Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Wen Zhou (Agenzia Fides) - "May the light of Christ illuminate this temple of God," after the solemn invocation by His Exc. Mgr. Zhu Wei Fang, Bishop of Wen Zhou, all the lights of the new church lit up dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in the village of Luo Xi, in the parish territory of Yong Lin, deanery of Yong Jia of the diocese of Wen Zhou. As reported to Fides Agency by Faith of He Bei, more than 2,500 faithful attended the solemn consecration of the church, presided over by Mgr. Zhu and concelebrated by 21 priests, which was held on December 1, in view of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
A long procession started from the old prayer hall, which is in a private house, used until now for the liturgical gatherings, opened by a huge cross, until the new church. The priest solemnly received the keys of the church by Mgr. Zhu, while all those present expressed their delight with the band music and applause.
In his homily Mgr. Zhu urged the faithful to "bring the light of Christ to all."
The new church occupies 2,500 square meters, and was built with the funding of more than 5 million yuan, almost all offered by the local faithful, to meet the pastoral and missionary needs of the area. In fact, the church is located in a village where there was only one Catholic family. Over the years, there are now 33 Catholic families and hundreds of faithful. At the beginning they gathered in a private house to pray and celebrate Mass, but the faithful, especially the young, felt a strong need to have a church. In 2009 they bought the land and the first stone was blessed. Today the new church, the largest and most beautiful of the deanery, will be "a source of evangelization" as the Bishop said. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 06/12/2012)
