Catholic communities of mainland China have begun the month consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and are preparing to celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost.
Newsroom (June 03, 2025, 04:00, Gaudium Press) As the month of May dedicated to the Virgin Mary concluded, Catholic communities across mainland China have entered June’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus while intensifying preparations for Pentecost. The transition was marked by vibrant expressions of faith, including pilgrimages, religious vows, and the commencement of the Pentecost Novena in dioceses nationwide.
Beijing: A Celebration of Communion
In Beijing, the Marian Shrine of Housangyu in Mentougou district became the focal point as Catholics gathered for the closing of Marian month and the opening of the Sacred Heart devotion. On June 1, Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing presided over a solemn Eucharistic liturgy, concelebrated by Coadjutor Bishop Matteo Zhen Xuebin. The event, attended by faithful from all parishes, transformed into a profound experience of ecclesial communion. Throughout the day, participants engaged in confession and the Stations of the Cross, deepening their spiritual preparation.
Pentecost Novena Begins
The parish of Nantang, alongside numerous others, launched the Pentecost Novena on May 31. Churches will remain open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until June 8, facilitating Eucharistic adoration and communal prayer. This period of intense devotion aims to renew the faithful’s invocation of the Holy Spirit, seeking consolation and a rekindling of faith ahead of Pentecost Sunday.
Diocesan Celebrations Across China
In the Diocese of Weinan/Tongzhou (Shaanxi Province), Bishop Joseph Tong Changping consecrated a statue of Our Lady of Life on May 30 before the Parish of the Holy Stigmata of St. Francis. The ceremony included prayers for global peace and the “healthy growth of all human life,” reflecting the community’s pro-life spirituality.
Meanwhile, in Wenzhou, Catholics gathered at the cathedral to recite the Rosary before an image of Mary, offering special petitions for families during the Feast of the Visitation. The Diocese of Jingzhou (Shashi) witnessed a significant moment as Sisters of the Congregation of the Child Jesus made perpetual vows during a liturgy commemorating Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth. Bishop Joseph Xu Honggen of Suzhou presided, emphasizing that these vows represent both personal spiritual milestones and a beacon of hope for the local Church.
The Sacred Heart: A Deep-Rooted Devotion
The Sacred Heart of Jesus holds a cherished place in Chinese Catholic spirituality. Historical records highlight its introduction by Jesuit missionaries, particularly Father Romain Hinderer (1668–1744), who built China’s first major Sacred Heart church in Hangzhou (1722–1732). Today, over 200 parishes, churches, and chapels across mainland China are dedicated to this devotion, including the renowned Guangzhou Archdiocesan Cathedral. New churches continue to emerge, such as the Sacred Heart Church consecrated in Wenzhou in June 2023.
As Chinese Catholics journey toward Pentecost, their vibrant traditions—from Marian pilgrimages to Sacred Heart veneration—underscore a living faith that bridges centuries of history with contemporary witness. With parishes bustling with prayer and bishops leading by example, the Church in China embodies a hopeful resilience, echoing the late missionary Jean Charbonnier’s tireless documentation of its enduring legacy.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Agenzia Fides
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