ASIA: CHINA: SACRED HEART OF JESUS STATUE IN PLAZA

Agenzia Fides REPORT - An impressive two and a half metre high statue, made with the best quality marble, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was inaugurated recently. It is located in the plaza of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Lan Zhou, Gan Su province. According to information received by Fides, on the base of the statue the Gospel verse is written: “Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened” (Mt 11:28), in Chinese and English, as an invitation to respond to call of Jesus. The back of the base shows the peace prayer of St Francis of Assisi. On the right side of the base is the presentation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the left side, the special graces given to devotees of the Sacred Heart. According to head of the diocese, the statue was intended “to remind the faithful always of devotion to the Sacred Heart and the importance of prayer in daily life.” It is also a symbol of the Catholic faith and an invitation to “be promoters of evangelization aimed at all those who look at it”.
The Diocese of Lan Zhou now has over 350,000 faithful, 30 priests, 200 religious sisters from three congregations (Servants of the Holy Spirit, Holy Family, Daughters of Our Lady of China), 80 novices, 40 seminarians, 38 open churches. Bishop Han Zhi Hai has become famous for launching his courageous appeal for the unity of the Chinese Church in an open letter in January 2003.
http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=28068&lan=eng

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