“A church?”, you might ask while looking at the Church of The Annunciation. Not just any church but a beacon of faith. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Catholicism in Shenzhen. This is St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church serves as an international parish. It warmly welcomes Catholics from overseas. They live and work in Shenzhen. The Holy Mass is offered in English every Sunday at 11:00 am.
Let’s step back to the late 1990s. The foundation was laid in April 1998. The construction finished in December 2001. It took three years and eight months to build St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. The design embodies Catholic spirit within the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
The church building covers 3,944.8 square meters. It stands proudly on Nonglin Road in Futian District. Its construction depended on the efforts of numerous dedicated Catholics.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church provides several Sunday Masses. These services cater to a diverse congregation. Masses are held at 9:00 am in Chinese. An English Mass follows at 11:00 am. There is another English mass at 7:00 pm on Sunday. Additionally, a Saturday evening mass is held at 7:00 pm. Weekday Masses are celebrated at 7:00 am from Monday to Saturday.
Getting to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church is straightforward. You can take subway Line 2 to Qiaoxiang Station. Exit from Exit A. Walk 850 meters. This will lead you directly to the church.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church has seen several priests. Ren Lijun served from December 1993 to December 2002. Yang Ke then took over from December 2002 to December 2004. Han Wensheng followed from December 2004 to December 2007. Zhang Tianlu served from December 2007 to December 2011. Feng Guoxin held the position from February 2011 to April 2016. Liu Yongbin was in charge from April 2016 to October 2019. Zhang Tianlu returned in December 2019.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church is more than bricks and mortar. It is a place of community, worship and spiritual solace. Whether you are a local or a visitor, all are welcome here. Come experience the warmth and inclusivity that define St. Anthony’s.