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Cardinal Bertone's Letter Welcomed in China
20-11-2009
CHANGSHA, China, NOV. 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's secretary of state has just offered a series of reflections to help Chinese faithful live the Year for Priests. His emphasis on the importance of spiritual formation was right on target, according to one priest from the Diocese of Mindong.
Father Jean Baptiste is an "underground" priest -- that is, one exercising his ministry without the permission of China's Patriotic Association. He was among those of both the "underground" and "official" Catholic Church in China who are giving positive reports on Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's letter, just over a week after it was sent.
"Eglises d'Asie," the agency of Foreign Missions of Paris, reported that the cardinal's letter is being carefully studied in China.
Father Jean Baptiste, for example, said he appreciated Cardinal Bertone's concern for Chinese priests.
Both the clergy and the laity are permeated by the "very secularized world" in which we live, he said. Spiritual formation is key, the priest affirmed, and opined that a large number of the Chinese clergy have received too little or incomplete intellectual and spiritual formation.
Eucharistic strength
Cardinal Bertone's letter also insists on the importance of reconciliation within the Catholic community in China. It reminds priests that they will find the strength for their priestly ministry with the Eucharist.
Moreover, the letter invites bishops to watch over priestly formation.
Questioned by UCA News agency, Father John Li Hongwei of the "official" Diocese of Changsha said that the letter is timely and represents a useful aid to guide priests in acting according to the Gospel.
The episcopal see of Changsha has been vacant for nine years and the priests tend to work autonomously, without much cooperation, he explained. This lack of unity in pastoral work is potentially a source of difficulties, Father Li acknowledged.
Father Paul Bai Chunlong, a young priest of the "official" Diocese of Jilin, welcomed the cardinal's appeal to bishops to watch over their newly ordained priests.
As a teacher in a seminary, Father Bai said that "at times, when there is little follow-up, priests can find themselves isolated, exposed to many and strong temptations."
Cardinal Bertone's proposal of the Curé d'Ars as a model for today's clergy in China touched him personally, he added.
Growing closer
In regard to the emphasis on "reconciliation within the Catholic community itself," Father Bai said he believes the initiative must come from the bishops, both "underground" and "official."
"Three of my classmates, from the days of primary school, have become 'underground' priests; for a long time, we were not in touch; at present we speak on the telephone and meet regularly," he recounted.
A bishop in his 40s spoke to AsiaNews about the consequences of a lack of formation.
"Some priests are always busy with their computer and the Internet, and they neglect their mission to give spiritual support to the laity," he said.
"As far as we young bishops are concerned, we feel the need for a complementary formation, but we don't always know where to go," he added.
Father Chen Xiaofeng, dean of the large seminary of Shijiazhuang in Hebei, lent his voice to those welcoming Cardinal Bertone's emphasis on spiritual formation in the Church.
There is no need to lower the standard in accepting seminarians, Father Chen affirmed. He added that the discernment of vocations is crucial, lest inadequate spiritual formation leads to priests who do not act according to the demands of the ministry conferred on them.
http://www.zenit.org/article-27606?l=english
