ASIA/CHINA-Maria example of evangelization: the first Cultural Week dedicated to the Madonna was celebrated

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) –To celebrate the Year of Evangelization of the Lay and the Marian month, to urge the faithful to imitate the spirit of Mary following her footsteps as an example of evangelization: these are the objectives of the first Cultural Week dedicated to Our Lady, which was organized from the parish of Xi Tang in collaboration with the diocese of Beijing, from 8 to 15 May. According to information from the diocese, and gathered by Fides, after two months of preparation, the parish celebrated the Cultural Week with an art exhibition, a cultural seminar and a concert, all dedicated to Our Lady. Above all, the seminar saw the vast participation of the faithful and even non-Christians, who closely followed the presentation of three themes: the “meaning of Mary's presence in daily life "; " Chinese catholic art of painting of the Catholic University of Fu Ren ", " Chinese art and the inculturation of the Church. "A Marian concert concluded the first Cultural Week dedicated to Our Lady.
The parish of Xi Tang, dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, was founded in 1723 by Lazarist Italian missionaries, it is the last church built of the four main churches in Beijing. Since the parish was reopened in 1994, the priests have always given importance to the spiritual and structural reconstruction of the community, starting courses in catechism, Bible reading, the choir, the group of altar boys, promoting pastoral and evangelization activities. On July 19, 2009, after a complex work of restoration, the church was again opened and enriched by the bell tower and baptistery. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 05/20/2011)