, but I accept it in faith and entrust myself to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Matthew the Apostle, trusting with all my heart and promising to dedicate myself entirely to the fulfillment of my pastoral duties, because ‘I do all things for the sake of Gospel’”.
“This candidate was approved by the Pope”, reads the Letter of Approval from the “College of Chinese Catholic Bishops”. This Letter, dated Saturday, October 12, was read in full at the beginning of the liturgy by Father Joseph Yang Yu in his capacity as Secretary of the aforementioned body.
The liturgy of consecration was presided over by Joseph Li Shan, Bishop of the Diocese of Beijing, who was the principal consecrator. Four other Chinese bishops took part in the Eucharistic concelebration: Peter Ding Lingbin, Bishop of Changzhi (the home diocese of the newly ordained Bishop), Joseph Guo Jincai (diocese of Chengde), John Baptist Li Suguang (diocese of Nanchang), Anthony Yao Shun (diocese of Jining) together with about 140 priests (about eighty from Beijing, and the others mostly from Shanxi, Bishop Matthew Zhan's home province). Another 500 people (nuns, lay people and many relatives of the new Bishop) took part in the liturgy of consecration and the convivial moment following the mass.
The statement of the ordination published today by the Holy See Press Office reports that Pope Francis appointed Father Matthew Zhen Xuebin "as Coadjutor Bishop of Beijing, (Municipality of Beijing, China) on August 28, 2024”, and “approved his candidacy within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China”.
Matthew Zhen Xuebin was born in Changzhi, a village in the Chinese province of Shanxi, on May 10, 1970. From 1988 to 1993 he carried out his studies in the Philosophical and Theological Seminary of Beijing; from 1993 to 1997 he continued his studies at Saint John's University, a university founded by the Vincentian Fathers and based in New York (USA), obtaining a licentiate in Liturgy. On June 25, 1998 he received priestly ordination, and was incardinated in the diocese of Beijing. From 1998 to 2007 he held the office of Vice-Rector of the Seminary of Beijing. He then exercised his ministry in various parishes of the city. He has served as diocesan chancellor since 2007 and in recent years he has also followed with care the pastoral care of non-Chinese Catholics residing in the diocese of Beijing, who take part in liturgies celebrated in Korean, English and Tagalog.
The diocese of Beijing has 100 thousand faithful with about 80 priests, a female diocesan congregation dedicated to Saint Joseph and about forty parishes and churches. (Agenzia Fides, 25/10/2024)
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