ASIA/CHINA - New or restored churches for some mainland communities in view of Easter

Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) – If all the Catholic mainland communities are intensely going through Lent with prayer, fasting and alms-giving, in communion with the universal Church, some, in a certain way, have a foretaste of the joy of celebrating Easter in a new church or restored temple. According to information received by Fides, Bishop Joseph Xing Wen Zhi, Auxiliary of the Diocese of Shang Hai, presided on 5 March over the consecration of a new church dedicated to St Michael Archangel. More than a thousand of the faithful took part in the impressive rite of consecration, which was concelebrated by 27 priests. On the same day, the Diocese of Zhang Zhou in the province of Fu Jian, consecrated the new church in Xia Zhou. Bishop Cai Bing Rui of the Diocese of Xia Men, presided at the ceremony, flanked by priests coming from all over the province. As pointed out by one of the local priests, “the church was founded in 1923, but over the years had become unsafe. The construction of the new church began in 2009. Today it is a symbol of the city, but especially of the Christian faith. Finally, we can celebrate Easter in a house worthy of being the Father's House.” Looking ahead at Easter, the Diocese of Bao Ding, He Bei province, began the restoration of the Cathedral, built in 1898 by French missionaries and dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The diocese of Zhou Zhi in Shaan Xi province began the restoration of the church founded in 1901 and dedicated to Our Lady. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 17/03/2011)