UCAN REPORT- Catholic church bells in Taiwan will ring out in unison tomorrow to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (ROC).
Father Otfried Chan, secretary general of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, told ucanews.com that at least 100 churches and a few Catholic institutes in seven dioceses across Taiwan will ring bells for 100 seconds on New Year’s day.
The bishops’ conference is providing prerecorded bells for churches which do not have any.
It also prepared special prayer intention to pray for the country to be used in Masses on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Father Chan said.Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan (third left) and other religious leaders announcing the centenary celebrations
In Taipei archdiocese, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and the Fu Jen Catholic University have announced the bell tolling and the celebration Masses to be held at 10:00am.
The Chinese section of the Radio Veritas Asia will also broadcast 100 seconds of bell tolls at 5:00am and 6:00pm, said Matthew Chung, section director.
This is the Catholic Church’s response to the Ministry of Interior’s appeal to all religions to offer blessing to Taiwan as the celebration of ROC’s centenary begins.
Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah invited Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan of Taipei, president of the bishops’ conference, and leaders of other religions to a press conference on Dec. 28 to announce the blessing activity.
The government also encourages all Taiwanese to “give blessings to the world, to the country, to our relatives and friends and ourselves,” he said.
The Protestant Church has invited different denominations for joint worship while the Buddhist associations in 24 counties and cities as well as 1,752 temples will gong their bells and drums also at 10:00am.
An uprising in Wuchang, central China, on Oct. 10, 1911, launched the Xinhai Revolution that led to the overthrown of the Qing Dynasty and the official founding of the ROC on Jan. 1, 1912.
However, during the civil war that began in 1945, the Communist Party took over the mainland and founded the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949 while the ruling Kuomintang (nationalist party) set up the ROC government in Taiwan which has lasted until now.
In 2011, Taiwan will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ROC with activities leading up to the National Day on Oct. 10. Across the straits, mainland China will also celebrate the centenary of Xinhai Revolution.
http://www.ucanews.com/2010/12/31/church-bells-to-ring-out-for-republic-of-china/
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