HONG KONG (SE): Around 4,000 people from parishes across Hong Kong, along with Catholic schools, and diocesan committees demonstrated a spirit of unity as they walked in support of Hong Kong diocese’s fundraising for church building on April 23.
Called Together We Stride, the walkathon, organised by the Diocesan Fund-raising Commission for Church Building and Development, began at 3.00pm and coursed along three-kilometre route from the Science Park Amphitheatre to Pak Shek Kok Park.
During the kick-off ceremony, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ, said the event would support the building of better churches to accommodate the growing population, as well address a pressing need for more columbaria for future generations. He prayed that God would reward participants’ efforts and bless them as they worked for these purposes.
Sixty-nine schools, 36 parishes, six religious institutes, and various diocesan organisations signed up for the event. Over 400 people from schools and parishes served as volunteers.
The bishop thanked all participants saying, “It shows the spirit that the diocese is our home. We need to be united and share what we have, like the apostles of the early Church who shared all their resources, which we read about in the gospel readings in Easter.”
He continued, “I would like to thank all the participants, sponsors and donors, brothers and sisters for their support and generosity and for working together for such a wonderful cause.”
Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, chairperson of the fund-raising commission, also expressed his gratitude to all who supported the event and said that every step that day showed participants’ love for the Church.
On stage, Bishop Chow, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, other members of the Diocesan Curia, Father Chan, along with the deans of various deaneries, sounded the horn to officially begin the walk. However, a lot of participants, especially children from schools had already started to walk at around 1:00pm.
The diocese needs to raise over a billion Hong Kong dollars in development funds to meet its needs over the next 10 years, as it foresees significant population growth in the Northern New Territories and Northern Lantau.
Among the purposes of the funds are the construction of new churches in Fanling and Tung Chung, and major repairs to some existing churches.
According to the commission’s website, according to initial estimates made in 2020, the construction of the new church in North Lantau will cost $600 million, while the extension of St. Joseph’s Church in Fanling will incur $300 million.
There were performances from different parishes and communities between 2.00 and 4.00pm, encouraging the participants on their walk. Among them was the English-speaking community from Tung Chung, which sang songs about faith and dreams to bring joy to all.
Caty Javalera, co-ordinator of the English-speaking choirs of the parish said, “God is everywhere no matter where we are. But yes, we definitely need a new Church. We are happy that when we need help, everybody is coming.”
Cecila Golez of the St. Joseph Church, Fanling, took part with around 10 members of the English-speaking community. She said the parishioners in Fanling are excited to see that the parish extension is near completion. She was also delighted to see the big event taking place as the pandemic ends, giving everyone a chance to be united as the body of Christ.
The deadline for the fundraising is May 7. As at April 26, the sum raised stands at around five million.
