Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady (澳門主教座堂), Macau, China
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| the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Macau, China |
The Cathedral of Macau, nicknamed the "Great Church", is neither the oldest nor the largest church in Macau, but it is an important part in the religious life of the city. The beautiful cathedral is built in the Portuguese colonial style, and stands in a central location in peninsular Macau.
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| Roman Catholic Cathedral in Macau, China |
Sé Catedral da Natividade de Nossa Senhora (澳門主教座堂), the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Macau, China. With Macau's centuries-long past as a Portuguese colony, and history as the Jesuit headquarters in Asia, it may be surprising to know that the cathedral is not nearly one of the oldest churches in the peninsula. The Nativity of Our Lady was raised to a cathedral in 1623, but the current building was only constructed in 1937.
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| sanctuary of Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, Macau, China |
The original cathedral of the Diocese of Macau was the nearby St. Lazarus Church. As the diocese grew, it was decided that a new cathedral should be built in heavily Catholic Macau, then a Portuguese colony. The cathedral was constructed in 1850, but was destroyed in a terrible typhoon just a quarter of a century after construction was finished. The cathedral was heavily damaged, but was entirely rebuilt in 1937
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| inside Macau Cathedral |
One of the most important religious days in Macau occurs on the first weekend in Lent. During this time, the Stations of the Cross are paraded in front of the cathedral for a special exhibition.
Weekly Mass is held in Cantonese, Portuguese, and English.
On the first Sunday of the month, a special Latin Mass is conducted.
The Diocese of Macau is a special "exempt", a direct subject to the Holy See. As such, it reports directly to the Vatican and is not part of a separate ecclesiastical province. In a way, the special status of the Diocese of Macau reflects the special status of the Special Administrative Region of Macau. Although now a part of China, the region is allowed a high degree of autonomy and self-governance.
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| stained glass behind the altar at the Macau Cathedral |
How to visit the Macau Cathedral
Macau is small enough that you can easily get around on foot, and the cathedral is centrally-located in the peninsular portion of the city near the major tourist attractions.The Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Macau is located close to Senado Square, St. Dominic's Church, and the Ruins of St. Paul's.
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