New Bishop’s Diocese Includes Island of Shangchuan Where S. Francis Xavier Died

Nearly 460 years after the great Jesuit missionary died off the coast of China, without having fulfilled his heart’s desire of preaching the gospel in this vast land, today the diocese of Jiangmen has 20,000 Catholics. Today’s consecration ceremony of Mgr. Liang Jiansen took place with the assistance of three consecrating bishops who are all in good standing with Rome. Three other bishops participated who are also in good standing.

AsiaNews: Mgr. Liang Jiansen is Bishop of Jiangmen (Guangdong), a diocese vacant since 2007. All the bishops who participated in communion with the Holy See. The priorities of the newly-ordained: the formation of priests, nuns and laity. In the diocese there is a shrine that commemorates the place where St. Francis Xavier died in 1552 (Shangchuan). Read more on this report here.