By Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, OFM
How does it feel to attend the papal Mass with 50,000 people? Sitting on the makeshift altar in the huge stadium, I looked out at the packed venue and was filled with wonder, gratitude and praise. I was amazed that so many people of different races, languages and backgrounds gathered around Pope Francis, the representative of Christ on earth, to present the People of God so perfectly; I was thankful that I was able to join together with my brothers and sisters of the Hong Kong delegation and had the honour to participate in the experience; and I praised the Good Lord for, through the Church united in Communion, reaffirming his promise to the world in today’s difficult times: “I will always be with you”!
The Hong Kong delegation’s itinerary was only three days long. On the first day, we arrived in the Lion City and visited the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. We met brothers and sisters from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar who had also come to participate in the service, showing that we were indeed one in God’s family.
Afterwards, we went to the nearby St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, where a group of Hong Kong Catholic immigrants in Singapore was waiting for us. They warmly received us, gave us a guided tour, and served us refreshments, making us feel at home. They also informed us that a Cantonese Mass is celebrated there every Sunday afternoon.
The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the papal Mass the next day. The members of our delegation were unable to contain their excitement, as this was the climax of our entire trip. The volunteers in charge of reception, both inside and outside the venue, were attentive and polite. Many of them held rosaries and eagerly sought blessings from the clergy, displaying great enthusiasm.
The rosary was recited and the Divine Mercy chaplets were sung by tens of thousands of people in the venue in a new and powerful way. A thought-provoking short play showed the challenges of the digital age in today’s families and pointed out that faith can be a spiritual force to unite family members.
Prior to the Mass, the Holy Father circled the arena, stopping several times to receive the little children, a perfect illustration of Jesus’ spirit of “Let the children come to me”.
The Thanksgiving Service itself was simple but solemn, and the first thing that left a deep impression was the pope’s homily in which he urged the faithful to accept all people without favouritism or discrimination. Then there was the 1,600-strong choir, which sang beautifully with heavenly music.
Before the end, the pope went to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and sang the Ave Maria with the whole people of God, fully expressing the feelings of a child of God; on the way out, the pope touched the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a simple, very touching gesture.
On our final day, we attended Mass at the Franciscan Church of St. Mary of the Angels. Father Michael D’Cruz expressed his gratitude for our visit. We were deeply honored when he mentioned that our visit would allow their parish community to contribute to the unity and communion of the Church.
In all honesty, there aren’t many places to visit in Singapore. However, for our group, the experience was incredibly rewarding, filled with joy and gratitude. Meeting the pope made us realise that we are one family and that God is truly with us!
