HONG KONG (SE): “I didn’t catch a cold, but I was moved and cried when I saw my friends who grew up with me, people who have known me since they were young … my family, and my brothers and sisters and the brethren from different Christian denominations,” Stephen Cardinal Chow, SJ, said emotionally at the start of the Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Caine Road, on November 4. Greeting everyone in the packed cathedral, he said their presence was the greatest blessing; the greatest encouragement for him.
Those participating in the Mass included Anglican Archbishop Andrew Chan Au-ming; Reverend Po Kam-cheong, general secretary of Hong Kong Christian Council; Metropolitan Nektarios Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia; other Protestant Church leaders, as well as representatives from different communities, parishes and religious institutes.
Over one hundred priests participated in the concelebrated Mass together with John Cardinal Tong Hon, Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing.
During his homily, he reiterated his pastoral priority of strengthening the mission of the Church in Hong Kong to serve as a bridge. He recalled that historically, Hong Kong as a society has also long played a significant bridging role in connecting the East and the West. The Catholic Church in Hong Kong has also been entrusted with the role of a bridging Church since Pope St. John Paul II, especially in connecting the Church in Mainland China with the universal Church. Christians are connected in the light of communion as we share “one Love, one Life, and one Body.”
Cardinal Chow, fresh from the Synod on Synodality in Rome, connected to the theme of “Communion”, which was also one of the three themes of the synod. To understand and feel for the other, we called to place ourselves in their shoes “so that we can walk with them for a life-giving and blessed future,” the cardinal said.
[Cardinal Chow] reiterated his pastoral priority of strengthening the mission of the Church in Hong Kong to serve as a bridge. He recalled that historically, Hong Kong as a society has also long played a significant bridging role in connecting the East and the West.
“Being a bridging Church does not mean we only focus on areas outside of Hong Kong. In fact, there are many individuals and groups in Hong Kong who are painfully disconnected with others and their society. I dare say that we, too, would love to be better connected and to become fully whole. Therefore, if we can just take a few steps to reach out to those who are disconnected from us, either in the physical or digital worlds, we too can be healed,” he siad.
Referring to the just concluded synod, Cardinal Chow said, “… we learned how to connect with participants whose views, on some critical matters, were clearly different from ours. There were divergences, which we honoured. But these divergences did not stop us from identifying convergences where we could meet. And through these convergences, we were able to have hope and strength to anticipate our next session in October 2024.”
In his Chinese homily, the cardinal said he was delighted that San Giovanni Battista de La Salle is his titular church in Rome. Explaining the passage of Jesus’ refusal to condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery [John 8:1-11], the cardinal said he chose the passage to explain the meaning of a synodal Church.
He noted that what Jesus did was risky and he could be accused of supporting immoral behaviour, but Jesus wanted the religious leaders to understand that they are the same before God’s great love. Jesus’ act of understanding gave the woman the power to change her behaviour.
“As God’s people, can we turn away people and treat them as sinners who deserve punishment? Instead, respect them. Before God, everyone is loved equally. As part of all living things, we are created in the love of God and redeemed in the love of the cross. As the people of God, we are responsible for being the bridge of God’s love who work towards reconciliation and communion. The Church should be first and foremost a healing station on the battlefield of life,” he said.
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong has also been entrusted with the role of a bridging Church since Pope St. John Paul II, especially in connecting the Church in Mainland China with the universal Church
Representatives from Sri Lankan, Indonesian and Filipino communities expressed their gratitude to the cardinal for extending his pastoral concerns to the migrants and the homeless. At the altar, a Filipino group of four led by Sister Corazon Demetillo, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos, pledged to accompany the cardinal in prayer as he carries out his “mission as a bridge of God’s love and reconciliation among all peoples: Christians as well as non-Christians, both in Hong Kong as well as China.”
Afterwards, members of youth groups expressed their love and support for the cardinal. “During your two years as a bishop, we appreciate your tireless efforts to accompany young people through various channels and to encourage us to spread God’s love to others,” they said.
During the Mass, there was a special collection of offerings for the cardinal’s intention to assist the underprivileged. In a statement, the cardinal’s office thanked the faithful for their donation of HK$72,200.50, which will be used to assist the disadvantaged.
Following the Mass, Anglican Archbishop Andrew Chan spoke to the Sunday Examiner, expressing his best wishes to Cardinal Chow saying, “I will pray for the good health of the cardinal and for his ability to lead the universal Church under God’s guidance and to promote ecumenism for us. We will cooperate with him and keep praying for him.”
As the people of God, we are responsible for being the bridge of God’s love who work towards reconciliation and communion. The Church should be first and foremost a healing station on the battlefield of life
Cardinal Chow
Peter Lo, a candidate for permanent diaconate now serving at St. Peter’s Church, Yau Ma Tei, said he was touched by the cardinal’s kindness and friendliness, especially for children and young people, in different parish activities, and he regarded the elevation as a great honour for the Diocese of Hong Kong.
Mass was followed by a tea reception at the Caritas Community Hall, Caine Road, which was joined by the cardinal’s family, Protestant Church leaders, ethnic minority groups, representatives from parishes, religious institutes, Wan Yan schools and different communities.
The cardinal thanked all those present, saying, “The appointment [as a cardinal] is a confirmation of a special bridging role of the diocese, especially for the Church in China and the universal Church.” Cardinal Chow also expressed his gratitude for the support of non-Catholic participants, saying, “Among you are some who are not, or not yet, members of the Catholic community… yet I very much appreciate your accompaniment as my family members, friends or partners of goodwill. Without you my journey would have been a lot more lonely and difficult. God has sent you to me, and hopefully me to you, so that we can learn to become companions of each other.”
He invited the guests continue journeying with him as well as those who feel lonely and lacked the empathy of others.
