Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ji Nan (Fides) - During the month of May the parish of the Sacred Heart in Hong Jia Lou, archdiocese of Ji Nan, organised various initiatives to celebrate the Marian month of May and also in view of the major feast day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which this year falls on June 3. One of the initiatives was a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of the Peak Pilgrimage Centre at Hu Zhuang at which three hundred people were led by the parish priest accompanied by the parish band, choir, Bible Study group and Youth Group. The participants said the pilgrimage strengthened their faith hope and charity and their trust in the intercession and protection of Our Lady.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Ji Nan established 1839, was originally a Franciscan mission. After the Chinese hierarchy was established it was raised to the rank of Archdiocese in 1946, five years later there were 91 priests (57 non Chinese), 85 Sisters (46 non Chinese), over 2,000 parishes (48 with a resident priest), a regional major seminary and a minor seminary. The archdiocese ran several schools, hospitals homes for the aged, orphanages, publishing houses. After the cultural revolution according to the 2000 Guide to the Catholic Church in China there were 11 dioceses under the archdiocese of Ji Nan, 27 priests, more than 100 women religious and 38,000 faithful, 58 churces, 3 congregations of women religious and one seminary. (Agenzia Fides 3/6/2005 Righe: 23 Parole: 235)
