Chinese bishop ordained with ‘dual’ approval

FATHER Paul Liang Jiansen, 46, was ordained Bishop of Jiangmen on Wednesday, making him the first new bishop in China this year.

He is also the first bishop ordained with both papal approval and government recognition after China-Vatican relations cooled in late 2010 after Beijing ordained an illicit bishop and convened the National Congress of Catholic Representatives.

The episcopal ordination was held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Jiangmen city, southern Guangdong province.

The new bishop invited his seminary classmates – Bishops Joseph Gan Junqiu of Guangzhou, Joseph Liao Hongqing of Meixian (Meizhou) and Paul Su Yongda of Zhanjiang, all from Guangdong – to be the consecrator and co-ordainers.

Bishops John Baptist Li Suguang of Nanchang, John Baptist Tan Yanquan of Nanning, Joseph Shen Bin of Haimen and about 40 priests also concelebrated the Mass. Priests and laypeople from neighboring Hong Kong and Macau dioceses were also present.

The cathedral accommodated 400 people, while another 1,000 sat in the courtyard. As all seating was ticket only, hundreds of faithful who did not have tickets watched the liturgy via television screens outside the church compound.

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