Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - According to information provided by Faith (the most popular Catholic website in Chinese language) to Fides, the Chinese Catholic communities of the continent are celebrating the Marian month waiting for May 24, the feast of Mary Help of Christians and World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, established by Pope Benedict XVI. As a priest of the continent said, "our path is quiet but steady, animated by the missionary zeal, echoing the Yes of Mary, because She did everything in silence."
In a statement signed by Archbishop Joseph Shen Bin, Bishop of the Diocese of Hai Men, consecrated on 21 April with the approval of the Holy See, the Diocese of Hai Men determined that May 9, the anniversary of the founding of the church and of the diocesan Marian Shrine of Lang Shan, dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, is the "Day of Pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Lang Shan." In the solemn Mass celebrated on that day, the diocese not only celebrated the opening of the Marian month and 75 years of foundation of the church and of the Sanctuary, but also awarded the best evangelists of the year because " evangelization following ' the example of Mary`s Yes, is our top priority, " said the Bishop. The Diocesan Marian Shrine of the Lang Shan is one of the 12 largest sanctuaries on the continent, it is the largest in the northern province of Jiang Su.
The charitable work marks the Marian month of the Diocese of Wen Zhou, in the Zhe Jiang province. On the first day of May, the diocese collected clothing for the Catholics who live in the mountainous and poor area of the diocese of Xi An, in the Shaan Xi province. On the second Sunday of the month of Mary, the Bishop of Xi An, Bishop Joseph Dang Ming Yan, distributed to the faithful in need 32 boxes of clothes.
More than 2,500 faithful from the Diocese of Jing Xian (today Heng Shui) took part in the consecration of the new church of the parish of Ping An Dian, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Merciful Jesus, on May 6. During the ceremony, Bishop Peter Feng Xin Mao not only presided over the consecration of the new church, but he also administered the Sacrament of Baptism to 14 catechumens.
At the beginning of the Marian month, hundreds of faithful of the diocese of Zhou Zhi, in the Shaan Xi province, made the pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of China in Wu Quan Shan, which is also the Cathedral of the Diocese of Xi An, founded centuries ago.
The diocese of Xian Xian (today Cang Zhou) opened the month of Mary in the Marian Shrine of the Village of Our Lady of Lourdes. In his homily, the diocesan Bishop urged the faithful to imitate Our Lady, and to make a further tribute devoted to the Heavenly Mother. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 05/11/2011)
