Chinese priest who studied in U.S. ordained auxiliary of Shanghai

Published: 2005-06-28

SHANGHAI, China (CNS) -- A 42-year-old Chinese priest who has studied in the United States was ordained auxiliary bishop of Shanghai June 28. A statement from the New York-based Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, whose superior general attended the ordination, said Bishop Joseph Xing Wenzhi was ordained "with the approval of the Holy See and is duly recognized by the local government authorities responsible for religious affairs in China." It said Bishop Xing was in line to succeed Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai, the government-approved bishop of Shanghai, and Bishop Joseph Fan Zhongliang, head of Shanghai's underground Catholic community. Bishop Jin, 89, presided at the liturgy until the episcopal ordination was over, then Bishop Xing carried on as presider, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Bishop Jin appeared to be not well at the end of the liturgy; he was led away in a wheelchair and did not join the subsequent banquet.

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