Underground Catholics defy police ban, celebrate mass with their bishop

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Underground Catholics defy police ban, celebrate mass with their bishop
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Zhengding (AsiaNews) – More than a thousand underground Catholics defied police controls to meet in a church in Wuqiu (Hebei) to celebrate mass on the feast day of the Assumption of Mary with their bishop, Julius Jia Zhiguo, who has been under house arrest and police surveillance around the clock. Sources told AsiaNews however that the bishop is isolated and that priests and seminarians cannot see him in person. Monsignor Jia is bishop of the underground diocese of Zhengding (Hebei), which has more than 110,000 Catholics with 80 priests and more than 90 nuns.
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For the Olympics public security officers warned Catholics in the diocese not to celebrate the feast in Wuqiu cathedral. Prelates and priests were placed instead under house arrest.
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Msgr Jia Zhiguo himself has been under police surveillance around the clock since April. The police even built a small house in front of the bishop’s residence just to monitor him.
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The bishop’s residence is located just beside the place of worship.
To avoid conflict and other problems, the public security officers monitoring the cathedral allowed the large crowd to go in. The officers did not follow them into the church but maintained order in the courtyard.
The bishop was thus able to celebrate mass with the faithful.
Sources in Zhengding told AsiaNews that the bishop remains in isolation and cannot see or meet his seminarians or priests.
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Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit please protect them, and help them to flourish. Please bring about change from oppression of those who love You
 
Please, lets all keep these brave people in daily prayer, for protection, fortitude, courage and continued true love of our Lord Jesus.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B
 
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