HONG KONG (SE): At the invitation of Bishop Joseph Li Shan of the Diocese of Beijing, Bishop Stephen Chow, SJ, of the Diocese of Hong Kong, along with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha, OFM, and vicar general, Father Peter Choy, will travel to Beijing for a five-day visit from April 17.
According to Bishop Chow, the visit underscores the mission of the Diocese of Hong Kong to be a bridge Church and promote exchanges and interactions between the two sides. The invitation was received sometime last year from the Diocese of Beijing and was accepted in the spirit of brotherhood in the Lord toward the end of last year.
Bishop Chow and the delegation will also meet with other local bishops, clergy, and laity during this trip, in addition to the meeting with Bishop Li. They will also visit the Beijing Major Seminary, the National Seminary of the Catholic Church in China, and other relevant units concerning religious affairs.
Upon arriving in Beijing, the bishop will participate in the vespers service and celebrate a thanksgiving Mass at the cathedral. His visit will also include a visit to the tomb of Father Matteo Ricci, who was recently declared venerable. Visits to organisations that promote cultural exchanges and gatherings with Hong Kong friends working in Beijing will also be scheduled.
In addition to the three priests, the delegation will include the bishop’s personal assistant, Wong Ka-chun. The bishop requests his brothers, sisters and friends in Christ to pray for the success of the visit.
