Our Lady of Lourdes of Qingyang - Marian Shrine of Jiangyin

← Back to China's Marian Advocations

En Qingyan, sur de Jiangyin, la assembly de Our Lady of Lourdes welcomes one of Jiangsu's historic Marian pilgrimages. Its great temple, rebuilt after the destruction of the 20th century, brings together the faithful during February, May, October and the local patron party.

The beginning of the Qingyang church

The community raised its first church in September 1901. As the number of faithful and pilgrims increased, this building proved insufficient. The French priest Sang Guoying, a pastoral director of Wuxi, has since 1912 promoted an extension of Gothic style.

The new church was solemnly dedicated to the 29 April 1914 under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes. The advocation, extended throughout the world after the apparitions to Saint Bernardite in 1858, invited the conversion, prayer and care of the sick.

Local Marian Tradition

The Catholic chronicles of Qingyang transmit a tradition about a manifestation of the Virgin linked to the first years of the sanctuary. The story is part of the local spiritual memory and is represented within the temple. The sources of the community indicate that the case was studied for years before the pilgrimage was consolidated.

The 1928 recognition

En 1928 pontifical approval was obtained so that pilgrims who came to Qingyang on certain days could receive full indulgence under the conditions established by the Church. The dates included 11 February, the Marian month of May, the month of the October rosary and the patron celebration of the third Sunday of November.

This recognition made Qingyang a known destination beyond Jiangyin. The chronicles speak of pilgrims coming from different regions of China, a tradition that continued after modern reconstruction.

War, destruction and silence

In 1939 the temple was bombed during the Sino-Japanese war. The building was destroyed and only initially survived the tower. Later, during the Cultural Revolution, the remains of the bell tower also disappeared and the public life of the sanctuary was interrupted.

Material loss did not end devotion. The families kept the memory of Our Lady of Lourdes and, when possible, began to prepare a new church.

The reconstruction of 1994-1994

The first stone of the present temple was placed in April 1993. The work had the efforts of the faithful and with help promoted by the priest Gong Shirong, from the region and resident in Taiwan, who wanted to fulfil a family aspiration linked to reconstruction.

The new church was opened 1 May 1994. It combines Romanesque and Gothic elements, has an area of approximately 1,287 square meters, a high tower and capacity for about 1,500 people. It was renewed internally in 2003 and submitted to a new restoration in 2014.

The sanctuary at present

In 2014, the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the new temple brought together many pilgrims, dozens of priests and the bishop of Nankin. In later years, the square, the stations of the crucis and a great Marian space presided over by an image of the Virgin were conditioned.

The Office of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Wuxi confirmed in May 2024 the active preparation of the "Marian pilgrimage month." His security inspection documents that the place continues to receive faithful and has a main church, auxiliary chapel, dining room and evacuation routes.

Verified location

The sanctuary is in 314 Jingyang South Road, Qingyang. Trip.com and Amap identify the same establishment in coordinates GCJ-02 31.755143, 120.253049. After converting them to the WGS-84 system used by this map, the point is 31.7570949, 120.2484505. The reverse geocoding places it on Shengyang Road, inside Qingyang.

Spirituality of Lourdes

Qingyang makes present in Jiangsu the call of Lourdes: humble prayer, penance, closeness to the sick and confidence in the Immaculate. The history of the sanctuary adds a teaching about perseverance. A temple can be destroyed, but faith lived in a community can keep its memory and reraise it.

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes of Qingyang

Mary Immaculate, Lady of Lourdes, welcomes those who pilgrim Qingyang. It accompanies the sick, strengthens their families and grants perseverance to the Church of Nankin. Let us learn from your humility, listen to your Son's Word and serve those who suffer tenderly. Save the people of Jiangsu and always deliver us to Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sources consulted

• Wuxi Government: current Marian pilgrimage and temple dependencies.
• Catholic Chronicle: History, Architecture and Recognition of 1928.
• Chinese Catholic Directory: foundation, dedication and reconstruction.
• Second parish record of the Qingyang shrine.
• Diocese of Ningbo: chronicle of pilgrimage and Marian tradition.
• Trip.com: address and coordinates of the establishment.
• Amap: Cartographic point of the church.
• Historical synthesis of Our Lady of Lourdes of Qingyang.

Pray the Holy Rosary · See more Chinese claims