CHANGCHUN, China (UCAN) -- Bishop Damas Zhang Hanmin of Jilin in northeastern China died in his sleep on July 19. The 88-year-old prelate is believed to die of a heart attack.
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Bishop Damas Zhang Hanmin of Jilin -- UCAN Photo |
Bishop Zhang, who was recognized by the Chinese government and approved by the Vatican, passed away in the bishop's house in Changchun, Jilin provincial capital, in the early morning. The diocese covers almost the whole province.
His funeral Mass and memorial service are scheduled for July 23 at the St. Theresa's Cathedral adjacent to the bishop's house. Bishop Paul Pei Junmin of Liaoning, which neighbors Jilin to the south, will preside at the Mass. Bishop Zhang's body will be buried behind the cathedral.
Father John Baptist Zhang Yinzhong, the diocesan chancellor who is temporarily taking charge of diocesan affairs, said that Bishop Zhang had been in relatively good health, despite his age. The prelate had not named any successor before he died.
Father Peter Dong Haoran from the diocese said Bishop Zhang enjoys keeping a low profile. "Wherever he made pastoral visits, he asked parish priests not to be extravagant" in welcoming him, the young priest recalled.
Father Dong, recalling his days in the seminary, said the bishop often told him and other seminarians to be devoted to prayer. "All priests, nuns and laypeople are grieving over the loss of our good shepherd," he added.
Since July 19, more than 50 Catholics have left condolence messages on the website of Jilin diocese, expressing their shock and sadness over the sudden death of the late bishop and remembering his exemplary qualities.
Bishop Zhang, born in 1922, was a native of Bajia village, regarded as the cradle of Catholicism in Jilin. He received his religious education from his parents and "the seed of priestly vocation sprouted in his heart since he was a child," according to the diocese's obituary.
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Bishop Zhang with two newly ordained priests in the Sacred |
He entered the minor seminary in Jilin and then went on to the major seminary in Beijing. After the seminary stopped functioning due to political turmoil in early 1950s, Bishop Zhang worked as a foreign language teacher from 1953. He was able to speak Latin, English, Japanese, Russian and French.
In 1983, he returned to Jilin diocese and was ordained a priest at the age of 61. He had served at several parishes before he was elected as diocesan administrator in 1995 and bishop of Jilin in 1997. However, his episcopal ordination was held two years later, after papal approval was given.
Bishop Zhang headed the government-sanctioned Jilin's Provincial Catholic Patriotic Association and Church Affairs Commission. He was also a member of the provincial People's Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body of the local government.
The diocese currently has 60 priests serving about 70,000 Catholics. Several priests who are studying abroad have returned for Bishop Zhang's funeral.
