The Macau Catholic Centre at the junction of Avenida da Praia Grande (南灣大馬路) and Rua do Campo (水坑尾街) will officially open its new 17-storey building, which includes a hotel, on November 27, following nearly five years of reconstruction, with two exhibitions also opening to the public as the Catholic Diocese of Macau marks its 450th anniversary, according to a statement by the centre yesterday.
The inauguration ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the centre, the statement said, adding that the project got off the ground in 2021 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction setbacks and official approval procedures.
The opening will coincide with the 450th anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Diocese of Macau, marking a new milestone in its work in pastoral care, evangelisation, education and social services, the statement said.
The diocese was set up on January 23, 1576.
Two exhibitions, “Who is the Man on the Shroud?” and “Witness to the Heritage, Mission in the World”, will also open at the centre to the public on the same day, the statement noted, adding that another exhibition, “We Build Future with An Eye to the Past”, related to the diocese’s 450th anniversary, is scheduled to open at a later date.
The new high-rise comprises hotel accommodation, dining facilities, a lecture hall, meeting rooms, exhibition spaces and multi-purpose activity rooms, the statement underlined.
According to the statement, the facilities will serve tourists, pilgrims and local residents, while providing space for gatherings and exchanges. It said the centre would continue its longstanding mission of connecting the Catholic Church with the wider community through evangelisation and social services.
Pedestrians and vehicles pass by the Macau Catholic Centre at the junction of Avenida da Praia Grande and Rua do Campo last night. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
