Beijing Diocese seminarians kick off year with Rosary, AI ethics debate, saintly meditations, and Tangshan Eucharistic Congress for faith renewal
Newsroom (10/11/2025 Gaudium Press) As the Diocesan Seminary of Beijing ushers in a new academic year, seminarians and formators are prioritizing spiritual formation amid a blend of traditional devotions and contemporary ethical reflections, according to recent diocesan activities.
The month of October, dedicated to missions, concluded with a communal recitation of the Rosary, fostering unity among the seminarians and their guides. This act set the tone for an academic calendar emphasizing discernment in a rapidly evolving world.
A highlight of the formation programs was the event “Reflection on Artificial Intelligence: A Rational Perspective.” Participants engaged in shared reflection, drawing on the late Pope Francis’s guidance to view technological advances positively when they serve as instruments of love. In the expansive digital landscape, seminarians grappled with pivotal questions: Does technological “progress” promise boundless freedom, or does it risk introducing novel forms of servitude and manipulation? The discussions underscored the need for a critical, discerning approach to artificial intelligence tools, ensuring their use aligns with ethical and spiritual principles.
On All Saints’ Day, Sister Teresa Li guided the seminarians in a meditation titled “My Experience of the Encounter with the Lord.” Rooted in the Gospel of Mark (6:31)—where Jesus invites his disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while”—the session encouraged personal encounters with Christ amid busy formation schedules.
The following day, November 2, marked the Commemoration of the Dead with a solemn Liturgy presided over by Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing and concelebrated by Coadjutor Bishop Matthew Zhen Xuebin, reinforcing themes of remembrance and eternal hope.
Beyond the seminary walls, the broader diocese participated in the Eucharistic Congress in Tangshan, Hebei Province, drawing 45 parish communities and female religious congregations. Centered on Jesus’ declaration in the Gospel of John (6:35), “I am the bread of life,” the event featured perpetual adoration, a Eucharistic procession, insight-sharing on Eucharistic spirituality, and a solemn liturgy.
From October 25 to 26, attendees engaged in 48 hours of continuous Eucharistic adoration in groups. The procession visited four adoration sites, with prayers directed toward global peace, the liberation of children and youth from smartphone and social media addictions, and joy for pilgrims in this Jubilee Year of Hope. Organizers noted that meticulous preparation for the Congress exemplified fraternal communion among the baptized, ignited by Eucharistic encounters that renew evangelistic zeal in everyday life.
Historically, the region ties into the Diocese of Yongping, established through the mission of Dutch Lazarists and once a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Beijing. Elevated to diocesan status on April 11, 1946, by Pope Pius XII’s bull Quotidie Nos, it now serves over 40,000 faithful with about 20 priests. The diocesan congregation of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, founded in 1990, continues active ministry in healthcare and elder care.
These initiatives reflect the Beijing Diocese’s commitment to holistic formation, balancing ancient devotions with modern challenges to nurture future shepherds of the Church.
- Raju Hasmukh with files form Fides News
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