During a visit to Shanghai last December, I had the opportunity to go to the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians at the edge of the city. Each time I visit the area, I am struck by the natural beauty of this oasis. Located on the summit of the city’s only hill, a gently-climbing path through the bamboo leads to the basilica, a vantage point that offers a breathtaking view of the city, the sprawling surroundings being home to over 20 million people. Standing tall at the top of the basilica’s slender dome is a statue of Our Lady who is holding the Child Jesus over her head. This statue of Our Lady of Sheshan is the most recognisable image of Mary linked to a particular place in China.
On that December afternoon, at one side of the 140-year-old basilica, I noticed two women who were kneeling beside the boundary wall. Deep in prayer, the focus of their attention was the statue of Our Lady of Sheshan. Their silence and humble presence on the concrete yard was enough to communicate a deep sincerity. I fully believe that their prayers were heard.
The Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians attracts pilgrims from all over China. The month of May is the most popular time for pilgrims but many others arrive at different times of the year to China’s best known Marian shrine. Aside from the Christian community, the basilica is also a popular destination for people who have no formal connection with the Church. Their visits provide an opportunity for the Diocese of Shanghai to gently introduce them to the life of the Church, this work being done by Catholic volunteers who see it as part of their contribution to the life of the Church.
Since Pope Francis initiated the Jubilee Year on the Feast of the Holy Family, Sheshan has been welcoming many pilgrim groups. The Jubilee Year provides the Church in China with an opportunity to take part in an event that is organised by the universal Church. Most dioceses in China have planned pilgrimages for their communities, whether it be within their own dioceses or further afield. It is also interesting to see the logo for the Jubilee Year appear in many forms throughout different churches in China. On the colourful logo, the words for ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ are printed in Chinese, a great encouragement to all who set out this year to express their faith by making the journey to the designated churches.
The statue of Our Lady of Sheshan will be seen by many more pilgrims during the remaining months of the Jubilee Year, the sight of Our Lady and the Child Jesus above her head being the culmination of a unique journey for many Catholics in China. When the Jubilee Year reaches its conclusion after a few more months, Shanghai will continue to have a statue of beauty that invites all who yearn for hope to travel on pilgrimage to this place of blessing.
