The head of the lay group Serra International said yesterday that providing the right climate for vocations was vital to the growth of the Church in Asia.

Dr Thomas Wong, the group’s first Chinese president, made the comments on his return from a congress held in Rome earlier this month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Pontifical Pastoral Ministry for Priestly Vocations, which identified eight conditions for proactive promotion of vocations.

Wong said several places in Asia, including Vietnam and China, do not have genuine freedom or activities conducted by Serra International, named after the renowned missioner priest Fr Junipero Serra .

Wong said: “We should sow the seeds now in these places through visits and pray that authorities can build ties with the Holy See some day so they can provide more services there.”