ASIA/CHINA - New churches opened in various dioceses

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - In just over three months from north to the south of mainland China several new churches were opened and a 60mt. high bell tower was inaugurated. In the month of May over 2.000 Catholics were present for the blessing of a new church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Xia Men diocese, south Fu Jian province. The original gothic church built in 1890, covered an area of 600sq.mt. The new church covers an area of 2.500sq. mt. and the complex covers a total 5.250sq mt of land, which cost over 500 million Yuan. The inauguration ceremony was held in the open in front of the church drawing the attention of many townspeople. So the new place of worship is already a channel of evangelisation.
A church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Ping Hu, diocese of Hang Zhou in the province of Zhe Jiang, was inaugurated in April. The parish is over 150 years old, the village has 700 faithful. The new church can seat 500 people and has a bell tower 24 mt high. Also in Zhe Jiang province in Wen Zhou diocese 2,000 people attended the opening of a new parish church dedicated to Saint Therese of Lisieux.
Han Dan diocese in the north of He Bei province celebrated the inauguration of two churches, one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the village of Chen Gu, and the other dedicated to Saint Joseph in the village of Li Zhuang. In Heng Shui diocese also in He Bei province some 3,000 people and 20 priests were present for the inauguration of a gothic style church on an area of 500 sq. mt.
Wu Xi diocese in Jiang Su province recently inaugurated a new 60 mt high bell tower for St Joseph’s church. (Agenzia Fides 13/06/2006 Righe: 27 Parole: 319)