SHENZHEN, China : Young Catholics have celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in their own way – by praying for the country and its future.

As other Chinese were celebrating the Oct. 1 National Day with fireworks and performances, one group of Catholic teenagers and young adults organized a candlelight prayer gathering at the seaside to mark the occasion.

Father Hu Qinghua, pastor of the Bao’an Church in Shenzhen city, southern China, led some 10 parishioners to Xichong beach, a scenic spot at the eastern edge of the special economic zone on the evening of Oct. 2, the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.

There they prayed for Chinese fisher folk, the victims of natural disasters in Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia, and asked for God’s providence for the Chinese people.

They placed 60 candles on the beach in the shape of a heart with a cross inside. They also prayed that they would be “salt and light,” able to share the love of Christ with others.

The prayer meeting helped the busy youngsters refresh themselves spiritually as well as physically, a participant told UCA News.

Some curious passersby were attracted by the reflective atmosphere and even joined in the prayers.

It followed other celebrations round the country by Catholics combining their love of God with their love for their nation.

In southwestern China, Nanchong diocese in Sichuan organized a singing contest on Sept. 26 themed “Celebrating the National Day, promoting evangelization.” The competition attracted eight choirs from seven parishes in seven cities as well as one formed by priests and nuns. In all there were about 200 participants.

Each choir performed two songs, one praising the country and the other praising the Blessed Mother. Their voices attracted many non-Catholics to the cathedral.

Sister Teresa Wang Yan of Nanchong told UCA News that after the contest some visitors asked if they could join the church choirs. “They told us they were touched by our singing and that they did not expect the Catholic Church to hold a … celebration for National Day,” she said.

Catholic participants said they prayed for the country’s prosperity and for the Church to develop further so as to meet the challenges of the time.

Some dioceses in the mainland also organized celebrations for the Communist regime’s 60th anniversary, but UCA News learned that some dioceses chose to celebrate in a low key manner with just a Mass.

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have tightened control over some mainland Catholic websites and some “underground” Catholic communities, apparently to ensure social stability before National Day.

In September in Yunnan province, neighboring Sichuan to the south, four policemen entered the apartment of Father Lawrence Zhang Wenchang, who was celebrating a Mass. Father Zhang, administrator of Kunming diocese, is not recognized by the government. Although the police allowed the Mass to proceed, they photographed each participant and recorded their identity card numbers, home addresses and contact numbers.

“Such a thing had not happened here before,” a Church source told UCA News.

Father Zhang has been living under police surveillance for years. He is unable to make calls from his phone to places outside the province, the source said.

He speculated that the reason for the latest intrusion was that local authorities may have been alarmed by the increasing number of laypeople turning to the underground community and refusing to receive sacraments administered by Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming. Many laypeople object to the leadership of Bishop Ma, who is not papally approved.

Courtesy : UCAN