Religious communities got a special request and reminder from the Holy See (Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples) that the Pope has made May 24 a "World Day of Prayer for the Church in China." The day was chosen because it is the special feast of Our Lady in the shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.
This year, the first year in which the World Day is to be observed, the day of prayer falls within a week of a terrible earthquake in Central China. Maybe the government will let up on its efforts to restrict traffic to the pilgrimage site in Shanghai and prevent groups from carrying out planned pilgrimages.
Meanwhile, nothing is stopping us from setting this day apart in a particular way to bring the power of prayer to bear on all the painful situations the Chinese Church is facing.
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