HONG KONG (SE): Excitement is building among Hong Kong’s Catholic community as a delegation prepares to attend the apostolic visit of Pope Francis during his historic visit to Singapore from September 11 to 13. This marks the first papal visit to Singapore in 38 years, a rare and meaningful opportunity for Catholics worldwide to come together in celebration.
“It is a rare opportunity as the Pope to come to Asia, and I signed up because I think it is very meaningful for so many Catholics over the world to come together for this celebration,” Miranda Choi, a member of the delegation, said, expressing her enthusiasm.
Led by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, the delegation consists of 47 eager participants from different parishes in Hong Kong. Pope Francis’ apostolic journey includes stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore from September 2 to 13. The theme for this visit is “Faith-Fraternity-Compassion.”
During a briefing on August 29, delegate Colin Choi expressed enthusiasm about being part of the tour, as the quota of 40 was reached on the first day of registration. He planned to accompany his mother-in-law, who is over 70 years old, to Rome. For many years she desired to go on a pilgrimage to Rome and could not believe that she now has an opportunity to see the pope.
In fact, his aim was to encourage the whole Church to evangelise, to reach out, and he put a lot of emphasis on this, not only through what he said or what he taught, but what he did himself and in his visits
Bishop Ha
In his opening prayer, Bishop Ha emphasised the trip’s purpose: to witness to the unity of the universal Church and enrich one’s spiritual life. “This we all know and understand, but we just need to actually experience and feel the passion. That is why we eagerly anticipate it,” he said.
Singapore, with its Catholic population of around 170,000 in a country of over five million, is a significant stop on the pope’s itinerary. Bishop Ha noted that Pope Francis’ visit aligns with his policy of reaching out to places on the peripheries where Catholics are not the majority.
“In fact, his aim was to encourage the whole Church to evangelise, to reach out, and he put a lot of emphasis on this, not only through what he said or what he taught, but what he did himself and in his visits,” Bishop Ha added.
In Singapore, the Hong Kong delegation will attend a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the National Stadium on September 12.
The delegation will also visit the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, the Church of Ss. Peter and Paul on September 11, as well as the Church of St. Mary of the Angels on September 13, where they will attend a Mass celebrated by Bishop Ha and local priests.
The delegation is scheduled to depart from Hong Kong on September 11. On the same day, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., the bishop of Hong Kong, will also travel to Singapore.
The Archdiocese of Singapore was the first among the four countries on Pope Francis’ itinerary to communicate to all the member dioceses of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference [FABC] about the opportunity to organise a group to attend the papal Mass there [Sunday Examiner, July 28].
