China’s local Church will have more space to work on formation and evangelization following his installation, Bishop Matthias Du Jiang of Bameng, says. The bishop, who was secretly consecrated in 2004, was openly installed on April 8 at the Shaanba Church, UCA News reports.
The ceremony meant he could now perform his episcopal ministry normally, he said.
One problem caused by not being allowed to perform his episcopal ministry over the past years was that he could not ordain deacons as priests even when they had finished their seminary studies years before, the prelate said.
He expected some priestly ordinations could be held later this month.
Bishop Du said security officials had him under surveillance during his installation.
“I would say [I was] under watch” by government officials since the day before, Bishop Du told UCA News by phone. He could not be reached by phone until April 9.
“They feared I would walk away. Now they have all gone.”
Bishop Du also said that the clergy, nuns and laypeople negotiated with the government officials who demanded that Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming, who was ordained without papal mandate in 2006, would not be the main celebrant for the installation Mass.
Bishop Ma was seated among the priests during the Mass, he said.
The diocese has 25 priests, 27 nuns and three deacons to serve 40,000 Catholics.
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