You have probably lived your whole life connected to a parish. Even if China has very few Christians, the organization of the church is very similar to the one of our countries. There are about 6,000 parishes in China for an estimate of 13 million Catholics; that gives an average of around 2,100 Catholics per parish. Some Provinces have more Catholics than others. There are many rural parishes with Catholics scattered in a wide area. Catholics are usually poor in material resources but rich in their faith.

Sid visited one such parish and this is his impression:

“I visited a number of churches in different counties north of Beijing to see the first parish library sponsored by another parish outside China through the Sister Parish Program. The towns are poor and so are the people who are mostly farmers, many of whom did not finish middle school. Yet the churches are not only big, but also full of people – men, women, young people, children – fervently praying, singing and participating in the mass. Even on weekdays! It is true that the Eucharist sustains our faith, but we also need ongoing education not only as disciples of Jesus, but as human children of God.”