HONG KONG (Agencies): Four new priests were ordained for the Diocese of Shanghai, China, AsiaNews reported on June 7. The ordination was held at St Ignatius Cathedral (Xujiahui) on June 5, and celebrated by Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Haimen, vice president of the Council of Bishops and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, who is recognised by both the Holy See and the Chinese government.
The four new priests are: 30-year-old Father John Ning Yongwang, from Baotou, Inner Mongolia; 34-year-old Father John Zhou Jia, from Bayanzhuoer, also in Inner Mongolia; 29-year-old Father Matthew Mi Jizhou, from Xingtai, Hebei; and 31-year-old Father Francis Wu Shun, 31, from Jinzhong, in Shanxi.
Due to Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) precautions, attendance was restricted and those present had to wear masks and maintain strict social distancing.
In addition to the relatives of the new priests, civil and religious authorities were present together with many priests and nuns from the diocese, according to AsiaNews. However only a few lay people were able to attend.
Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin, managed to send a short message on WeChat saying: “I give my sincere offering to the Lord. I give offerings of thanksgiving and the rosary to the new priests … I pray that God’s grace will always be with them. I also pray that God will grant us more priests, more nuns and more vocations. The seeds planted are now in full bloom and now know joy. May God be forever praised.”
