Taiyuan diocese ordained Father Paul Meng Ningyou, 47, as coadjutor bishop with papal mandate and government recognition on Sept. 16.

Bishop Silvester Li Jiantang of Taiyuan presided over the ordination rite, along with Bishops John Huo Cheng of Fenyang, John Baptist Wang Jin of Yuci, Joseph Li Jing of Ningxia and Paul Meng Qinglu of Hohhot as co-ordainers. All bishops are approved by the Vatican.

More than 116 priests concelebrated the Mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Taiyuan city, which was attended by about 5,000 people.

During the Mass, Coadjutor Bishop Meng told the congregation that he will promote the diocese’s unity, communion and evangelistic work. He will also motivate the local Church to enhance social services and contribute to build a harmonious society.

“All our priests have high hopes for the new prelate to manage the diocese well,” a priest of Taiyuan told ucanews.com.

The priest cited various challenges the young bishop would face. “Unity among the clergy has to be strengthened, as some of us seem indifferent to diocesan affairs. We also need ongoing formation, as most have not pursued any studies after graduating from the seminary,” the priest said.

Bishop Meng blesses the congregation soon after his ordination

He also hopes the new bishop could boost priestly vocations, which is declining not only Taiyuan but a common problem across mainland China.

The Taiyuan Church has a long history of 300 years. Catholicism was introduced into Taiyuan in 1633 during the Ming Dynasty.

The diocese currently has 62 priests and 23 nuns serving 80,000 Catholics in more than 90 churches. There are 17 seminarians studying at the Montecorvino Major Seminary in Taiyuan and other mainland seminaries.

Catechist Wang Baosheng hopes Coadjutor Bishop Meng could assist the elderly Bishop Li in diocesan management and boosting evangelization toward non-believers. A cathedral parishioner told ucanews.com he has confidence in the evangelization zeal of Bishop Meng, as he has set up a few lay groups since becoming parish priest in 2006.

Born in 1963, the new coadjutor bishop was ordained a priest of Taiyuan in 1991. He then taught at the National Seminary in Beijing until studying further at Louvain Catholic University in Belgium in 1999.

He was appointed as vicar general of Taiyuan and parish priest of the cathedral in 2006. He was selected as Taiyuan’s torchbearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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