As the Chinese church continues to cultivate its vineyard, these new priests, religious, and deacons stand as living witnesses to hope, embodying Christ’s call to serve in a rapidly changing world.
Newsroom (09/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In the first half of 2025, the Catholic Church in China witnessed a fruitful season of vocations, described as a bountiful “harvest in the Lord’s vineyard” by local faithful. According to Xinde.org, a leading Catholic news portal, the period from January 1 to June 30 saw significant milestones: the episcopal ordination of Anthony Ji Weizhong as Bishop of Lüliang, 16 priestly ordinations, four religious sisters professing final vows, and 22 religious renewing their perpetual vows. These events signal a renewed vitality in Chinese Catholic communities, offering hope amid a challenging landscape for vocations.
Most recently, Bishop Giovanni Battista Li Suguang of Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province, ordained three new priests for his diocese. Hailing from Shanxi and Hebei provinces, these priests represent a new generation answering God’s call to serve. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Beijing is preparing to ordain two deacons on September 19, further enriching the Church’s ministerial ranks.
This uptick in vocations comes against a backdrop of concern. In recent years, priestly and religious vocations in China have faced a noticeable decline, with annual priestly ordinations dropping significantly from an average of 70 per year between 1999 and 2008. The rigorous path to priesthood, requiring five to seven years of formation, often deters young people in a fast-paced, modern society where instant gratification is prized. Yet, signs of stabilization are emerging, as the Church in China invests in nurturing its future leaders.
The Church’s commitment to formation extends beyond seminarians. Ordained priests engage in ongoing education to deepen their spiritual and pastoral capacities, while laypeople and religious sisters are increasingly included in robust formation programs. This holistic approach underscores the universal call to mission, inviting all members of the Church to participate in evangelization.
This renewal reflects the Holy Spirit’s enduring work in the Church, even in regions where faith faces cultural and societal pressures. The Chinese Catholic community’s perseverance in fostering vocations mirrors the parable of the sower, where seeds planted in faith yield a harvest through patience and trust in divine providence. As the Church in China continues to cultivate its vineyard, these new priests, religious, and deacons stand as living witnesses to hope, embodying Christ’s call to serve in a rapidly changing world.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Agenzia Fides
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