ASIA/CHINA - Spiritual retreat of communion and healing for the priests of Zhangjiakou

Zhangjiakou (Fides News Agency) – The seeds of faith, fraternity, humility and obedience have once again been sown abundantly in the hearts of the priests of the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou, established by Pope Leo XIV on July 8, 2025.
The occasion was provided by a four-day spiritual retreat held from August 31 to September 3. Joseph Wang Zhengui, Bishop of the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou, appointed by the Pope on July 8, 2025, within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, and ordained on September 10, participated and accompanied the retreat, which was led by Father John Baptist Zhang.

On July 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV suppressed the dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi and, at the same time, established the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou. The decision, as stated in the Holy See’s official communiqué announcing the suppression and establishment of the dioceses, was made “With the desire to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and to attend more effectively to its spiritual good.”

The territorial reconfiguration ordered by the Pope also responded, in practice, to requests from Chinese political authorities, which have sought to align the boundaries of ecclesiastical jurisdictions with those of civil administrative jurisdictions, which have been modified in recent decades at the initiative of the government.

During the “evening spiritual sharing” sessions held throughout the retreat, the priests, who since last September have begun walking together in communion, gathered to spend time with one another, opening their hearts and sharing their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Each priest recounted and entrusted to the others what he had experienced over the years: the difficulties some brothers had faced during the early years of their priestly ministry; the bewilderment and uncertainty of others who, last year, faced with the prospect of the dioceses’ unification, did not know what their future would hold; as well as the joys and sorrows, hardships and consolations encountered along each person’s journey.

The priests unanimously expressed their appreciation for the experience, particularly noting that the format and themes addressed during the retreat were concrete, timely and closely connected to the reality of their priestly lives.

The theme of inner healing, together with that of welcoming the Lord’s good plan for one’s life, explored through the words of the Virgin Mary to the Archangel Gabriel — “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” — was considered particularly appropriate for the Diocese of Zhangjiakou, almost like a providential “targeted treatment” responding to the diocese’s concrete needs.

During the Mass of inner healing, the priests, in turn and in small groups, knelt before the altar to receive the prayer of the imposition of hands from the Bishop and brother priests.
Finally, the Bishop himself humbly received the prayer and the imposition of hands from the priests. At that moment, each person placed his wounds and sufferings before God. Wounds were healed, misunderstandings were forgiven, and hearts that had long remained closed and covered in dust opened once again. Step by step, the priests were thus able to emerge from the bewilderment of the past and once again recognize the Diocese of Zhangjiakou as their home.

The territory of the diocese established by Pope Leo XIV is home to a population of 4,032,600 people, including approximately 85,000 Catholics, entrusted to the pastoral care of 89 priests. The diocese has three bishops: alongside JosephWang Zhengui are Joseph Ma Yan’en, Auxiliary Bishop of Zhangjiakou, and Augustine Cui Tai, Bishop Emeritus of Xuanhua.
(NZ) (Fides News Agency 7/9/2026)

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