ASIA/CHINA - "It is important to have God’s temple in our hearts": Mgr. Francis An consecrates a church which has returned to the Catholic community

Bao Ding (Agenzia Fides) - "There is nothing wrong if a church is small and simple. As long as we can pray and celebrate the Eucharist. It is important to have God’s temple in our heart, adorned with prayer and good deeds, because we really are children worthy of His name", said His Exc. Mgr. Francis An Shu Xin, Coadjutor of the Diocese of Bao Ding in He Bei province, urging the faithful during the consecration of the church in the village of Sui Cheng. According to information received by Fides, over 300 faithful took part in the consecration which took place on August 30. The Mass was concelebrated by 15 priests, with the participation of the religious women of the diocesan Congregation of the Little Sisters of Santa Teresa and the diocesan Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. The village of Sui Cheng has about 3,000 people, of which a hundred are faithful Catholics. They were joined by many other faithful who came for the event from the surrounding areas. According to the local faithful, "the new church allowed us to pray and celebrate the Eucharist as it should be. But at the same time it is also a call to evangelization".
This church was built by French Lazarist missionaries in 1901 and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Our Lady. After the Chinese Cultural Revolution, thanks to the Bishop and diocesan priests, the church which had been converted to other profane uses for many years, was able to finally return to the Catholic community at the beginning of this year. But it was completely destroyed. The priests and the faithful therefore decided to rebuild it with their hands and they did it in just two months: today the local community can meet in a building which is 15 meters long, 6 meters wide and 7 meters high, and welcomes 300 faithful. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 05/09/2011)