Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Chong Qing (Fides) - Catholics in the parish of Long Gang, Da Zu district of Chong Qing diocese Si Chuan province of China, recently celebrated the reopening of the parish church newly dedicated to Saint Therese de Lisieux, patron saints of the missions, for whom the local community has always had profound devotion. The first church built in the 1920s by French missionaries of the Parish Foreign Missions Society was dedicated to St Joseph, it covered an area of 400sq mt and could seat 500. One of those first missionaries was Fr. Lorrain who had exchanged letters with Saint Therese and was deeply devoted to her and prayed to her for his mission and for the community. Convinced that the missionary fruits of today are due to the intercession of Saint Therese, the people asked for the newly restored church to be dedicated to the Little Flower, the patron saint of the missions.
The first church built of wood had become unsafe. Restoration work began in June 2006 financed partly by the local Church, the local government and funds from abroad. The church was ready at the end of 2006 and reopened in 6 February.
The Mass for the reopening of the church was presided by Bishop He Ze Qing coadjutor bishop of Wan Zhou diocese. In his homily the Bishop spoke about Saint Therese and her mission of love in the Church. The Mass, preceded by a procession and hymns of thanksgiving and praise, was concelebrated by the parish priest Fr Zhao Xiao Ping and a number of other local priests in the presence of a few thousand people, men and women religious, lay people, foreigners and government representatives. (NZ)(Agenzia Fides 14/02/2007 Righe: 29 Parole: 309)
