BEIJING (Fides): Pilgrimages, Lenten catechism courses, liturgies to confer the missionary mandate to catechists and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, works of charity of social importance such as free medical visits offered by volunteer health workers: the liturgical, pastoral and charitable initiatives shared by many Chinese Catholic communities on the occasion of the first Sunday of Lent are many and varied.
Thus, the first days of Lent – which began on Ash Wednesday – have shown once again the intensity of faith and communion with which the Chinese Catholic communities live the most usual gestures and moments of the ecclesial journey, this year also sharing prayers for the healing of Pope Francis, who had been hospitalisd at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome since February 14.
On March 9, at the Cathedral of Beijing, 29 extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist received their missionary mandate during Mass. They join the group that was formed in 2023 in response to pastoral and social needs that have a strong impact on the life of the community, such as the the aging of Chinese society.
Also in Beijing, accompanied by priests, hundreds of parishioners made a unique pilgrimage that encompassed three ancient churches in the space of five hours.
In the Church of the Miraculous Medal, pilgrims heard the story of the Vincentian Father Teodorico Pedrini, Italian missionary, musician and founder of the church, and also prayed the Way of the Cross.
In the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, founded by the Jesuit missionary Father Matteo Ricci of Macerata, after listening to the presentation of the 420-year history of the church, the pilgrims prayed before the statues of Father Ricci and Saint Francis Xavier, then recited the Rosary before the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes for the health of Pope Francis.
Finally, in St. Joseph’ Church, the saint’s intercession was sought support in the trials and crosses of each day.
In the Diocese of Shanghai, the Catholic Volunteer Group offered free medical visits after Mass on the first Sunday of Lent. The weekly Lenten catechism class was inaugurated with a reflection on the theme “Proclamation of hope: the rite of the imposition of ashes and the message of the Jubilee”.
Six people from the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who were baptized on March 2, were able to live their first experience of Lent.
