Chengdu, China, May 20, 2008 / 01:19 am
Chinese Catholics joined the rest of their country in a moment of silence on Monday to mourn and pray for those killed and injured in the massive earthquake that hit southwestern China last week.
UCA News reports that, as of May 19, the State Council reported the death toll to be 34,073, with more than 245,000 people injured. The May 12 quake, centered in Wenchuan in the Sichuan province, was initially estimated to measure 7.8 on the Richter Scale. Its magnitude was later revised upward to 8.0.
About 80 Catholics at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Chengdu stood after Mass and observed the country-wide three minutes of silence.
Father Simon Li Zhigang told UCA News that not many could come for the Mass because it was held on short notice. He said about 100 people had attended a requiem Mass for the dead that morning.