Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Shang Hai (Agenzia Fides) – Chinese Catholic pilgrims continue with their devotion of traveling to the Marian shrines of the county, in light of the upcoming May 24th celebration of the second “Day of Prayer for the Church in China,” which was instituted by Pope Benedict XVI in his Letter to Chinese Catholics, signed May 27, 2007, Solemnity of Pentecost, with these words: “Dear Pastors and all the faithful, the date 24 May could in the future become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China. This day is dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.”
The Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan, mentioned by the Pope, to whom he himself has written a prayer, is seeing a great number of pilgrims during this month dedicated to Mary. The average number on a daily basis is estimated to be about 1,000 pilgrims. The faithful come from the local Diocese of Shanghai, as well as that of Jiang Su, Zhe Jiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan...and even from communities of Chinese living in the diaspora.
140 faithful from the parish of Wu Qiao in the Diocese of Cang Zhou, in the He Bei Province went on a pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine on Mount Ping Ying in the Province of Shan Dong, where the largest shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph is, as well as the Mount of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Bishop Fang Xing Yao of the Diocese of LinYi, of the Province Shang Dong, led the pilgrimage on May 13, feast of Our Lady of Fatima, to the Marian Shrine of Wang Zhuang, established in 1905. Over 30,000 faithful, Chinese and foreigners included, from He Bei, Jiang Su, Shan Dong...all participated in the great Catholic gathering. To show their appreciation for the Catholic community, the highway authorities of the road that leads to the Shrine suspended the toll payment to all vehicles going to the Shrine. The local Church offered all the transportation services possible to the pilgrims. As some faithful said: “it was a day of communion and authentically Christian fraternity.” During the homily, Bishop Fang said: “the pilgrimage helps us to strengthen our faith and to intercede for the good of the country and the world. It reminds us that saving our soul is the most important in our life. We should imitate Mary's humility and always follow the Lord's commandment of love of neighbor. Our prayer, devotion, and the pilgrimage all help us to have a more united family, and a purer and holier society.”
106 faithful from the parish of Fu An in the Diocese of Min Dong gathered together on May 15 in the Village of the Rosary, the most famous Shrine and largest in the Fu Zhou area in the Province of Fu Jian. According to the priest, “the day was the International Day of the Family, and was chosen to help promote the Christian message on the family. The family is the cell of society and the Church is like one family, the heart of society. Thus, we dedicate our celebration to the Lord and Our Lady, Mother of All Families.”
The Catholic Association of Saint Anne of the Parish of Wu Qiang, in the Diocese of Heng Shui in the Province of He Bei, visited the Village of Lourdes (Marian Shrine) of the Diocese of Xian Xian. A group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Ning Bo, in the Province of Zhe Jiang traveled to the Marian Shrine of Fan Ge Da in the Diocese of Xian Xian in the Province of He Bei. Some 80 pilgrims from the Diocese of Nan Yang of the Province of He Nan have taken a Pilgrimage Week (May 8-15), traveling through Beijing, Zheng Zhou, Tai Yuan, and various other provinces. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/5/2009)
