ASIA/CHINA - After years of waiting, the small community of Lai Gang has its own chapel

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - Enthusiasm marked the celebration of Mass on All Saints day, November 1, and All Souls' Day, in the small community of Lai Gang. In fact, after years of absence of priests and lack of a place to gather for prayer and to administer the sacraments, the Catholic community, which belongs to the parish of Xin Tai, in the Diocese of Ji Nan in the Shan Dong province, in mainland China, was finally able to celebrate Mass in a chapel.
As reported to Agenzia Fides by local sources, the community is located 100 kilometers from the capital of Shan Dong, where there are less than one hundred Catholics. In previous years, they had to travel long distances to attend Mass. Since Don Ding Shi Jun became pastor in this area, he was able to celebrate Mass here every two weeks and recently, once a week. Every Sunday after celebrating Mass in his parish and in two other communities, Don Ding Shi Jun travelled one hundred miles, arriving early in the afternoon to celebrate Mass for the community of Lai Gang, composed mainly of the elderly.
Thanks to the commitment and witness of the local faithful Don Ding strongly felt the need of a place dedicated exclusively to worship. A place to be used as a chapel was finally found, which will be officially consecrated on November 22, on the eve of the feast of Christ the King. Don Ding has several projects in mind: "in the new chapel we are preparing an exhibition to present Catholicism, aimed at evangelization. We want to invite catechists so that they can share with us their experience of faith and evangelization. We are also contacting the local authorities to start the project for the construction of a real church". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 05/11/2014)