Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - The Month of May for Chinese Catholics, deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is always a deeply spiritual time. Favourite feast days include Our Lady Of Fatima, May 13, Our Lady of China on the second Saturday in May, and the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on May 24. Reports from China tell of a month with special prayers and procession, witness of faith and charity work. Many parishes held special Masses in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary making a solemn act to consecrate the parish and the whole local community to the maternal protection of the Heavenly Mother.
In the diocese of Shang Hai the month opened with a special Mass on May 1st presided by coadjutor Bishop Xing Wen Zhi. There were many pilgrimages to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes built in 1898, with a well organised parish service of liturgies and accommodation. May is also a special month for Our Lady Help of Christians She Shan shrine in Shang Hai visited by thousands of Chinese Catholics from all over China and other countries. Celebrations began on 23 May with a prayer vigil, the recitation of the rosary all night and a procession to the morning Mass at 9.30am on 24 May in celebrated in She Shan Basilica. Prayers were said for the intercession of the Blessed Mother and St Joseph for the evangelisation of China and the unity of the Church.
The diocese of Zhang Jia Gang in Jiang Su province, organised the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Lang Shan with the participation of 13 coach loads of faithful. People also flocked in a spirit of penance to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady Zhou Zhi in Shaan Xi province. Thousands were present for the consecration of a new parish church dedicated the Blessed Virgin Mary at Jian Shan, Shan Dong province.
In Hong Kong at Our Lady of Fatima parish about a thousand people took part in the annual procession on May 13 with the Holy Cross and the statue of Our Lady of Fatima organised with the help of the Legion of Mary. One thousand priests, religious, lay Catholics, many of then immigrant workers, took part in the procession with the recitation of the Rosary giving authentic witness of faith. The public evangelising event concluded with Benediction.
In Taiwan, Hsing Chu diocese closed the Marian month of May on Pentecost Sunday in the Cathedral with the blessing of a new holy water stoup and baptismal font filled with holy water from Lourdes. (NZ)(Agenzia Fides 29/05/2007 Righe: 46 Parole: 575)
