HONG KONG (SE): “We organised Cantonese Masses not to cater to the language needs of Hong Kong people who have emigrated here, but to show that they are welcomed, cared for and concerned,” explained Dominic Chung Yiu-keung, a key volunteer who helped to organise a monthly Cantonese Mass starting April 7 at Our Lady of Lourdes Sawston, Cambridgeshire, the United Kingdom.
Canon Hoan Minh Nguyen celebrated the first Mass, attended by around 60 people. Though the Vietnamese priest does not speak or read the language, he celebrated the Mass entirely in Cantonese, which he learned to speak using phonetics. The Mass was celebrated with the blessing and permission of Bishop Alan Hopes of East Anglia.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, in a video message during the Mass, sent his regards to all the Hong Kong people now living in the Greater Cambridge area. He expressed his appreciation for their eagerness to come closeer to God through a Mass celebrated in their mother tongue. He assured them that God would be with them as they faced their difficulties in a foreign land. The bishop particularly thanked Canon Nguyen for trying hard to learn Cantonese.
Chung recalled that Canon Nguyen told him afterwards that Bishop Ha did not need to thank him as he was only doing God’s work, which he was happy to do. “However, some of those in attendance were so touched that the priest was willing to learn the Cantonese liturgy in only three weeks for them,” he said.
The next Cantonese Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was on May 21. The dates for the Masses in different months are posted on the website of the Diocese of Hong Kong, including information for overseas Chinese Catholics in seven countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Singapore and Canada
Chung said most new emigrants from Hong Kong usually attend English Masses, and the language is not a problem for them. However, he believes a Mass celebrated in their mother tongue can give them more inspiration, and a gathering afterwards can satisfy their social needs and build a support network, which is especially important for new emigrants as they need to adjust to many challenges in a new environment; aspects of work, studies and even the weather!
Wil Pang, who was at the first Mass, arrived in Cambridge with her family four months ago, said she was glad to participate in a Mass together with Hong Kong people and sing Cantonese hymns that they are all familiar with. She believes it is is an example that shows that God has been guiding them all along in their journey in the United Kingdom so that their every step has been smooth.
Amy Yeung, said she had only attended a few Cantonese Masses since she settled down in Cambridge nine years ago, and the monthly Cantonese Mass is a good way to show her children that faith can be shared in different languages.
The next Cantonese Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was on May 21. The dates for the Masses in different months are posted on the website of the Diocese of Hong Kong, including information for overseas Chinese Catholics in seven countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Singapore and Canada.
Another parish in Cambridge, Our Lady and the English Martyrs Parish, has also shown concern for the newly arrived Hong Kong people. Chung, a long time parishioner, recalled that Canon Eugene Harkness of the parish, told him at the beginning of the year that something had to be done after seeing more and more people coming to the parish over the past six months.
A welcome note in English and Chinese was then published in the parish newsletter and website, encouraging the new settlers to introduce themselves and register with the parish. During Lent, Stations of the Cross in Cantonese were held every Friday. The parish also promotes readings in Chinese during its 4.30 pm Sunday Mass. One Mandarin-speaking and several Cantonese-speaking parishioners take part in reading the Word of God. Also, its English choir is now learning to sing some songs in Cantonese.
On July 9, a Cantonese Mass to mark the feast of the 120 martyrs of China will be celebrated by Canon Nguyen at Our Lady and the English Martyrs Parish to pay tribute to the martyrs in the two countries together.
