Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Mianyang

Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Mianyang
Our Lady—Chapel of Lourdes
露德聖母堂
Our Lady of Lourdes Church in 2021
Location71 Yuquan Road, Fucheng District, Mianyang, Sichuan
CountryChina
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusChurch
DedicationOur Lady of Lourdes
Past bishop(s)Jacques-Victor-Marius Rouchouse
Henri-Marie-Ernest-Désiré Pinault
Architecture
Functional statusActive
StyleGothic Revival
Administration
ArchdioceseChongqing
DioceseChengdu
Clergy
Bishop(s)Joseph Tang Yuange
Priest(s)Zhong Cheng[1]

Our Lady of Lourdes Church,[a] also known as Our Lady—Chapel of Lourdes, is a Roman Catholic church in the Diocese of Chengdu, situated on Yuquan Road, at the foot of West Hill Park in Fucheng District, Mianyang, Sichuan. The church is subjected to the control of the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Mary Zhang Yimei, a resident nun, is in charge of the church's daily affairs.[2][3]

Architecture

Immaculate Heart statue in the grotto

Our Lady of Lourdes is a humble church built in white brick of the neo-Gothic style. Inside, the plan is that of a nave and two aisles on either side. The interior walls are simply whitewashed. Behind the altar is a white statue of the Virgin Mary with orange halo placed in a niche. A Lourdes grotto is located in the church courtyard, but strangely, the statue within the cave depicts the Immaculate Heart of Mary as described by Lúcia of Fátima.

Church activities

A pedagogical training course is held in the church every summer, targeting children and teenagers aged 7–18,[4] as well as some missionary training courses being occasionally conducted by the church.[5] Teachers from Hong Kong have also been invited to give lectures on marriage, family and children's education.[6]

During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, a transportation of grain and oil was carried out by the parish priest Zhong Cheng, along with Mary Zhang Yimei, another resident nun Zhan Dengju, and several Catholic volunteers. With three cars and a lorry, they passed through military and police checkpoints and reached the blocked area in Beichuan County to help the victims.[7][8]

  • Exterior of the church
    Exterior of the church
  • Interior of the church
    Interior of the church
  • Main altar
    Main altar

See also

Notes

  1. ^ traditional Chinese: 露德聖母堂; simplified Chinese: 露德圣母堂; pinyin: Lùdé shèngmǔ táng; Wade–Giles: Lu4-tê2 shêng4-mu3 tʽang2; Sichuanese romanization: Lu4 Te5 Shen4 Mu3 Tʽang2.

References

  1. ^ "Local Chinese Catholics share stories of devastation after quake". archbalt.org. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Nun, Priest Say People In Chengdu Diocese Living In Tents, Lack Water, Electricity". ucanews.com. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  3. ^ "东南亚通讯：【天亚社中国绵阳讯】" [Newsletters of Southeast Asia: News from Mianyang Reported by the Union of Catholic Asian News]. archivioradiovaticana.va (in Simplified Chinese). 17 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ^ Huang, Yangbo (19 July 2011). "四川：绵阳市露德圣母堂举办暑期教理培训班" [Sichuan: Summer Catechism Courses Held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mianyang]. Faith Weekly (in Simplified Chinese). Shijiazhuang. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. ^ Huang, Yangbo (7 October 2011). "四川：绵阳露德圣母堂培训教友促福传" [Sichuan: Missionary Training Courses at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mianyang]. Faith Weekly (in Simplified Chinese). Shijiazhuang. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  6. ^ Huang, Yangbo (11 May 2012). "四川：绵阳市露德圣母堂办培训鼓励教友重视婚姻家庭及子女教育" [Sichuan: Lectures on Marriage, Family and Children's Education Organised by Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mianyang]. Faith Weekly (in Simplified Chinese). Shijiazhuang. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ "內地神父修女往災區 越過檢查站派發米糧" [Transportation of Grain and Oil Carried Out by Mainland Chinese Priests and Nuns to the Earthquake-affected Areas]. kkp.catholic.org.hk (in Traditional Chinese). 15 June 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ^ "四川災區教友與民眾 暫棲戶外帳蓬缺水電" [People from the Earthquake-affected Areas in Sichuan Temporarily Living in Camping Tents]. kkp.catholic.org.hk (in Traditional Chinese). 25 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2021.