Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kao Hsiung (Agenzia Fides) – With the closing of the Year for Priests, the sending of 230 "Promoters of Evangelization" and a priestly ordination, the Diocese of Kao Hiung relaunched the pastoral mission of evangelization and commitment during a solemn celebration that took place recently and was presided by the local bishop, Bishop Peter Liu. According to information received by Fides, the celebration was a celebration of the close of the Year for Priests, taking it as an opportunity to thank all the priests for their contribution to the mission and life of the Church. Later on, the 230 delegates of the “Promotion of Evangelization" from 47 parishes in nine deaneries were given a missionary mandate by Bishop Liu. Fifty priests concelebrated the Mass with the ordination of Deacon Antonello Astolfi, originally of Italian origin, member of the Neocatechumenal Movement. This was the second ordination of a priest during the Year for Priests in the Diocese of Kao Hsiung, and the 22nd for the Neocatechumenal community in Taiwan.
According to the Taiwan Catholic Church Directory 2010, the Diocese of Kao Hsiung now has 45,654 faithful, 2 bishops, 83 priests (with the newly ordained, 84), 2 non-religious priests, 136 religious, a seminary with 17 seminarians, 17 catechists, 9 deaneries, 59 parishes, and 53 mission stations. In addition, the college run by the Church hosts 8,797 students, 7,521 middle school students, and 3 high schools, 313 primary schools, 2,136 kindergarten/preschools. The Church also operates a hospital, two orphanages, and a home for the elderly with 125 residents. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 07/07/2010)
