In a separate Mass that day, some Catholic university students presented the papal letter as an offertory gift. They later dedicated the letter and their acceptance of it to the Blessed Mother.
The young people were taking part in a weeklong formation program, during which they shared their understanding of the papal letter and of unity in the Chinese Church. They also discussed their role as Catholic youth and how they could live out their faith more concretely.
Chen Chen, one of the students, told UCA News she would now strive harder to live Christian virtues and would "bravely admit her Catholic identity in her workplace."
To help Catholics further understand the papal message, Fr. Xia said that his parish has published 1,000 copies of the letter for free distribution and holds daily discussions on it.
The latest issue of his diocese's monthly magazine, Faith Life, published a special issue for the feast day that dedicated the Church in China to the Blessed Mother in the spirit of the Pope's letter.
Fr. Xia said the Pope’s letter has prompted some conservative "underground" Catholics, who had refused to enter any “open” church previously, to come to his parish and to be in communion with other parishioners. This is also happening in other areas of the diocese as well, the priest reported.
