HONG KONG (SE): In the ongoing celebration of its 70th anniversary of foundation, St. Anthony’s Church, Sai Wan, has organised a “New Sheep Seeking Campaign” to involve parishioners and neophytes in evangelisation and faith sharing. The theme of the parish anniversary is “Shepherd My Sheep” [cf John 21:16], responding to Jesus’ invitation to share in his mission
During month of July, participants at each Sunday Mass recited a special prayer for Seeking New Sheep, calling on the Holy Spirit to fill everyone with fire and love, so to bring God’s message of salvation to their brothers and sisters in the neighbourhood.
Parish priest, Salesian Father Peter Ng Dor-lok, referenced the words of Jesus for the evangelisation programme: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also” [John 10:16].
“It is my deep wish that through parishioners’ active participation in the New Sheep Seeking Campaign, we can recruit more potential catechumens to attend catechism class and to follow Jesus,” Father Ng said.
The external phase of the campaign was held on July 16, with a commissioning rite at the conclusion of the 10.00am Sunday Mass. Father Ng distributed evangelisation packs and sent off representatives of sodalities, neophytes, Sunday school children and registered participants joined by family members.
It is my deep wish that through parishioners’ active participation in the New Sheep Seeking Campaign, we can recruit more potential catechumens to attend catechism class and to follow Jesus
Father Ng
St. Anthony’s parish formed five evangelisation teams, leading more than 130 parishioners to different streets and areas of Western District to share more than 2,000 evangelisation gift packs with nearby residents, followed with greetings of peace from God.
To sustain the seed-sowing efforts, the parish initiated an Online Sheep Seeking Programme. Parishioners were encouraged to form small groups on WhatsApp for sharing bible texts daily. Members of the groups were also encouraged to invite a couple of non-baptised friends to join, so that they might be touched by the words of God and faith in the group sharing. The channel was created as an avenue to fish for potential catechumens.
Prior to the Month of Sheep Seeking, St. Anthony’s invited the bishop, Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, to celebrate a thanksgiving Mass marking its 70th anniversary and feast day on June 10.
In his homily, Bishop Chow encouraged parishioners to continue to serve faithfully as salt of the earth and light to the world. During the Mass, the bishop administered the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation for 11 students and one adult.
The parish celebration, which was well-attended by more than 400 people, joyfully concluded with a thanksgiving banquet, accompanied by performances.
Historically, the Christian community, of which this church is a symbol in Western District, was born 160 years ago in 1863, beginning with a Catholic Reformatory run by the PIME Fathers
Echoing the bishop’s message to carry on as an evangelising parish, chairperson of St. Anthony’s Parish Council, Flora Lee Suk Hang, said, “We regularly perform works of charity to spread our faith and to witness to the love of God. Our gathering of Sai Wan residents with varied activities held in the parish from time to time has borne fruit with two new catechumenate classes set up after Easter for those who have shown interest to know more about the Catholic religion. We are dedicated to guide these newcomers to gradually join God’s family.”
To celebrate the parish’s 70 years of development, a variety of activities have been organised. Key programmes in the first half of the year included a Lenten Bible Reading and Prayer Campaign, sodality leaders seminar, and the celebration of the feast the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ with a Eucharistic procession and a blessing of the Western District.
Apart from the New Sheep Seeking Campaign, activities planned for the second half of the year include a 12-Day Pilgrimage to Ireland, Parish Sodalities Day, a Rosary Marathon, a Marian Concert, the Four Gospels Talk Series, a Christmas Outreach and Caroling, as well as a Wedding Vows Renewal and a Blessing of Married Couples on the Feast of the Holy Family.
The present church, situated in Pokfulam Road and dedicated to St. Anthony, was consecrated on 13 June 1953 by then Bishop Lawrence Bianchi, PIME. Its foundation laid on the feast of St. Anthony in 1933 by the Salesians of Don Bosco, to whom the parish was entrusted by the Hong Kong Diocese in 1927.
Historically, the Christian community, of which this church is a symbol in Western District, was born 160 years ago in 1863, beginning with a Catholic Reformatory run by the PIME Fathers.
