Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – According to recent information sent to Fides, religious on the China mainland offer an indispensable contribution to the life of the Church in China in her pastoral, missionary, social, and, charitable dimensions. The religious life is also characterized by an intense spirituality and a continuous renewal of the spirit. Here are some recent events that reveal the vitality of religious congregations in China.
After seven days of an intense spiritual retreat led by Father Luke Tsui Kam Yiu, a priest from Hong Kong that has been helping the Church on the mainland in its spiritual life, the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady, in the Diocese of Ning Xia, moved into a new convent that was consecrated and inaugurated by local Bishop Joseph Li Jing, on August 29. During the solemn celebration, presided over by Bishop Liu Jing Shan, Bishop Emeritus, all the diocesan priests concelebrated and there were over 300 faithful participating. 5 religious sisters from the Congregation renewed their vows.
On August 21, four Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit Comforter of the Diocese of Han Dan, in the He Bei province, made their perpetual vows during the celebration for the 10th anniversary of the consecration of the parish where the convent is located. Four other Sisters had made their first vows on the feast of the Assumption, August 15. 89-year-old Bishop Yang Xiang Tai thanked the Sisters for their contribution to pastoral life by encouraging them to further their efforts in the life of the Church in light of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The retreat, revision of the Statutes, and the election of the new Superior General were the main themes for the recent General Chapter of the Congregation of Divine Love of the Diocese of Lin Yi, in the Province of Shan Dong, held in late August. Through the spiritual exercises on “a personal encounter with Jesus,” the religious reflected and meditated together on their own vocation, the charism of the congregation, and their commitment of evangelization. They also elected Sister Jiang Qing Yun as the new Superior General. This diocesan congregation, founded in 1942, now has about 20 Sisters. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 09/09/2010)
