HONG KONG (SE/KKP): “Now my focus is not only doing my work well. I have to invite more people to work together in the spirit of synodality,” Auxilary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, vicar general, told the Kung Kao Po in an interview published on May 8.
Bishop Ha compared his former work as a parish priest and his present assignment as one of four vicars general of the diocese. He served in St. Bonaventure Church, Tze Wan Shan, and Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, Kowloon. He ministered to the spiritual needs of parishioners in his dark brown Franciscan habit before he was ordained an auxiliary bishop in 2014.
Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ, has assigned him as a vicar general, together with Father Peter Choy Wai-man, Father Paul Kam Po-wai, and Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu for five years from December 12 last year.
“A parish priest is on the frontline and journeys with parishioners; a vicar general is working at the back doing administrative work. I am still doing pastoral work, but it is for the whole diocese, looking at different parishes, promoting pastoral work through policies and balancing different needs,” the auxiliary bishop explained.
A parish priest is on the frontline and journeys with parishioners; a vicar general is working at the back doing administrative work. I am still doing pastoral work, but it is for the whole diocese, looking at different parishes, promoting pastoral work through policies and balancing different needs,
Bishop Ha
As the chairperson of the Diocesan Ad Hoc Committee for the 16th Synod of Bishops on Synodality, Bishop Ha has conducted consultation briefings in recent months for religious congregations, parishes, organisations and youth groups, encouraging them to implement the spirit of synodality and to work together to evangelise.
He believes parish renewal and the concept of shared responsibility among the laity aligns with the spirit of synodality promoted by the Synod of Bishops. He chairs the Ad Hoc Committee for Parish Renewal, which began last year.
Bishop Ha is now responsible for the parish affairs on Hong Kong island and, at the same time, the convenor of meetings involving all parishes of the diocese. He holds weekly meetings with the deans to maintain a close relationship between the eight deaneries and different parishes. He also visits parishes to understand the lives of the parish priests and expresses his care and concern.
Moreover, the auxiliary bishop also assists in coordinating the work of the Diocesan Building and Development Commission, supporting parishes’ long-term development plans to address the challenges of urban development. “I am now using my experience in parishes to think one step further for the future of the parishes,” he said.
A parish priest is on the frontline and journeys with parishioners; a vicar general is working at the back doing administrative work. I am still doing pastoral work, but it is for the whole diocese
Bishop Ha
Speaking of the new church in Tung Chung, Bishop Ha said, “While planning for the proposed church, the diocese will take into account the needs of the parishioners at the moment and prepare for the continued development of the community. With the massive developments in Lantau, the new church in Tung Chung may be built larger to cope with future population growth,” he said.
The auxiliary bishop is also involved in the formation of seminarians. As rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, he offers the seminarians encouragement through his experiences in pastoral work and spiritual growth. He believes it is crucial to journey with the seminarians in their daily lives and pay attention to their needs.
“We have chats at night from Mondays to Fridays. We spend time reading the Kung Kao Po during one of the nights so that the seminarians can know the pastoral issues involved in different news items and the matters that the clergy are concerned about,” he shared.
While Bishop Ha is no longer a parish priest, he cherishes the time he spends celebrating Mass in parishes on Sundays, and he likes to meet parishioners and see how well they are doing.
