HONG KONG (SE): “When we sang We Give Our Yes, everybody sang with our whole heart. I could feel a deep sense of thanksgiving for the blessings and the gifts we receive, and we are always happy to share it,” Sister Corazon Demetillo, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos, told the Sunday Examiner at the end of a Mass commemorating 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, at St. Jude’s Church, North Point, on October 14.
The observance of the anniversary is themed, Gifted to Give.
Dancers, together with Mass celebrants at the altar, as well as the choir, sang and danced to the official mission song, Awit Ng Misyon [We Give Our Yes].
The Mass was celebrated by John Cardinal Tong Hon, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, and organised by Filipino missionaries in Hong Kong to pay tribute to the sacrifices of the early missionaries to the country.
Concelebrating were over 20 priests, including Filipino chaplain, Father Jay Flandez; Indonesian chaplain, Father Heribertus Hadiarto; Vietnamese chaplain, Father John Baptist Le Van Ba; Sri Lankan chaplain, Father Blaise Cooray; parish priest of St. Jude’s, Father Moses Ngai Tak-man; along with priests from different parishes.
In the middle of the altar were the statues of the St. Nino, St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Colungsod, the symbols of Christianity and martyrdom in the Philippines.
In his homily, Father Flandez said that faith is like a church a built on a rock and that we should not forget to help others strengthen their faith. “Faith builds up a community and it has to be shared. Do not let ego or pride control you,” he said.
Before the Mass started, videos were presented showing different groups dancing to the mission song to show their determination to follow God.
‘We, as Filipino overseas workers, are of one heart and soul, in thanking God for the gift of faith and in renewing our total ‘Yes’ to God’s mission of spreading the merciful love of God to our brothers and sisters wherever we are regardless of race, language, religion or education, and to the commitment to care for all creation’.
Sister Demetillo
According to Sister Demetillo, the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos [DPCF] and the Simbayanan-Kammpi produced one video in Tagalog and another in English which were filmed in the DPCF centre, different churches, a park as well as the waterfront.
She said the filming process attracted the attention of onlookers and presented a chance to bear witness to our joy in Christ.
“We, as Filipino overseas workers, are of one heart and soul, in thanking God for the gift of faith and in renewing our total ‘Yes’ to God’s mission of spreading the merciful love of God to our brothers and sisters wherever we are regardless of race, language, religion or education, and to the commitment to care for all creation,” she said.
Vietnamese, Sri Lankans and Indonesian migrants, as well as members of the Diocesan Commission for Pastoral Services to Migrants Workers also attended the Mass.
Nenavie Fajardo, coordinator of the dance group of St. Jude’s English-speaking community, said the video of their parish was shot at different parts of the church and at the end, all gathered at the chapel to show their unity. She said it took three weeks for the group to prepare the video and was posted online a week before the Mass.
A video message from Louis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, for the anniversary was also shown.
Chaplains, priests and guests expressed their congratulations at the end of the Mass.
Father Ngai said the parish welcomed the Filipinos and that their presence is a blessing for Hong Kong and the Church. Father Hadiarto expressed his gratitude for early missionaries from the Philippines who came to Indonesia to proclaim the gospel. Father Cooray thanked the beautiful singing of Filipinos which brings joy and life to the Church. Father Ba thanked the Philippines for the formation of seminarians from different countries.
Robert Quintin, vice-consul at the Consulate General of the Philippines, said that the 500th anniversary celebration is significant, as faith has shaped the character of Filipinos who remain strong amid many trials.
Vietnamese, Sri Lankans and Indonesian migrants, as well as members of the Diocesan Commission for Pastoral Services to Migrants Workers also attended the Mass.
Father Flandez thanked the Mass concelebrants; St. Jude’s Church for its hospitality; the support of Sister Regina Lito, who served as commentator; and Sister Demetillo, as well as all those who contributed to the Mass.
Lourdes Fuentespina, of the Sunday Group of the DPCF, said that it had been two years since the Filipino community in Hong Kong had any major celebrations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She was excited to see people from different groups gather to celebrate.
To limit the number of people and maintain social distancing, only five representatives from different parishes were allowed to attend.
