SW News: The Catholic cathedral in Beijing is once again filled with prayers, hymns, chimes of bells, incense fumes, and the noise of children. Catholic faithful in the Chinese capital are exulting over the cathedral's reopening on July 16 after it was closed by the communist authorities six months ago citing pandemic curbs.

On the eve of the reopening, the faithful, both young and old, gathered with prayers, joyfully hoping to be able to continue their spiritual, liturgical, and pastoral activities. The celebrations and the prayer services begin at the Cathedral soon after a prayer near the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. On the occasion, as many as 101 catechumens were received into the Church. The ceremony started in the evening and it was presided over by Archbishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing. He also administered the sacrament of Confirmation and gave the new believers their First Holy Communion. The ceremony was witnessed by catechists, priests, nuns and believers.

Encouraging those present in the event, Archbishop Li told the catechumens, "Through baptism, you are children of light, through confirmation, you are sent by Christ." And "baptism is not a mere ritual, but an interior conversion. Live an authentic life of faith now, put on a new spirit and a new identity, which is Christian ... you shall be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, incarnating Christ and bearing witness to our Lord with love and works".

Fr. Joseph Zhao, the parish priest of the Cathedral, extended his gratitude to everyone who had continued the arduous road of faith and urged everyone to keep guarding the community's "fresh seedlings" so they may develop together in the Church along the path of synodality.