HONG KONG (SE): Vicar general, Father Paul Kam Po-wai, celebrated a Mass on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, at Holy Cross Parish, Shau Kei Wan, on May 1.
Father Kam expressed his gratitude for the labour commission, colleagues in the pastoral centres, and many volunteers who helped workers by not only providing them with material supplies, but also by building relationships with them, becoming their friends, and communicating respectfully with them.
The Mass was organised by the Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs, which had its annual general meeting on the same day.
Presenting the commission’s 2021-2022 annual report, chairperson Patrick Leung Siu-sun, noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had made caring for the needy more crucial. In appreciation for his co-workers’ continued concern for the working conditions of frontline employees, especially security and cleaning workers, he noted that they collected and distributed anti-epidemic materials like masks, rapid antigen test kits, and hand sanitisers during times of shortage.
He said that during the pandemic, parishes and pastoral centres joined hands to reach out to the needy so that more lay people could serve others and live out Christ outside the Church.
The parishes distributed food and cash vouchers, and emergency support was given to those in need in the community. In addition, pastoral centres provided advice and assistance, a support programme that assisted 675 families.
Father Kam encouraged people to respect workers. He shared that he was raised in a low-income family. Growing up and becoming a seminarian, he received pastoral training at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers in Kowloon. This gave him a chance to improve workers’ welfare
From 2021 to 2022, the commission provided over one thousand outreach services, reaching nearly 43,000 people.
Furthermore, the commission fought for hardship allowances for cleaning and security workers in single-block buildings, spoke out for workers who had their salaries deducted once they were diagnosed as infected and isolated, and demanded that the new Covid-19 be added to the second schedule of occupational diseases in the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance.
In his homily, referring to the gospel reading in which Jesus was despised because he was a carpenter’s son, Father Kam encouraged people to respect workers. He shared that he was raised in a low-income family. Growing up and becoming a seminarian, he received pastoral training at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers in Kowloon. This gave him a chance to improve workers’ welfare.
As a missionary in Tanzania, he observed that the poor could survive because of others’ willingness to share.
“Seeing people there show respect and share with one another was a happy experience,” he said. He also recalled his outreach activity with the commission in which he had a chance to approach the cleaning workers who worked hard but with a low payment, and they shared that they were not always appreciated.
He said that as a vicar general, he likes to join the activities of the labour commission, which reminds him of the importance of making friends with workers and promoting more respect for everyone who bears the image of God.
At the Star of the Sea parish in Chai Wan, the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers on Hong Kong Island held an exhibition on the Sunday before Labour Day, showing the value of labour in different jobs and promoting equality. Workers were also invited to share during the exhibition.
