HONG KONG (SE): The Church in Hong Kong mourned the loss of Father Giovanni I. Giampietro, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions [PIME], who passed away on June 11 at the age of 89. For decades he contributed greatly in different aspects, including liturgy, pastoral work and evangelisation in the Diocese of Hong Kong.
Born on 31 March 1934 in Marsicovetere, Potenza, Italy, Father Giampietro grew up in Capranica, Viterbo, in the Diocese of Sutri, Italy. After philosophical studies in the diocesan seminary, he studied philosophy with PIME the joined the institute on 28 June 1957.
He was ordained a priest on 21 June 1958 and arrived in Hong Kong on October 2 of the same year. After studying of the English and Cantonese languages, he started his pastoral ministry as parish assistant in St. Margaret’s Church.
In May 1966 he returned to Italy on his first vacation and remained there until July 1967, taking the time to carry out further studies in liturgy and the sociology of religion.
Once back to Hong Kong, he was assigned as acting rector of Tian Wan rectory, Aberdeen, in from 1968 to 1969, moving to St. Cecilia Church, Diamond Hill, as assistant parish priest, from July 1970 to July 1974.
During his second vacation in Italy, from July 1974 to April 1975, he again attended another course on liturgy. On his way back to Hong Kong he went to Saigon, Vietnam, for about a year, doing ministry and manual work.
From September 1977 to 1981, he was assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Wanchai, combining pastoral ministry with morning part-time manual work in Aberdeen. From January to September 1982 he toured Latin America, visiting and learning about local Christian Basic Communities.
From October 1985 to 1995 Father Giampietro worked as assistant parish priest in Ss. Cosmas and Damian Parish, in Tsuen Wan.
During his leave in 1987, he visited some countries in Africa to visit lay missionaries from Hong Kong working there, whose association he had helped to found, as well as local Catholic communities.
From 1993 to 1995 he helped at St. Stephen’s Church. Then, in October 1995, he was transferred to Resurrection Parish, Kwun Tong, and continued his evangelisation initiatives.
Finally, in 2004 he was assigned to St. John the Baptist Parish as assistant parish priest, and retired in 2019 but remained as resident priest. It was here, on June 7, unfortunately, after falling ill with Covid-19, he fell and hurt his head: he was brought to the United Christian Hospital, then was transferred to Queen Elisabeth Hospital and on Sunday June 11 at 10:15pm he returned to the heavenly Father for his eternal reward.
Endowed with a bright intelligence and a deep love for Chinese people and culture, he mastered the colloquial Cantonese language in a wonderful way. In his sermons and talks, he could entertain and draw the audience’s attention, raising enthusiasm with jokes and witty remarks. He was always a welcome guest because of his clever, original and frank observations.
Endowed with a bright intelligence and a deep love for Chinese people and culture, he mastered the colloquial Cantonese language in a wonderful way. In his sermons and talks, he could entertain and draw the audience’s attention, raising enthusiasm with jokes and witty remarks. He was always a welcome guest because of his clever, original and frank observations
Within the diocese, he always wanted to work as an assistant parish priest rather than parish priest. He played an important role in the Liturgy and in the Building and Development Commissions in the localisation process of the local Church.
Very concerned about his missionary vocation, Father Giampietro always attracted groups of young people and committed lay cooperators and with them carried out various evangelisation initiatives, among them: the publication of books, mainly, Christ and The Salvation History, the circulation of discs and videos of Cantonese religious songs and music, the broadcasting of a complete online course for evangelisers in 2005, the catechumenate online, the production of two musicals—the first in 2013 on St. Francis Xavier and the second in 2019 on Father Matteo Ricci, the organisation of the apostolate of the family, holding concerts, etc.
Since 1999, together with the members of Friends Of Jesus Passover group, he visited Chinese communities in various countries [more than 40 cities] to learn and share evangelisation experience. One of his last initiatives was his comment of Sunday liturgical texts broadcast online.
A vigil Mass to be celebrated by John Cardinal Tong Hon is scheduled for June 18, at 8.00pm at Christ the King Chapel, Causeway Bay.
Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, will celebrated the funeral Mass on June 19, at 10.30am, also at Christ the King Chapel.
Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Happy Valley.
In lieu of flowers, please pray for the deceased. There will be a live broadcast.
