Seminarians, nuns need formation directors, say Chinese religious

Published: 2007-04-05

BEIJING (CNS) -- As Chinese Catholic seminaries and religious communities work to train a new generation of priests and nuns, many religious leaders say their greatest need is for people to learn religious formation -- how to accompany a candidate in religious life. "We still have a great need for formation work," said Auxiliary Bishop Paul Pei Junmin of Shenyang, in northeastern China's Liaoning province. "We really do not have enough people for spiritual direction." Sister Mary Pan Xiufang, a member of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary who works in the Shanghai Diocese, said that when priests and nuns do not have good training it becomes a big circle -- the new people, in turn, do not train the others well. "The formation part is very important," because all the priests and sisters are so young, she said.

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