Mgr Sun Jigen celebrated the Mass in Our Lady of the Graces Church in Daming. The bishop emeritus led the ordination. In addition to the large crowd of faithful, some 110 priests, 10 seminarians and 10 nuns were present at the moving ceremony for the faithful. The profile of the new priests is included.
Handan (AsiaNews) – More than 10,000 Catholics attended the Mass marking the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy in Our Lady of the Graces Church (Chong Ai Zhi Mu), a well-known shrine in Handan, Daming County.
Mgr Joseph Sun Jigen, bishop of Handan, led the 9 am service. Mgr Stephen Yang Xiangtai, Bishop Emeritus led the liturgy of the concurrent ordination of five new priests.
About 110 priests from the local and neighbouring dioceses were present at the event, as were ten diocesan seminarians and ten nuns. The choir included volunteers from different parishes.
According to those present, worshippers were moved by the Mass and some cried upon listening to the pledges of the new priests.
The parents of the future priests too were moved when they saw their sons prostrate on the floor. "Children are God’s gifts and we are not afraid to offer them to Him,” they said.
Those present thanked the Lord for gifting five new "workers" in his harvest as well as the newly ordained for responding courageously to the calling.
The four new priests are:
Simon Jin Jingchong was born on 23 September 1983 in the village of Dong Da Gu Miao (Hebei). In 2003, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan; in 2005, he moved to Hebei seminary, and in 2006 he went to the General Seminary in Manila, Philippines. He completed his studies this year and was ordained deacon on 19 March.
Joseph Ji Jinchong was born on 12 September 1985 in the village of Dong Da Gu Miao (Hebei). In 2001, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan; in 2005, he joined the seminary of Taiyuan, and in 2006 went to the General Seminary in Manila, Philippines. He completed his studies this year and was ordained deacon on 19 March.
Paul Dai Xianglu was born on 8 April 1986 in the village Tun Dong Zhuang (Hebei). In 2004, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan; later, he moved to Hebei seminary, where he got his license in 2014. He was ordained deacon on 28 October 2015.
John Wu Shangwang was born on 16 June 1986 in the village of Li Zhong Xie (Hebei). In 2001, he entered the Seminary of the Sacred Heart, diocese of Handan. In 2007, he moved to the seminary of Hebei where he completed his studies in 2014. He was ordained deacon on 28 October 2015.