HONG KONG (SE): Touch Community, a Catholic youth group in Hong Kong animated a three-day celebration of the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, which included a 20-hour relay rosary recitation through the streets of Hong Kong.
Seventy years ago, on 1 November 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in his apostolic constitution, Munificentissimus Deus [The Most Bountiful God], writing that “the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
The event was broadcast live by the social media platform of Diocesan Youth Commission: Youth Boiling Point, and organisers invited participants to pray for Hong Kong in these times of Covid-19 pandemic.
The relay recitation started at the Holy Spirit Seminary on August 13 with around 80 participants, divided into groups of two or three. The rosary pilgrimage covered St. Anthony’s Church, Pokfulam, and a number of churches in the Western District before moving to churches in the west of Hong Kong Island, followed by those in the east of the island.
Pilgrims arrived at Holy Cross Church, Shau Kei Wan, on the morning of August 14 and proceeded to Kowloon by ferry. They then proceeded on foot from Resurrection Church, Kwun Tong, to St. Francis of Assisi Church, Sham Shui Po. In the afternoon, participants in wheelchairs joined the pilgrimage and went by bus to St. Benedict’s Church, Shatin, St. Peter and Paul parish, Yuen Long, and Holy Redeemer Church, Tuen Mun.
When the rosary pilgrimage reached the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Caine Road, parish priest, Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, joined them in a short prayer service and imparted a blessing.
“Many young people joined this event after they got off from work,” said Sherman Luk, the person in charge of the group. “We hoped the route would look like a rosary on a map of Hong Kong, the city we are praying for,” Luk said.
Dickson Siu, a volunteer leading the rosary, said organising the event was challenging, as they needed to start in the middle of the night. Some needed to catch a night bus or ask volunteers to give them a ride to their starting point at different parishes.
Helen Ip, who was responsible for helping the wheelchair users, felt the strong faith of participants as they tried their best to lead prayers despite their physical limitations. Ip also believes that it was a good way to evangelise, as young people prayed the rosary on the streets during the daytime. She could feel that the reflections on the mysteries of the rosary brought peace to participants.
On August 15, Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing celebrated a thanksgiving Mass at 8.00pm to mark the feast day. In his homily, the bishop said that, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, lay people are also chosen to work for Jesus and bring the gospel and peace to every corner of Hong Kong.
After the Mass, a procession and overnight Eucharistic adoration were held at the cathedral. At 6.00am, a dawn prayer was recited, followed by consecration and benediction.
