HONG KONG (SE): In late July, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing is set to travel to various parts of the United Kingdom for a nine-day trip to encourage and support Hong Kong migrants living there.
From July 20 to 29, Bishop Ha will visit Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, East and West London, Bristol, Kent, and Reading.
The visit aims to provide spiritual guidance and build a sense of community among the migrants. The bishop will lead Masses, organise seminars, and participate in gatherings to strengthen the migrants’ faith as they adapt to life in British society. Moreover, he may engage in discussions with members of the bishop’s conference.
In an interview with the Sunday Examiner on July 8, Bishop Ha said that he maintains contact with Hong Kong’s Catholic migrants in the UK. He also expressed gratitude to the priests from Hong Kong who have been visiting these communities during their holidays to assess their situations.
“Peace be with you” is the motto the bishop will give to Hong Kong migrants [John:20:19]. “Whatever the reason for leaving Hong Kong and going to the UK, it is time to settle down and start a new life there. Realise that the Lord is with you. Cherish this faith and the new start that you have worked hard to get,” he encouraged.
Bishop Ha noted that Cantonese-speaking communities have expressed a need for Cantonese Mass and reconciliation services. They find it easier to access deeper religious understanding in their native tongue
His talk on “The Amazing God” aims to offer comfort and reassurance to migrants facing challenges, reminding them that God is present and provides peace. Another talk on “The Coming and Going Disciples” intends to deepen the migrants’ relationship with God.
Bishop Ha noted that Cantonese-speaking communities have expressed a need for Cantonese Mass and reconciliation services. They find it easier to access deeper religious understanding in their native tongue.
Additionally, they desire support groups and opportunities to connect with the local Church. Furthermore, the communities need to form groups or organisations to facilitate access to resources such as church facilities.
“It is natural for people with similar backgrounds and cultures to gather. At the same time, they also remain open to interacting with the wider community,” the bishop noted.
Bishop Ha said that many Hong Kong people in the UK can in fact connect with local Churches and attend Mass with predominantly Western congregations. This integration is common due to the vastness of the UK compared to Hong Kong, making it challenging to find fellow Chinese or Hong Kong communities.
Bishop John Arnold of the Diocese of Salford, visited Hong Kong in mid-2003 to explore ways of working with the Diocese of Hong Kong to provide pastoral care for Hong Kong Catholics who have recently emigrated to England
Bishop John Arnold of the Diocese of Salford, visited Hong Kong in mid-2003 to explore ways of working with the Diocese of Hong Kong to provide pastoral care for Hong Kong Catholics who have recently emigrated to England.
Subsequently, in November 2023, Cardinal Stephen Chow, s.j., assigned Father Bruno Lepeu of the Paris Foreign Missions to England as a chaplain for six months to gather information on the situation of Hong Kong Catholics settled in Manchester and neighbouring cities. Father Lepeu is also responsible for organising Bishop Ha’s forthcoming trip.
However, the bishop said it is impossible for the diocese to officially assign priests to the UK due to manpower constraints. He also noted that, although sending Cantonese-speaking priests could strengthen the internal community, it may hinder migrants’ integration into local Churches.
On June 29, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales approved setting up a network of Hong Kong Cantonese Catholic chaplaincies and communities. Bishop Ha said he supports the initiative as it shows that the bishops’ conference sees the need to strengthen formation and pastoral care.
Cantonese-speaking communities are developing in various regions. For example, the Diocese of East Anglia Cantonese Chaplaincy was officially launched on June 29 at a special Mass at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich celebrated by Bishop Peter Collins, who used Cantonese during most of the liturgy, showing his respect for the migrant community.
Currently, the community in the region holds Masses every month celebrated by Canon John Minh, a Vietnamese priest who has been celebrating Mass in Cantonese with the assistance of phonetic symbols since April 2022 [Sunday Examiner, 22 May 2022]
