CHENGDU, China (UCAN) -- Catechists in Sichuan province grieved when looking for the first time at the ghostly ruins of Beichuan, all that the 8.0-magnitude earthquake in May left of the town.

Catechists from five dioceses in Sichuan province, China, pray together for the deceased and survivors of a recent earthquake, in Beichuan town.

Father Joseph Chen Gong'ao, rector of the Sichuan regional seminary, told UCA News that the 94 lay catechists attending a formation course climbed up a hill overlooking Beichuan on Nov. 23. The town, one of the hardest-hit areas in the quake zone, recorded 8,600 deaths, according to Chinese media reports.

When they saw the jumble of collapsed houses, empty of people, many were shocked and burst into tears. One woman in her 40s fainted. "Witnessing the devastation, they all promised to live life to the fullest, as God granted them the grace of surviving," Father Chen recalled.

Beichuan, 90 kilometers northeast of the quake's epicenter in Wenchuan, was abandoned and sealed off after authorities evacuated all surviving residents on May 22.

Surveying the ghostly scene, the catechists prayed together for the deceased and for the survivors to "brace their hearts, recover from spiritual trauma and rebuild their homes."

The priest also took the participants to a collapsed church in An county nearby.

The visit was part of the Sichuan provincial lay catechist course, one goal of which was to train catechists to help fellow Catholics overcome the trauma of the quake, trust in God and have Jesus at the core of their life, he said.

At a send-off ceremony on Nov. 25 as the nine-day program was ending, Father Chen blessed and commissioned the lay catechists to "spread Jesus' Gospel everywhere, starting with family members and friends."

Held during the farming off-season, the training drew 94 laypeople from Chengdu, Leshan, Nanchong, Xichang and Yibin dioceses, 82 percent of whom were women, said Father Chan, a priest of Nanchong. All five dioceses in Sichuan were damaged by the May 12 quake and aftershocks, especially Chengdu, based less than 100 kilometers from the epicenter.

Chengdu city, the provincial capital of Sichuan, lies 1,530 kilometers southwest of Beijing.

With the rebuilding of quake-stricken areas still in progress, the impact of the calamity remains in people's minds and they still have deep fears and grief, said Sister Wang Yan, a lecturer for the course, also from Nanchong diocese.

In addition to training the catechists to encourage and comfort local Catholics who suffered from the quake to be strong in their faith and daily life, the course also introduced Saint Paul's evangelizing spirit in the light of the Pauline Year Pope Benedict XVI set to run from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009.

Participant Xu Jian, 38, told UCA News that many people in as well as outside the Church doubted the existence of God after the quake. "We should strengthen faith formation, spirituality and daily prayers, especially for the survivors," he noted.

The catechist from Yibin diocese hopes to encourage parishioners to pray in their own words and on their own initiative, rather than chanting traditional prayers.

Mao Qinghua, 59, from Xichang diocese, told UCA News she felt compelled to spread the Gospel, like Saint Paul did. "I would be in trouble if I failed to do so," she added.

Catechists from five dioceses in Sichuan province, China, visit Beichuan abandoned and sealed off after authorities evacuated residents following an earthquake.

Recalled the trip to Beichuan, she said: "I recognized God's love for me and regretted I was indifferent to him and was often busy with earthly matters."

Mao hopes to start a Bible-study group in her parish so members can pray and share their faith life together.

The laity formation course, first of its kind at a provincial level since the practice of religion revived in the 1980s, covered topics including evangelization, spirituality, the Gospel, hospice care and the spirit of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).

Many participants said the course deepened their faith and sense of mission to preach the Gospel to the needy.

The pastoral center of the Sichuan regional seminary, located in Pi county, about 20 kilometers northwest of Chengdu, hosted the course.

With a larger campus, inaugurated in 2006, and better teaching staff, Father Chen said, the seminary plans to organize lay formation classes three times a year, including classes for Catholic university students during school holidays.

END