Feng Guoxin, 33, hopes to play basketball with students from a nearby school when the new semester commences this September.

Feng is a priest at the North Church, the largest Catholic Church in Beijing also known as the Xishiku Church. The Beijing No.39 Middle School has used the church's diocese buildings since the1950s but is now being relocated to an area bordering its present playground. A new school is taking shape beside the playground which separates it and the old church buildings.

Beijing municipal government has paid 60 million yuan (about 7.2 million US dollars) to relocate the school. It will also allocate 20 million yuan (2.4 million US dollars) to repair the buildings soon after they are empty.

"It's an event that brings joy to 5 million Catholics across China.," said Michael Fu Tieshan, Bishop of Beijing Diocese.

The diocese buildings were built in 1887 on imperial orders, and annexed to the North Church, northwest of the Forbidden City. They cover more than 10,000 square meters, or about the size of one and a half soccer fields.

A combination of both Chinese and western architectural styles,the buildings feature the traditional courtyard of north China. They will be empty and ready for restoration in September.

"We'll restore the old buildings to their original state," saidJi Wenyuan, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Religious Affairs.

Bishop Fu said that the buildings would be used for offices and accommodation for the Beijing Catholic Church and the bishop of Beijing Diocese.

Tian Gengxin, first Chinese Cardinal Bishop, once lived and worked in these diocese buildings. Therefore it was once China's Catholic administrative center.

Fu Tieshan, also chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, said that buildings will soon resume their historicalrole.

Xishiku Church was first built in 1703 and known as the "imperial church". An expansion of the Forbidden City in 1887 meantthe church was moved to the place where it is now.

The religious activities were suspended during the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-76). The church was reopened in 1985. Today the church celebrates mass for about 2,000 Catholics each Sunday.

Christianity was brought to Beijing in the 13th century. There are now 17 churches, more than 100 Catholic clergy, and some 50,000 Catholics in China.

( People's Daily August 7, 2002)