HONG KONG (SE): The Holy Family parish in Choi Hung, Kowloon, celebrated its 70th anniversary on 31 December 2022. A thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ, along with parish priest, Father Johnson Dhos, and 10 other priests.
In his homily, Bishop Chow urged people to pray for the peace of Christ in our hearts and in our world in the new year. “When we have the peace of Christ, then the Word of Christ becomes our light, our guidance, and our inner motivation for moving forward, making us more assured and happier,” the bishop said. He explsained that this kind of peace is often overlooked and we look elsewhere for it, for example, in books that provide psychological advice, but do not give the depth of wisdom that the Word of God provides. He reminded the congregation to stay connected to our spirituality even when we look for help from secular sources.
Empathising with the migrant workers in the parish, the bishop said their sacrifices and hard work abroad become meaningful as they ensure a better life for their families. He said although there are many good employers, he was also aware of some who were unkind, such as those who dismissed their workers after they were infected during the pandemic and left them out on the streets. The bishop mentioned that the diocese is looking at ways to provide assistance to asylum seekers as well.
During the celebrations, Father Dhos handed over a $150,000 cheque to Bishop Chow for the Diocesan Fundraising Commission for Church Building and Development. A walkathon was organised by the parish to raise funds for the diocese. The bishop also presented prizes to the winners of the 70th-anniversary colouring competition. The Sunday School students sang to express gratitude to the bishop and the priests.
The Holy Family Mass Centre was established in Upper Yuen Leng, Diamond Hill in 1952, and Sunday Mass was held in a nearby kindergarten run by the Salesian Sisters. A new church was completed in November 1953 as a Mass Centre of St. Teresa’s Parish, Prince Edward Road, Kowloon. Bishop Lorenzo Bianchi blessed the newly constructed church in 1954 and renamed it Diamond Hill Catholic Church. The name of the church was changed to Holy Family Catholic Church in 1955 and it was erected as a parish on 31 May 1957.
In 1966, the parish was relocated to Choi Hung Catholic Secondary School in Choi Hung. Because of the increasing number of faithful in the Diamond Hill area, St. Cecilia Chapel was established on 2 December 1968 under Holy Family Parish. On 1 June 1996, St. Cecilia Chapel and on 13 August 2000, St. Francis Xavier Chapel were merged with Holy Family Parish.
The parish hosts around 15 English-speaking communities formed mostly by Filipino overseas workers.
