Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pechino (Agenzia Fides) - More than 10,000 take part in Eucharistic Procession in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus organised by Ma Guang parish in the diocese of Chang Zhi province of Shan Xi, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this year 15 June. According to local sources 17 priests concelebrated Mass with the parish priest in the presence of a large crowd of faithful and the Liturgy lasted four hours. At Sacred Heart Cathedral parish in the diocese of Hu He Hao Te in Inner Mongolia, 300 people dedicated their evangelising mission to the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the diocese of Shang Hai a special Mass was celebrated in Nu Jiang parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart presided by Mgr Ai Zu Zhang the former first parish priest when the church was opened who spoke of the history and the new horizons of the local community. In the prayers one special intention was for four new churches because many of the faithful have to travel a long way to get to the nearest church.
Catholics in China are deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many churches are dedicated to the Sacred Heart and many families dedicate themselves to the Sacred Heart. In communion with the universal Catholic Church all over the world, parishes organise special prayers, novenas, recitation of the rosary not only on the feast of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary but all through the month of June. A local priest says, “our beloved John Paul II made this feast the day of prayer for the sanctification of all priests and we live it as a special time of unity in prayer”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/6/2007 - righe 23, parole 323)
