ASIA/CHINA - The parish of Xi Tang in Beijing on a synodal journey towards the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Wednesday, 10 August 2022 local churches   synodality  

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - In the framework of the "Year of the Son of God", which will be celebrated in 2022, the parish of Xi Tang in the Archdiocese of Beijing, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, is preparing with the common prayer, the Eucharistic adoration, intense spirituality and meditation to the forthcoming Feast of the Assumption. After reopening as a result of the easing of measures to combat the pandemic, the parish resumed its activity on July 16, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In his homily, the parish priest Fr. Li Jianmin emphasized "the path of sanctification, purification and conversion" that every believer has to walk and reminded the believers of the words of Mary from the Gospel. At the end, he presented all those present with the medal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and recommended them to "imitate Our Lady and her yes to God, to sanctify every day and serve their neighbor with missionary zeal". In the afternoon, the priest paid special attention to the elderly and sick and administered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick to them.
On July 24, the parish, in communion with the universal Church, celebrated the 2nd World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, which is particularly in line with Chinese culture, which has deep respect, high regard and love for the elderly and grandparents. After Sunday Mass on July 31, Fr. Li conducted a special catechesis course, during which he answered questions from parishioners to accompany them on their journey of faith. At the same time officially opened a new catechesis course for adults.
Daily meditations on the Year of the Son of God offered on the parish’s Wechat account. With such pastoral initiatives, the parish is continuing its synodal path with a view to the 300th anniversary of its founding, which is due in 2023.
With the gradual relaxation of the
anti-Covid restriction, the parish is ready to resume all its pastoral, missionary, charitable and cultural activities. The church choir will continue rehearsals for the Christmas concerts, 24-hour Eucharistic adoration will resume, as well as fundraising for the “St. Francis Foundation” for the poor.
The parish of Tang in the Archdiocese of Beijing, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, was founded in 1723 by the Italian missionary and great composer of Baroque music, Father Teodorico Pedrini (Fermo 1671 - Beijing 1746). To honor the founder and musician, the church choir is named after the missionary. The congregation was the fourth church founded by Catholic missionaries in Beijing, after the congregations opened by Portuguese and French Jesuit missionaries in 1650, 1665, and 1703. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 10/8/2022)


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