Chinese-speaking world gets first church dedicated to John Paul II

The parish is located in the middle of the island in a town of 7,000 Paiwan aborigines.

The late Pope John Paul II celebrates the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception near the Spanish steps in Rome, on December 08, 2004.

Kaohsiung:  The Diocese of Kaohsiung in Taiwan has become the first in the Chinese-speaking world to have a parish dedicated to St. John Paul II, where a first-class relic of the Polish saint’s blood is kept.

Archbishop Peter Chen-Chung Liu of Kaohsiung presided at the Mass of Inauguration and Consecration on September 6, with 20 priests concelebrating and more than 1,200 faithful in attendance.

According to Fides, the pastor of the parish, Father Calogero Orifiamma, an Italian missionary and architect of the new church, traveled to Italy to obtain the relic of St. John Paul II.

The parish is located in the middle of the island in a town of 7,000 Paiwan aborigines. The Catholic population is about 2,000.

Father Orifiamma said the parish still needs financial help to finish paying for the costs of construction.


Source: Catholic News Agency