Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shanghai (Agenzia Fides) - "The Most Holy Trinity is always harmonious. I encourage you to reflect in your lives the harmony that reigns in the Most Holy Trinity and to go out of yourselves to share with others and with the whole world the wonderful gift of the Gospel to help people to encounter Christ and return to Christ", said the Bishop of Shanghai, Joseph Shen Bin, on Sunday, May 26, during the celebration of the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity to the parishioners of the Holy Apostle Church dedicated to the Apostle Andrew.
During the liturgical celebration, presided over by Bishop Shen Bin, 36 adults also received the sacrament of Confirmation. In his homily, the Bishop of Shanghai called on those being confirmed to be "courageous sentinels of Christ in their lives and to spread the faith through their zealous devotion so that the Church may flourish." Over 500 Catholics from the community took part in the celebration with the pastoral visit of the bishop. "In our daily Bible readings," Bishop Shen Bin emphasized in his homily, "we can hear the Holy Trinity through the Word of God. When we come to church, sing songs, attend Mass, listen to the homily, pray devoutly and receive the Holy Eucharist, these are all good opportunities to feel surrounded by the mystery of the Holy Trinity's love". On May 24, immediately after his return to Rome, where he had spoken at the “Primum Concilium Sinense” conference (see Fides, 21 and 22/5/2024), Bishop Shen Bin also attended the solemn liturgy of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians. On this day, the Day of Prayer for the Church in China is celebrated worldwide. Nearly 200 priests, nuns and seminarians, as well as more than a thousand laypeople, together with the bishop, took part in the Shanghai Diocese's pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan. “Let us fill the ‘water reservoir’ of our lives with the gifts we receive through following Jesus,” said Bishop Shen Bin in Sheshan “and then, with the spoon of faith and charity, let us draw the water from our lives transform it into precious wine to offer to God". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 27/5/2024)
