ASIA/CHINA - The Coadjutor of Tai Yuan to his priests: "Continue to give glory to God and to serve the Church in the New Year"

Tai Yuan (Agenzia Fides) - "Continue to give glory to God and to serve the Church in the New Year": is how His Exc. Mgr. Paul Meng Ningyou, Coadjutor of the Diocese of Taiyuan, anointed with the Holy See's approval on 16 September 2010 (the Chinese authorities allowed his ordination), urged sixty diocesan priests during the meeting that was held to mark the start of the new year. According to information gathered by Fides, the two-day meeting held on 30 and 31 January was also a time of spirituality and brotherhood for the priestly community of Tai Yuan, that gathered around the Coadjutor Bishop approved by the Pope because the Ordinary is very old. All the pastors and priests also responsible of the smaller chapels and missions in the most remote rural were able to talk about their work last year, presenting the pastoral projects of the new year, sharing their experiences with their brothers and difficulties, listening to their suggestions.
The Archdiocese of Taiyuan currently has more than 100,000 faithful, mostly farmers or workers. There are about sixty priests and a hundred women religious, some clinics and a community center. At the moment of his consecration, Mgr. Meng asked all the priests to join together and promised to govern the diocese in communion with the universal Church. He hopes to develop the interest in faith and religion among the population. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 02/02/2012)