In Beijing, thirty-six Superiors General of Chinese women’s religious congregations attend annual formation course at the National Seminary

by Marta Zhao

Beijing – “Be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Be like a ‘city set on a mountain’.” With these words of gratitude, Bishop Joseph Li Shan addressed the 36 Superiors General who took part in the third 2026 Formation Course, held from July 6 to 11 at the National Seminary in Beijing.
The participants came from 31 dioceses across 19 provinces of mainland China. During the formation sessions, they shared insights dedicated, among other things, to the Rules of the various religious institutes, figures of guidance and leadership in Sacred Scripture, and issues relating to bioethics
During his visit to the course on Wednesday, July 8, Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing reflected on “the mission and witness of women religious in today’s society.” He encouraged the sisters “to courageously embrace their responsibilities and to live out their charism through service to others and the promotion of the common good.”
Quoting the Gospel of Matthew, the Bishop urged them to become “builders of a harmonious society, being today the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” a ‘city set on a mountain’.”
Chinese bishops have consistently expressed high regard for the work of women religious and for their contribution to the pastoral and missionary life of local Churches, both in rural areas and in large cities. The majority of female religious congregations are of diocesan right and are directly accountable to the bishop of the diocese in which they were founded and carry out their apostolate.
The National Seminary of Philosophy and Theology in Beijing regularly hosts ongoing formation sessions for Chinese women religious, not only for Superiors General but also for sisters engaged in the front lines of mission. These courses combine solid theological formation with practical aspects of evangelization.
From February 25 to April 12, the seminary also hosted this year’s first annual short-term formation course for women religious. Thirty-two sisters from 23 religious congregations representing 19 dioceses participated in sessions dedicated to the theme “The Bible and Spirituality.”
The program was designed to strengthen the sisters’ biblical formation and deepen their spiritual life. It also included thematic seminars on canon law, missionary spirituality, moral theology, and other disciplines.
Participants are encouraged to share what they have learned with the other sisters in their respective congregations and dioceses, thereby contributing to the apostolic work of the Church in China.

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