China: Young people mark Year for Priests
China: Young people mark Year for Priests
Dozens of young people have come together to answer the call by Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate the special Year for Priests. Their mission was to reach out to priests in neighboring districts and learn something of their work.
The pilgrims gathered on June 14 at St. Columban Cathedral in Hanyang to attend the Feast of Corpus Christi Mass presided by Father Chen Tianhuai, a senior priest of Hanyang.
After Mass, four Catholics presented two flower bouquets to concelebrating priests as a mark of appreciation to the clergy from all Catholics of the diocese.
Father Li Changjie, who concelebrated the Mass, and seminarian Zhang Wei of Hanyang then led the 75 young people, including 10 non-Catholics, to visit parish churches in Wuchang and Hankou.
Zhang told UCA News the activity was inspired by the special Year for Priests declared by Pope Benedict XVI. The special year runs from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010.
Zhang said that youths have "responsibilities and obligations" to "work for the Lord." By inviting 10 friends who were not Catholics to join the pilgrimage, the gathering was also "a sign of new evangelization." he said.
The youthful pilgrims received a warm welcome at the Holy Family Church of Wuchang district from the parish\'s Youth Fellowship of Saint Paul. Both groups took part in prayers, Bible-sharing, hymn-singing and musical performances.
Priests and seminarians from the Central and Southern China Theological and Philosophical Seminary located in the same compound, also joined in.
The Hanyang group, all wearing orange T-shirts, then visited the seminary. Each member was given a copy of the seminary\'s publication "The Ark" as souvenir.
Zhang, who studies in the seminary, showed the pilgrims around the Our Lady\'s Square, the basketball court, prayer room and library.
Seminary rector Father Yu Baowei told the visitors he hopes they could actively respond to God\'s call and become leading evangelizers. He hoped many of the men would also consider becoming priests.
A member of the Hanyang group then presented a bouquet of flowers to Father Yu, promising that they would "pray hard for priests during the Year for Priests."
At their last stop, St. Joseph's Church in Hankou, the pilgrims listened to a talk by a visiting foreign priest.
[UCAN]