Updated: 12:46 UTC, 18 May 2021
HONG KONG (SE): “I want to love like a good ‘papa,’ a good father, have understanding like a good principal, and be merciful as God is merciful,” said Jesuit Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan, the bishop-elect of the Diocese of Hong Kong. The Vatican announced the appointment of Father Chow as the 9th bishop of the diocese of Hong Kong on 17 May 2021.
The appointment comes after a long wait of two years and four months following the death of Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung on 3 January 2019. Father Chow belongs to the Society of Jesus, and is currently the provincial superior of the Chinese Province at the time of the new appointment.
The appointment is a moment of gratitude for the Catholic Church in Hong Kong, as it has been prayerfully awaiting the shepherd who will accompany the faithful in these times of socio-political and religious polarisation in the city.
Born to a Catholic family in Hong Kong on 7 August 1959, Father Chow joined the Society of Jesus on 27 September 1984 in Dublin, Ireland. Before joining the seminary, he already had a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Philosophy and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology (Counselling) from the University of Minnesota in the United States (US). After completing his Theology formation in Hong Kong, he was ordained a priest by John Cardinal Baptist Wu Cheng-chung on the feast of Mount Carmel on 16 July 1994.
Meanwhile, Father Chow obtained a Master of Science degree in Organisational Development at Loyola University, Chicago, US, and worked at Wah Yan College Kowloon and Hong Kong for five years, from 1995 to 2000, as minister, ethics teacher, vocations director and chaplain. At Wah Yan College Hong Kong and Kowloon, he also served as school manager (trustee).
In 2000, he went to Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education to study Human Development and Psychology, and completed his Doctorate in Education in 2006.
After finishing his doctorate in the US, Father Chow took up the position of school supervisor at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong in 2007 as well as Wah Yan College, Kowloon the next year. Educating the youth, not to become champions, but to become responsible citizens has been the priority of Jesuit Education mission.
Father Chow has headed the Education Commission of the China Province since 2009. Since 2012, he has also been serving at the Holy Spirit Seminary as part time lecturer in Psychology. He also served as a member of the Diocesan Priests’ Council from 2012-2014.
In America magazine, Father Arturo Sosa, the superior general of the Society of Jesus, said of Father Chow’s appointment as bishop of Hong Kong: “I am happy that Father Stephen can continue to serve, and I wish him every blessing in this new ministry. The Jesuits are proud of our links with the Chinese people, which go back to the great missionary Matteo Ricci who had such a respect for Chinese culture.”
