On the morning of August 26, 2019, Fr. Anthony Yao Shun (姚顺) was consecrated as Bishop of Jining Diocese in Inner Mongolia, China. Fr. Yao Shun's Episcopal Consecration is the first one after the signature of the temporal agreement between the Holy See and the Chinese Government regarding the election and ordination of bishops.
Bp. Yao (54) graduated in 1991 from China's National Seminary, where he remained teaching after his graduation. Afterwards, he went to St. John's University in the USA where he obtained a Master Degree in Liturgy. Upon his return to China he went back to the National Seminary in Beijing where he taught liturgy and oversaw the Liturgy department. In 2010 he returned to Jining diocese where he served as episcopal vicar. In 2019 he was elected bishop by the diocese, and this election has been validated by Pope Francis.
The consecration ceremony was presided by Bp. Paul Meng Qinglu of Hohhot who was assisted by the following bishops, also from nearby dioceses: Bp. Matthias Du Jiang (Bameng), Joseph Li Jing (Ningxia) and Paul Meng Ningyou (Taiyuan).
Bp. Yao chose "Misericordes sicut Pater" (merciful as the Father) as the motto for his coat of arms; these words are taken from the Gospel of Luke (6:36).
During the 2018 VF pilgrimage on occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of Fr. Theophiel Verbist, the Verbiest Foundation entourage was able to pay a visit to then Fr. Yao Shun who explained to us the close link between the CICM and the diocese of Jining, in the past as well as in the present.
Let's keep Bishop Yao Shun in our prayers, may the Lord assist him in his service as pastor of Jining Diocese.

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