Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) - The continental Catholic communities prayed for the deceased and visited their graves on the day when the universal Church commemorates all the dead. In particular, they remembered those who dedicated their lives to the mission of the Church, and prayed for the Bishops, missionaries, religious women and local priests, so that "the community of today always follows in their footsteps". According to what Faith of He Bei refers to Fides, on the day of the deceased, over 300 faithful of the Diocese of Bao Tou, Inner Mongolia, visited cemeteries, participating in the Mass celebrated on the spot. In the diocese of Heng Shui each priest celebrated three Masses on the day of the deceased to meet the needs of the faithful workers.
In this circumstance, the Diocese of Wen Zhou, in the province of Zhe Jiang, consecrated a part of the new structure built to house the ashes of pastoral workers who dedicated their lives to the mission of the Church. The structure, which will be completed in four stages of work, forsees the construction of 20 000 niches on four floors, to house the ashes of priests, religious women and lay Catholics, who will be moved here from other cemeteries in the diocese in which they are currently. The first floor consists of the church and several chapels, which will allow groups of faithful to gather and pray. The first part, which was inaugurated a few days ago, on October 29, consists of 3800 niches, and now houses the ashes of 18 priests, one religious brother and a layman, considered a martyr of the faith by the local community. During the homily of the first Mass celebrated in the new structure, the priest who presided at the ceremony said that "the commemoration of the deceased helps us to remember our vocation, and encourages us to assume our responsibilities before these missionary pioneers of the faith". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 03/11/2011)
