Imagine Catholics from overseas gathering every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. It happens at St. Anthony’s Church. I’ll tell you about a church in Shenzhen that welcomes people from all over the world.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church is a beacon of faith. It stands in the Futian District of Shenzhen. This church is more than just a building. It is a symbol of the Catholic spirit in this special economic zone.
Construction of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church began in April 1998. It finished in December 2001. Building it took three years and eight months. Many Catholics worked hard to create this church.
The church covers 3,944.8 square meters. It provides a space for worship and community. St. Anthony’s is known as the “New Church” by locals. It is a popular choice for foreigners living in Shenzhen.
Getting to St. Anthony’s is relatively easy. You can take subway Line 2 to Qiaoxiang Station. From Exit A, walk 850 meters to the church. Alternatively, take a taxi from Che Gong Miao Station. The ride is about 10 minutes and costs around RMB 12.50. For a more adventurous route, the number 374 bus will also get you there.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church is an international parish. It offers a Holy Mass in English every Sunday. This service caters to Catholics from overseas. These people live and work in Shenzhen. Besides the English mass, there are other services. There are four Sunday Masses in total. There are also weekday Masses from Monday to Saturday at 7:00 a.m.
Several priests have served at St. Anthony’s over the years. Ren Lijun was in office from December 1993 to December 2002. Yang Ke followed from December 2002 to December 2004. Han Wensheng served from December 2004 to December 2007. Zhang Tianlu had two terms. The first was from December 2007 to December 2011. The second began in December 2019. Feng Guoxin served between February 2011 and April 2016. Liu Yongbin was in office from April 2016 to October 2019.
St. Anthony’s is not the only church in Shenzhen. There is also St. Paul’s in Nantou. They have Mass every Sunday at 9 a.m. The service is in Mandarin. English-language services are available at Shekou International School. A priest from Hong Kong visits on certain Sundays.
So, whether you are a local or a visitor, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church welcomes you. Its history and international community make it a special place in Shenzhen.