ASIA/CHINA-After 30 years the first diaconal ordination in the diocese of Tian Shui was celebrated

Tian Shui (Agenzia Fides) - On 24 July the first diaconal ordination in the last 30 years was celebrated in the Diocese of Tian Shui (originally Qin Zhou), in the Gan Su Province, in north-west China. According to a report by Faith of He Bei of which a copy was sent to Fides, the solemn ordination was presided by Mgr. Joseph Li Jing, Bishop of the diocese of Yin Chuan, together with about ten priests of the diocese, currently vacant, inTian Shui. Initially, the diocese of Tian Shui was a mission by the German Capuchins. In 1922 it became the Vicariate Apostolic and was elevated diocese of Qin Zhou in 1946, the year of the establishment of the Chinese Hierarchy. It now has over 20 thousand faithful, dozens of priests and 20 religious women of the Congregation of the Holy Family.
(NZ) (Agenzia Fides 07/30/2011)