HONG KONG (SE): St. Joseph’s Church, Garden Road, celebrated the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines with a presentation and a thanksgiving Mass on June 14. The Filipino communities of the parish were encouraged to continue help in building God’s kingdom on earth.
Father Jay Flandez, the chaplain to Filipinos, said the anniversary celebration is a reminder for Filipinos to share their faith. “Faith is a gift. And our duty as Christians is to nourish the gift that God has given us,” he said, adding that faith gives us a mission to build God’s kingdom on earth.
“Our mission is to share the love of God to others by our service. Faith becomes alive when we give witness to our faith,” Father Flandez said.
“The title of the theme song of the anniversary, We give our Yes, reminds us to say ‘yes’,” the chaplain said. He encouraged those present to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she said yes to the will of God at the Annunciation. “Let us always say ‘yes’ and prioritise what is pleasing to God,” he said.
He expressed his empathy for domestic workers who often need to say yes to the orders of their employers, but he believes the same attitude should be adopted while serving God. “Even if we are tired, to the employers we always say ‘yes’. How much more for the Lord!” Father Flandez said.
Father Joseph Tan Leitao, the parish priest, said during the presentation that the anniversary celebration was a chance to thank the Filipinos migrant workers serving in different parishes in Hong Kong
A video presentation showed how Christianity started in The Philippines from 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan and his crew arrived on its shores, developing up to the present as one of the countries with the highest percentage of Catholics in its population, where different international Church congresses are held.
The presentation also included a video message from Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, in which he called the anniversary a time to remember the hard work of so many people and encouraged Filipinos to show their faith to the world.
Father Joseph Tan Leitao, the parish priest, said during the presentation that the anniversary celebration was a chance to thank the Filipinos migrant workers serving in different parishes in Hong Kong.
Father Jay Flandez, the chaplain to Filipinos, said the anniversary celebration is a reminder for Filipinos to share their faith. ‘Faith is a gift. And our duty as Christians is to nourish the gift that God has given us,’ he said, adding that faith gives us a mission to build God’s kingdom on earth
He particularly expressed his gratitude to the coordinators in the parish who have acted as a link between parish priests and the parishioners as well as leaders of functional groups who are important in the running of the parish. “They have been doing great work in our history. And I believe they will do even better in the future,” Father Tan said.
The parish priest then thanked leaders of different spiritual groups including the Filipino Catholic Group, Apostleship of Prayer, Filipino Prayer Group, Legion of Mary, Sowers Charismatic Group, Saturday Community, as well as those of the functional groups including the lectors, altar servers, choirs, ushers, Eucharistic Ministers and the Communication Group.
As the parish also approaches the 150th anniversary of its establishment in Hong Kong, Father Tan recalled its history of serving first the British soldiers, then British and other English-speaking residents of Hong Kong and now mostly Filipinos. He thanked the Filipinos for their services. “People make the Church different. You make our church different,” he said.
Robert Quintin, a consul from the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong, said the anniversary celebration was a significant event as faith has shaped the character of Filipinos who are the most devoted Catholics in the world and kept people together in trials. He encouraged people to keep their Catholic faith and live out its teachings.
Quintin said even though Christianity arrived with Spanish colonisation, this part of history has produced spiritual fruits now.
A thanksgiving Mass was then concelebrated by Father Tan, Father Flandez and Father Joseph Houston. In his homily, Father Jay reminded those present that while building God’s kingdom on earth, there will be problems and persecutions, but Jesus promised that he would be with us.
Febe Padernilla, the coordinator of the Apostleship of Prayer group, told the Sunday Examiner that serving at the first Sunday Mass, her group members needed to go to the church before 6.00am to prepare. In the middle of Covid-19 pandemic, they have been responsible for setting up the temperature check machines and sanitising stations. Their members also serve as choir members, lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers and donation collectors.
“We are so blessed. While giving our ‘yes’ to the mission of the Lord, we can keep close to our God by participating in his work here in Hong Kong,” Padernilla said. She feels joy within her heart as she helps in the Mass and that gives her strength to work on the weekdays.
