ASIA/CHINA - The parish of Hong Jia Lou creates a religious Marriage Center, in response to the increasing requests to be married in the Church

Ji Nan (Agenzia Fides) - There is an ever-growing number of non-Christian youth in China interested in Catholic marriage, celebrated in the Church. According to them, “no extravagant ceremony can compare to the sacred character, the solemnity, and the fidelity that is promised before the priest.” For this reason, there is an ever-growing number of young couples who wish to celebrate their marriage in the Catholic Church. The parish of Hong Jia Lou, in the Diocese of Ji Nan, whose gothic structure make it a common site for pilgrimages and tourists, has begun a religious Marriage Center, in order to respond to the number of petitions that arrive and in this way take advantage to evangelize, offering the Lord’s blessing. The Center also offers a formation course on Christian Marriage, as well as the opportunity for taking photos in the garden of the Good Shepherd and in the Grotto of the Virgin free of charge. The donations made by the couples go towards pastoral work and evangelization activities. The Center has also mentioned some points to be observed, among them is the importance of the parish activities and proper dress for the bride and guests, fitting for a place of worship. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 20/05/2008 righe 15, parole 200)