Visitors

On February 15 we met Bishop Peter Feng Xinmao, Jingxian Diocese, Jingxian, Hebei. I was at ICLA (Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia) in the Philippines for some meetings. The Institute has about 120 students from different Asian countries and 49 of them are Chinese priests and sisters.

He gave a good homily telling us something about his diocese: 4 million people; only 25,000 Catholics; located 250 klms. from Beijing; he has a minor seminary with 95 students and about 80 belong to his diocese; other major seminarians are in several seminaries: National Seminary in Beijing; Shaniang and Sija zhuan. He also has 10 seminarians studying in Manila and one of his priests stays with them as spiritual director. He was made bishop at the age of 39 about 7 years ago. He mentioned that of all the Chinese martyrs canonized by John Paul II, most of them belonged to his diocese and he said that that is the reason for having many vocations. Then, talking about the gospel of the day, the cure of the man with leprosy, he said that we are all wounded and in need of Jesus healing; he mentioned particularly the Church in China as a wounded Church, having suffered so much in the past and that the Church, all the members, need the healing of Jesus.

Hebei Province

Jingxian is close to Shijiazhuang, where is the major seminary.

A blessed Lent to all!