ASIA/CHINA - In a few years the Catholic community in Heng Shui has grown again to 300 members

Heng Shui (Agenzia Fides) - Some years ago one of the very few Catholics in the town of Heng Shui, in the northern mainland China Hebei province offered his home as a centre for prayer and other religious activity. Since then the community began to grow and today it comprises more than 300 baptised Catholics. The community celebrates Mass every other Sunday when the priest comes to visit. They have learned many prayers and hymns and formed groups for discussion and Bible study. This has improved their Christian formation and their life quality as Christians. Last month the community made a pilgrimage to the Marine Shrine of Mount Ping Yin. Their deepest desire is to build their own little church in Heng Shui.
Heng Shui was a Jesuit mission and part of the diocese of Jing Xian. It was made an apostolic prefecture in 1939 and a diocese in 1947 in 1952, there were between 3,000 and 4,000 Catholics, but there has never been a church or a resident priest.
(Agenzia Fides 08/06/2005 Righe: 21 Parole: 214)