The Catholic faithful in Maoming, Guangdong Province, joyfully celebrated the reopening of their parish church on August 23, after years of closure for major restoration works. The church, originally dedicated to St. Aloysius Gonzaga, has now been rededicated to Merciful Jesus.
Bishop Paul Su Yongda of Beihai/Zhanjiang presided over the consecration and Eucharistic celebration in the newly restored church, which was first founded in 1921. In his homily, Bishop Su reminded the faithful that a church is more than a building, it is a visible sign of God’s loving presence. “Here the baptized draw strength and courage, nourish their faith, and find comfort in the sources of salvation given by the Lord,” he said, according to Fides.
The reopening marks another milestone in the revival of the local Church in the Diocese of Beihai/Zhanjiang, where several historic churches have been restored in recent years. These events reflect the community’s resilience and commitment to living and witnessing the Gospel amid challenges.
The diocese, with roots in the missionary efforts of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP), today counts about 50,000 Catholics, 10 priests, and a dozen religious sisters serving 15 parishes and chapels.
As Fides notes, the community continues to accompany its faithful through pastoral care, missionary outreach, and the preservation of its historic churches, which also serve as cultural and spiritual landmarks for the wider society.
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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