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Zhanjiang (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic community in Maoming celebrates the solemn reopening of the parish church, which had been closed for a long time due to major restoration work. The church is now dedicated to Merciful Jesus, while it was originally dedicated to St. Aloysius Gonzaga. The ceremony took place on Saturday, August 23. Paul Su Yongda, Bishop of Beihai/Zhanjiang, in Guangdong Province, where the city of Maoming is located, presided over the consecration and Eucharistic celebration in the restored church, founded in 1921.
In recent decades, many churches have been reopened in the diocese. These events have marked the faith journey of the various ecclesial communities: proclamation of the faith, the revival of community life, pastoral care to accompany missionary witness, and the rebirth of the local Church. "The church is a sign of God's loving presence," said Bishop Paul Su, "a holy place where the baptized can practice their life of faith. Here we find comfort and spiritual refuge, strength and courage, nourishing our faith and drawing from the sources of salvation given by the Lord."
On January 25, 2025, the parish of the Holy Trinity, founded in 1902, was consecrated and reopened.
In November 2020, the program for the restoration and preservation of Zhanjiang Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Victor, began.
When the missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP) built this church in 1900, it was the first Catholic place of worship in the Neo-Gothic style in the entire region and the largest Gothic-style church in southern China. Throughout history, this church was destroyed and later restored, and finally reopened on December 19, 1984. Due to its architectural and historical value, the church was listed as a historical monument in 1991 by the authorities responsible for the protection of cultural heritage in Zhanjiang.
Today, the cathedral is also visited by many tourist groups and serves as a backdrop for the appearances of numerous "influencers" whose videos have contributed to the development of local tourism.
The history of the Diocese of Beihai/Zhanjiang is closely linked to the work of the French missionaries of the MEP. Today, the diocese has approximately 50,000 baptized Catholics, about ten priests, and a dozen sisters of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception. The community has 15 religious sites, including parishes, chapels, and prayer rooms. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 29/8/2025)
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