The Catholic Churches of Shenyang

Sheny, Liaoning, China

Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning and the former capital of the Manchu, houses a Catholic community with a unique history linked to the French presence and the imperial manchu heritage.

History of evangelization in Liaoning

The province of Liaoning was evangelized by the missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP) in the mid-19th century. In 1838, the Apostolic Vicariate of Manchuria was established, covering the three provinces of northeastern China (Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang).

Shenyang, as the historical capital of the Manchus, was a strategic centre for evangelization. The missionaries established churches, schools and hospitals that became centres for the dissemination of the Catholic faith.

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Shenyang

The Shenyang Cathedral, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was built in 1878 by French missionaries. The building, of a neo-Gothic style, has been restored several times after the damage of the persecutions. It is the center of Catholic life in Liaoning.

Persecution and survival

During the Boxer Rebellion (1900), the Catholic community of Liaoning suffered a violent persecution. Many faithful and missionaries were killed. During the Cultural Revolution, the cathedral was desecrated but later restored.

Shenyang today

The Shenyang diocese now has an active Catholic community. The cathedral celebrates daily masses and is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful of the whole province.