Beijing (AsiaNews) - Eight deacons of the archdiocese of Beijing were ordained to the priesthood yesterday, the feast of the Apostle St. Matthew. The ceremony was presided over by the bishop of the capital, Msgr. Giuseppe Li Shan, who yesterday celebrated the 13th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.
The rite took place with great solemnity in the North Cathedral (Beitang), the church of the Most Holy Savior which was recently renovated, externally and internally. Due to the anti-pandemic rules it was not possible to keep the church open to everyone. In addition to those directly interested, the family members of the newly ordained, about a hundred priests, seminarians and as many Sisters of St. Joseph (the diocesan congregation) were allowed to enter, for a total of about 300-400 people.
In addition to Beijing, the priests came from different dioceses: Tianjin, Hebei, Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang.
The eight new priests are: Giuseppe Long Quanbing, Paolo Lu Xiaowei, Giuseppe Kangshuo, Giovanni Jiang Liequn, Giuseppe Hu Po, Paolo Feng Pengji, Giuseppe Zhang Songsong and Matteo Ren Xugui.
41 priests have been ordained the 13 years of Msgr. Li Shan’s pastoral leadership of the diocese of Beijing.
(Photo: Beijing Seminary and Beijing Archdiocese).