Seminarians, lay Catholics mark Year for Priests

Seminarians at the Montecorvino Major Seminary in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, as well as Catholics nationwide have marked the start of the Year for Priests with various activities.

On June 19, one group of seminarians prayed together and studied the compendium to Pope Benedict XVI´s 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics. The compendium was released on May 24.

Another group invited their priest-lecturers to share with them their journey to the priesthood. Two other groups staged a concert of church hymns and a three-hour group discussion session on why they entered the seminary and how they see themselves as priests in the future.

Some seminarians told UCA News that the special year gives them a good opportunity to reflect on and understand their vocation, as well as remind them of the responsibilities they will have to shoulder when ordained.

The seminarians also decided to say a special prayer for priests all over the world during their daily Angelus prayers.

As the Pope had proclaimed that the special year was to celebrate the 150th death anniversary of Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of parish priests, the underground Catholic community in Anhui province, eastern China, published several thousand prayer cards with a portrait of the saint.

The Catholics also decided to initiate a yearlong program of activities titled “Walking with priests 365 days.” This will include prayer gatherings, visits to priests, promotion of the priestly vocation, a writing contest and a concert.

Local Church sources said the diocese held the first of its activities for the Year for Priests on June 27. It was a lecture for lay leaders to understand the significance of the special year for priests so that they could plan activities accordingly.

In southern China, Baoan Church in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone celebrated Father´s Day and the Year for Priests at during Sunday Mass on June 21.

In his homily, parish priest Father Hu Qinghua, invited the congregation to pray more for priests in the year ahead so that “God will strengthen their faith and make them good witnesses for God.” He also encouraged young men to seriously consider taking up the priestly vocation.