ASIA/CHINA - “Making the church beautiful is an external preparation, while the internal one implies preparing the temple of God in our heart, awaiting the coming of Jesus”: various new churches consecrated in Advent, to receive the Lord “in His new house”

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “Making the church beautiful is an external preparation, while the internal one implies preparing the temple of God in our heart: purify us of our sins, awaiting the coming of Jesus.” This is how Auxiliary Bishop Xing Wen Zhi of the Diocese of Shang Hai addressed the faithful present at the dedication of the new church dedicated to the Apostle Matthias, located in the Jin Shan district of the diocese, on December 13. Over 800 faithful, among whom were 12 religious sisters and a deacon, participated in the event. Ten priests concelebrated in the Mass. The Jin Shan district has 15 churches, 3 priests, and 6 religious that work in pastoral ministries.
According to information gathered by Agenzia Fides, during Advent and in preparation for Christmas, various new churches have been consecrated and opened on the mainland to welcome the Lord's Birth in a new house. Many took place on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Feng Xin Mao of the Diocese of Heng Shui (originally Jing Xian), dedicated the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in An Ping, during Advent, with a solemn Eucharistic Procession which was attended by over 1,000 faithful. On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the 87 year-old Bishop Yang Xiang Tai consecrated the new church in Zhou Zhuang, near the city of Wu An, with an unprecedented solemn Eucharistic Procession and a large participation even from non-Catholics that received the priests' blessings.
The new church of Kai Xian of the Diocese of Wan Zhou was consecrated by Coadjutor Bishop He Ze Qing, in memory of the deceased Bishop Joseph Xu Zhi Xuan, who died that same morning and had wanted to consecrate the church himself. Over 500 faithful participated in the consecration of the parish dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians in the city of An Yang, Province of She Nan. Msgr. Cai Bing Rui, Vicar of the Diocese of Xia Men, consecrated the parish of Zhao An, along with 11 priests who concelebrated. Bishop Li Jian Tang of the Diocese of Tai Yuan consecrated the church of Nan Qing Dui with 50 priests concelebrating, two days after having consecrated a church in Wang Jia Zhuang.
In addition, the parish church in Huang Shi, of the Diocese of Pu Xin consecrated a chapel with the statue of Our Lady and the parish of Christ the King, in Tou Hao, Diocese of Ji Ning, in Internal Mongolia, consecrated a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 16/12/2008)