The Catholic Church in the People’s Republic of China opened two new churches on the same day.
Fides News Agency reported that Bishop Francis Cui Qingqi of Hankou/Wuhan led the inauguration of the Church of Christ the King in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, on May 10.
The church’s most notable feature is its 33-meter-high bell tower, which the prelate described as a call for the faithful to “gaze toward the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“It also reminds us of the urgency of putting down firm Christian roots in the fertile soil of Chinese culture, to express our faith through the witness of Christian life," said Bishop Cui.
It encompasses 525 square meters and can accommodate more than 500 individuals. It also includes a rectory and a parish center.
Bishop Cui said he anticipates this new place of worship to become a “spiritual and architectural landmark” in the region.
Meanwhile, Bishop Paul Meng Ningyou led the inauguration of the Parish of Our Lady of China in the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, also on May 10.
The event was held between the parish’s celebration of the election of Pope Leo XIV and the feast day of their patroness on May 13.
Bishop Ningyou saluted the dedication of the laypeople, which he described as their “driving force” in their small rural community.
He also took note of their vitality despite having an aging population.
“Thanks to the communion and synodality of the parish, which also includes migrant workers, I have seen a blessed parish full of life," he said.
Just this March, China saw the inauguration of three Catholic churches, all dedicated to Saint Joseph.
These are the Tianma Church in the Songjiang district, Beitaowan Church in the Baoshan district, and the Church of Saint Joseph in Yiwu.
Chinese bishops and laity have described these developments as “concrete signs of perseverance on the path of faith” in their country, which has a long history of complicated diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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