Bingfang Catholic Church

Bingfang Catholic Church

Bingfang Catholic Church is located on the west side of Fuhua Road in Dayu Town, Rudong County, and is a continuation of the Juegang Catholic Church in the county seat. In 1986, during the implementation of religious policy, it was decided to relocate Juegang Catholic Church to the former Bingfang Town due to the relatively concentrated Catholic population in the Juedong area. Construction began in 1986 and was completed in 1987, covering an area of approximately 240 square meters. The structure is made of brick and wood. On May 6, Bishop Yu Chengcai of the Haimen Diocese presided over the inauguration ceremony of Bingfang Catholic Church. After the new church opened, around 150 people regularly attended religious services there. During major festivals, the pastoral scope extended beyond Rudong County to include towns in the northeast of Tongzhou City such as Qian’an, Shizong, Beixing, Sanyu, Hengxing, and Haiyan, serving approximately 1,000 parishioners. The church falls under the jurisdiction of the Parish Priest of Langshan Parish in Nantong City, who conducts monthly pastoral visits and leads religious activities. The successive priests of Bingfang Church have been: Xu Fuyou (1980–1991) and Chen—(1991–present). The nuns include: Gu Sudé, Li Shouci, Yuan Weihong, Cai Hongju, Zhu Huifang, Xue JuXiang, Cai Aiping, and Gu Chunjü. In 1998, 4,000 square meters of land were acquired east of the church to construct the priests’ building. In 1999, the Rudong County Catholic Patriotic Association, a religious organization composed of clergy, nuns, and parishioners, was established, providing the local Catholic community with an organization for self-governance, self-discipline, and independent management. In 2002, the church underwent renovation and remodeling, with three new auxiliary rooms built and landscaping added to the site, greatly improving the overall appearance of the parish. Since its inauguration, Bingfang Catholic Church has been recognized multiple times by city and county authorities as a “Civilized Religious Activity Site” and a “Model Religious Activity Site.” In 2009, the church was relocated and rebuilt on the west side of its original location. On the morning of December 22, a grand groundbreaking ceremony was held. The new church project includes the main church building and two residential buildings, covering a total area of 4,000 square meters, with a projected budget of 4 million yuan.