Posted on 07/31/2016 6:19:06 PM PDT by marshmallow
Unrecognised by the Chinese government, he was liked by both official and underground Catholics as a humble and capable pastor. Almost everyone in Diocese of Mindong belongs to the underground Church, 80,000 out of 90,000 members. The authorities would like to see a low profile funeral, with the body without Episcopal insignia. The faithful plan otherwise. Mgr Huang spent 35 years in prison, house arrest and forced labor. He ordained his successor, Mgr Vincent Guo Xijin, in 2008.
Mindong (AsiaNews) – Mgr Vincent Huang Shoucheng, underground bishop of Mindong (Fujian), died this morning at 11 am (local time). He was 93.
One of China's most significant personalities, he had been hospitalised on 15 May causing fear among the faithful, but recovered after a few days. The bishop, recognised by official and underground Catholics as ordinary bishop of the diocese, wanted to die at home, in the curia and he did.
In more than 60 years of priesthood, Mgr Huang spent 35 of them in prison, house arrest or forced labor.
The Diocese of Mindong is home to about 90,000 faithful. More than 80,000 belong to the underground Church, which has more than 45 priests, more than 200 nuns, more than 300 consecrated lay people, and hundreds of lay catechists.
Mindong also has a patriotic bishop, Mgr Zhan Silu, with some faithful, a dozen priests who belong to the official Church, and a few parishes.
Both underground and official Catholics recognise the late prelate’s greatness. Seminarians of the official Church remember him as a "humble and intelligent, a great pastor".
"Thanks to him, the Church of Mindong was able to grow and renew itself,” said one underground clergyman. “His suffering bore fruit for evangelisation. Over the years, hundreds of communities and parishes were created and developed."
Given the size of the.....
(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...
A true man of God.
And a shining example for all of us.
That’ll be us in 20 years, without any constraining outside influences.
Still filling up the space under the altar. “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Revelation 6
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Nelson, Thomas. Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) (p. 1189). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
May God welcome him into Heaven.
Amen
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