HONG KONG (SE): “Mission Sunday reminds us from time to time that every Christian should be able to share what they believe with others, especially what they know about the Lord Jesus Christ and our love for him and his special relationship with us,” said John Cardinal Tong Hon as he inaugurated a carnival organised by the East Kowloon Deanery.
The deaneries of the Diocese of Hong Kong hosted various activities on Mission Sunday, centered around the theme “Go and invite everyone to the banquet” [cf. Matthew 22:9] to encourage witnessing and sharing of faith.
Speaking at the Tseung Kwan O Catholic Primary School, which hosted the evangelisation carnival titled, “You Will Be My Witnesses” [Acts 1:8], Cardinal Tong urged attendees to evangelise with strong faith, determination, and knowledge.
He also encouraged people to participate in catechism classes at their parishes or consider becoming catechists, as this process promotes mutual learning, helping individuals to strengthen their own faith while sharing it with others.
Jennifer Yu Heung-ying, an award-winning actress and devout Catholic, shared her journey of faith throughout her career as a model and actress, as well as the challenges she has faced. She recalls being encouraged by a fellow Catholic who recognised the presence of God in her work.
Mission Sunday reminds us from time to time that every Christian should be able to share what they believe with others, especially what they know about the Lord Jesus Christ and our love for him and his special relationship with us
Cardinal Tong
Yu believes that her confidence in acting and her commitment to caring for marginalised communities are gifts from God. Through her films, she aims to raise awareness about social issues and promote healing in society.
Approximately one hour before the carnival began, volunteers started distributing leaflets on the main roads of Tseung Kwan O. Polly Chu, a member of St. James Parish who handed out leaflets at a pedestrian crossing near the primary school, noted that the response from passers-by was quite positive. Many were happy to receive the leaflets, especially parents with children.
The carnival, featuring booth games and a variety of performances—including dancing, martial arts, and drama—was supported by the six parishes of the deanery and the Catholic schools in the district.
Meanwhile, the Northwest New Territories Deanery hosted a gospel concert at Holy Redeemer Church in Tuen Mun on October 20, showcasing various choirs from the four parishes of the deanery. Wulstan Kwok, a member of the concert’s coordinating committee, explained that the event aimed to engage non-Catholics by moving away from traditional choir performances. Instead, it featured more diverse selections, including short plays and rearranged hymns performed with different instruments.
Hilda Wan, one of the coordinators of the musical, expressed joy at the involvement of 24 Filipino performers. She believes that despite any language barriers, their shared goal of spreading hope to the audience united them
Kwok emphasised that the title, “I Am the World of the Heavenly Father in His Eyes,” illustrates the idea that God’s love is not generic but individualised—much like a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to find the one that is lost.
Additionally, the eight parishes of the Hong Kong East Deanery jointly organised a musical titled “The Hope of Life” at Caritas Hall on Caine Road from October 18 to 20. On October 20, a group of liturgical dancers from St. Joseph’s Church, Garden Road, participated in a performance at 2:00pm.
Hilda Wan, one of the coordinators of the musical, expressed joy at the involvement of 24 Filipino performers. She believes that despite any language barriers, their shared goal of spreading hope to the audience united them.
Additionally, Epiphany Parish in Mui Wo organised a beach cleanup event. Father Ezakias Anthonyswamy, the parish priest, hoped that the evangelisation campaign would foster greater public engagement through activities that promote environmental awareness.
Participants, wearing white t-shirts designed for Mission Sunday, began the event with a prayer at 2:00pm. They picked up trash on a nearby beach and distributed rosaries, keychains, leaflets, and small gifts for children. This initiative aimed to connect with individuals at the beach and the ferry terminal, inviting some to return to the church. All prepared gifts were successfully distributed.
Mission Sunday serves as a reminder to reflect on the number of Catholics in Hong Kong and worldwide. As of 31 August 2023, the Diocese of Hong Kong has an estimated 392,000 faithful.
According to the latest edition of the Church’s Book of Statistics, updated to 31 December 2022, the global Catholic population reached 1,389,573,000, marking an increase of 13,721,000 compared to the previous year. This growth was observed on all continents except Europe, which experienced a decrease of 474,000. In 2022, Catholics comprised 17.7 per cent of the global population.
