ASIA/CHINA – Seven priests celebrate 25 years of priesthood and remember Bishop Joseph Zong Huaide with gratitude

Sanyuan – The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the priesthood of seven priests from the Diocese of Sanyuan in Shaanxi Province provided an opportunity to give thanks for the gift of their priestly lives and to reflect on the history of the diocese by remembering Bishop Joseph Zong Huaide, who led the diocese through difficult times.

As reported by the church news portal Xinde.org, the community of the Tongyuan parish dedicated to the Immaculate Conception welcomed the testimony of the vocational journey of the seven priests, including the current parish priest, Fr. Dong Bocheng. Twenty-five years ago, the seven priests received their priestly ordination from Joseph Zong in this very church. Today, they have transformed from promising young pastors into key figures for the church community in Shaanxi Province. In word and deed, they bore witness to Christ and followed in the footsteps of their late bishop. For this reason, during the month of remembrance for the deceased, they prayed together at his grave before the celebration to express their gratitude. Bishop Joseph Zong Huaide witnessed the joys and sorrows that accompany priestly life, which is never free from trials and difficulties and is always accompanied by the grace of God. He set aside the judgments and prejudices of others while dedicating himself entirely to the rebirth of the Catholic community of Sanyuan and the entire province of Shaanxi. He died on January 5, 2021, as Bishop Emeritus of Sanyuan at the age of 100.

Joseph Zong was ordained a priest on June 5, 1949. He then served as a parish priest in Fuping and later in Tongyuanfang before being called to Sanyuan Cathedral. From 1961 to 1965, he was not permitted to exercise his ministry. Because of his faith, he was arrested in 1965 and sentenced to labor camps in 1966. He was released in February 1980 and returned to Tongyuanfang as a priest. On August 9, 1987, he was secretly consecrated a bishop and, after a few years, officially recognized as such by the civil authorities. On December 23, 1997, he was able to travel to Italy and was received at the Vatican by Pope John Paul II. In 2003, the Holy See accepted his resignation. Since then, Bishop Zong Huaide spent his final years in prayer and charitable work. His open and gentle nature made him lovable even to those who met him for the first time.

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