ASIA/CHINA - The Continental Catholic community has begun the new liturgical year in communion with the Universal Church

Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) - "Living Advent with a heart full of grace, a heart of praise and a heart of repentance and obedience; living Advent with so much love, participating in the celebration of the sacraments, above all the Eucharist and Penance, in order to have spiritual benefits". Thus, the pastor of the parish of Jiu Jiang, in the province of Jiang Xi, urged his parishioners in his homily during the Mass for the first Sunday of Advent, on November 27. Similar exhortations were addressed by the priests to the faithful of the many other continental Catholic communities, that started the new liturgical year in communion with the universal Church, according to what was reported to Fides by Faith of He Bei. In addition, the pastor of Jiu Jiang stressed the importance of the witness of faith and faith lived throughout one’s life, "because the authenticity of the life of faith transforms in a more convincing evangelization, allowing many people to know our faith". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2011)