HONG KONG (KKP/SE): The Home Among Homes Fund-raising Concert, scheduled to take place at Queen Elizabeth Stadium on November 2, already raised over $10 million before tickets were made available to the public, according to Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, chairperson of the Diocesan Fund-raising Commission for Church Building and Development.
With preparations for the event are now in full swing, John Cardinal Tong Hon, Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Hong Kong and violinist, expressed his joy at using music to raise funds for the development of the Church. At the same time, he urged people to contribute in whatever way they could.
Cardinal Tong will perform with students of Good Hope School and Sister Pauline Yuen, supervisor of the school and assistant regional superior of Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. They will perform two songs together, Ave Maria and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, with the cardinal playing the violin and Sister Yuen playing the flute.
The cardinal, who started playing the violin when he joined the minor seminary in Macau at the age of 12, expressed his appreciation for the students and said he found them very talented while rehearsing with them and Sister Yuen.
On the other hand, Sister Yuen said she intends to invite prayers for the smooth completion of churches and for the sick in the pandemic while playing Ave Maria and for peace among people while playing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
As of October this year, only around $97 million had been raised by the commission, formed in March 2019, as many fund-raising activities were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the social unrest three years ago
Tickets have been available through the Urban Ticketing System since September 30. The Hearts Connected Online Donation is also scheduled to be held around three weeks before the concert for people to cheer and rally their favourite performing teams.
Father Chan said most of the tickets at the $1,250 tier were reserved before they went on sale to the general public. After tickets became available to the public at the end of September, the response was also very good.
Thanks to God and the donations, Father Chan said the commission had a steady flow of funds, from three million to five million. Even with the funds raised thus far, he encouraged the public to support the event because the diocese’s needs are immense.
Bishop Chow Sau-yan, sj, in a video message released on May 17 on the website of the Diocesan Fund-raising Commission for Church Building, said the diocese needs to raise over a billion dollars in development funds to meet the needs of the coming decade.
As of October this year, only around $97 million had been raised by the commission, formed in March 2019, as many fund-raising activities were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the social unrest three years ago.
Funds will be primarily allocated to the construction of new churches in Fanling and Tung Chung, the major repairs of some existing ones, and the building of additional urn niches.
The concert was postponed from February to November due to the surge in Covid-19 cases early this year.
Other performers include parish priests, priests and sisters from religious institutes, such as the Oblates and Divine Word missionaries, permanent deacons with families, students from Catholic secondary, primary schools and even kindergartens, and music bands formed by the laity.
The concert will highlight the performance of the whole Church as a family. It also echoes the diocese’s call for parish renewal in pastoral care, reminding people to actively participate in parish life.
