Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bao Tou (Agenzia Fides) - The largest and the most beautiful square in the inner Mongolian steppe, in the diocese of Bao Tou, was inaugurated a few days ago and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Over three thousand faithful attended the inauguration and blessing of the square and the statue, depicting Our Lady of Mongolia, presided by three diocesan Bishops, Ordinaries from Hohhot (Suiyuan), Ji Ning and Bayanur Meng (shanba) and concelebrated by about thirty priests. In honor of the occasion, the forty Catholic universities, doing the "Camp Life of Faith" presented a show on the theme of the devotion to Our Lady.
According to what was reported to Fides by Faith of He Bei, the square, which has an area of 7,488 square meters with 4,000 square meters of green belt, is located in front of the ancient church of Ershisiqingdi, which was built in 1904 and is historically considered the starting point of the last phase of the evangelization of the current diocese of Bao Tou. The church was also the Cathedral of the diocese. The statue of Our Lady is 8.42 meters high, weighs 15 quintals and is dressed in the traditional Mongolian clothes, holding baby Jesus in her arms, this is why she has been called with great devotion by the faithful "Our Lady of Mongolia".
The inauguration of the square completes the reconstruction and restoration of the parish complex, which began in July 2009 with the financial help of local authorities - three million yuan (about 400,000 euros), in order to give life to a "Cultural and Religious Tourism Area" around the church. The pastor took the initiative to revive evangelization and pastoral care. Therefore he began to collect the sacred objects, liturgical vestments, photos, liturgical books .... belonging to the church that were in the hands of the faithful or the common people. At the end he was able to open an exhibition in the small chapel inside the church, dedicated to the history of the parish: it is the first parish in the diocese to have an exhibition on its history. According to the priest, full of confidence and enthusiasm about the future of evangelization, "Our Lady will protect our mission of evangelization". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 14/09/2011)
