HONG KONG (SE/KKP): Over $800,000 was raised through the Diocesan Fundraising Commission for Church Building and Development’s online art auction. The works were awarded to the successful bidders at the Catholic Diocese Centre on February 11.
The “Thy Kingdom Come 2.0” exhibition of pastoral art pieces and the online charity bidding was organised at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Caine Road, from December 17 to January 17 [Sunday Examiner, January 1]. Sixty-one art pieces produced by 11 priests and nuns were on the exhibition for auction. They included Chinese painting and calligraphy, holy icon paintings, oil paintings, wood carvings and pyrography prepared by talented priests and sisters working in the diocese.
A calligraphy with the Chinese words 唯主是依 (The Lord is the only one) by Father Joseph Yim Tak-lung raised $50,000, making it the highest-priced piece of art.
During the ceremony at the auditorium of the diocesan centre, vicar general Father Paul Kam Po-wai, one among the 11 contributors of their artwork, said in his opening prayer, “Many of our brothers and sisters have taken the opportunity to raise funds and express the talent that God has given.”
In his speech, Father Benedict Lam Cho-ming, a fundraising committee member, said that each piece of artwork reflected the truth, goodness and beauty of God and was the fruit of their faith.
Besides Father Kam and Father Yim, contributing to the exhibition were Father Edward Chau King-fun, Father William Yip Hing-wah, Father Joseph Tham, Father Francis Tam Kam-wing, Father Manohar Jyothi, Sister Laura Watt, Sister Pauline Yuen, Sister Catherine Wan and Deacon Francis Fung Sze-chung.
The first online art exhibition organised by the commission was conducted in January 2021, raising around $1.5 million.
