ASIA/TAIWAN - The Church in Taiwan recalls the 10th anniversary of the canonization of the Chinese Martyrs

Tai Pei (Agenzia Fides) – With a solemn Eucharist, an exhibition of 120 Chinese martyrs (plus one more, St. Dong Wen Xue, who had been canonized in 1996), and many other initiatives, the Church in Taiwan commemorates the 10th anniversary of the canonization of the Chinese Martyrs, which was presided over by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, on Sunday, October 1, 2000, during the Great Jubilee. According to information received by Fides, the idea took shape during the Spring Meeting of the Taiwan Regional Bishops' Conference, held last July, to stimulate and strengthen the devotion to the Holy Martyrs of China, and above all, to revive their ardor today, giving new impetus to the evangelization effort in our times. The exhibition, which was inaugurated by Archbishop Peter Liu of Kaohsiung, together with other bishops and several priests, was attended by over a thousand faithful. The exhibition pays tribute to the martyrs: 6 bishops, 23 priests, 8 seminarians, 7 religious sisters, 9 consecrated virgins, 16 lay women, 36 lay men, 2 baptized by the blood of martyrdom, and 14 children: 8 boys, and 6 girls. The images of the martyrs were painted by the famous Chinese Catholic painter Liu He Bei. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 15/09/2010)