Chinese diocese ordains three new deacons

First group of ordinations since the Shanghai seminary's suspension in 2012.

Bishop Vincent Zhu of Wenzhou ordains three new deacons on Dec. 5. (Photo supplied)

Wenzhou :  Chinese Bishop Vincent Zhu Weifang of Wenzhou ordained three deacons Dec. 5, marking the first group of ordinations since the suspension of the regional Sheshan Seminary in Shanghai in 2012.

The new deacons — Joseph Cai Zhengyou, Paul Lin Yi and Athanasius Sung Shanxun — are also the largest group in recent years for Wenzhou, an eastern coastal diocese that suffered the brunt of a two-year cross-removal campaign led by the government.

The three deacons entered the Tailaiqiao Minor Seminary in Shanghai in 2004 and then the Sheshan Seminary in 2007.

However, Shanghai Diocese suspended classes at the two seminaries in August 2012 as a result of the fallout from the ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin in July.

Bishop Ma has been held under house arrest at Sheshan Seminary since then.

As the re-opening of the seminary was uncertain, Bishop Zhu sent the three seminarians to continue their studies in northern Hebei province in 2013.

In late 2014, the Chinese authorities allowed small-scale training at the two Shanghai seminaries. Only Shanghainese seminarians who were recruited before the suspension could continue their formation.

At present, one-third of China's 12 government-recognized regional seminaries have suspended operations in recent years for a variety of reasons.

Further tightening of control is expected to be forthcoming following the Communist Party's upcoming meeting on religious works, with the "sinicization of Christianity" being stressed in religious formation.

"My 11 years of vocation path was not always a smooth one. Sometimes I felt my vocation was shaky and many times there were struggles. I choose to respond to God's call as this is what I want. I would take my step decisively without regrets," Deacon Cai said.

Deacon Cai worked for five years after graduating from high school. During those years, he said, God's call was so strong that he could no longer ignore it.

Among the 23 concelebrating priests at the Dec. 5 ordination was Father Zhong Jinxing, their former class teacher at Sheshan.

"I am happy they have finished their studies. But the road ahead will be even harder as it means real sacrifice. It's the time for them to bear their crosses," the priest said.

Source: UCAN