HONG KONG (SE): In the spirit of “Give Them a Ray of Hope,” Caritas Hong Kong is hosting a series of charity bazaars at various locations throughout Hong Kong to raise funds for those in need. The bazaars will take place between November 3 and 17 in Victoria Park, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Cheung Chau, and Fa Hui Park on Boundary Street.
The opening ceremony at Victoria Park was officiated by Chris Sun Yuk-han, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare; Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing; and Flora Leung, the head of the Retail and Wealth Management Department at ICBC Ltd. and chairperson of the Caritas Fund Raising Committee. They were joined by Father Joseph Yim Tak-lung, the Chief Executive of Caritas Hong Kong, and other guests.
In his message, Bishop Ha highlighted the importance of the Caritas Charity Bazaars, emphasising their role in promoting community involvement and fostering love and hope. He also acknowledged the growing challenges of organising the bazaar and praised the Caritas team’s dedication in overcoming them.
He expressed gratitude to all participants, including parishes, Catholic schools, organisations, and Caritas units.
After the opening ceremony, Bishop Ha and the guests visited the various booths. Over 60 organisations set up around 200 booths in Victoria Park, offering games, gifts, snacks, and handicraft tutorials.
In his message, Bishop Ha highlighted the importance of the Caritas Charity Bazaars, emphasising their role in promoting community involvement and fostering love and hope
Mustering the efforts of young people
Aberdeen Technical School set up a booth featuring a dark, maze-like room under the theme “Hope in Darkness.” Visitors were invited to search for treasure boxes containing light sources, flowers, animal toys, and other items.
Wilson Lee, a teacher, explained that this symbolic activity was designed by the students to help young people discover hope and positive energy in difficult times. “The message is that even during challenging periods, when facing pressures from school and the online world, there is still light and hope,” Lee stated.
St. Margaret Mary’s Church organised several games for the bazaar. Patrick Wu, the leader of the parish’s youth formation group, mentioned that around 200 volunteers were recruited this year from the parish, schools, and the surrounding communities.
He expressed his gratitude to the young volunteers who dedicated weeks to prepare for the event, often staying late into the night at the parish despite having to study for their exams.
Wu believes that the annual bazaar fosters a sense of community among the youth.
The message is that even during challenging periods, when facing pressures from school and the online world, there is still light and hope
Wilson Lee
“Young people need opportunities to contribute to the parish and feel a sense of belonging,” he said.
In the game design competition, Raimondi College won first place, Sacred Heart Canossian College placed second, and Canossa College placed third. St. Margaret Mary’s Church received an outstanding award for its efforts.
On behalf of the Hong Kong East Deanery, Father Andrew Kim, the parish priest of St. Margaret’s, celebrated Mass at Victoria Park on the night of November 2. During the service, he expressed his appreciation for the volunteers who dedicated their time to set up the booths before the event.
The event also featured stage performances, including a highlight by a group of disadvantaged performers from Caritas Joyous Link, who showcased their dance and martial arts talents.
Cara Chun, the instructor, mentioned that this was the team’s first performance at Victoria Park since the Covid-19 pandemic, and the members were eager to participate. She noted that some performers were first-timers, while others had been performing for over 10 years.
Chun acknowledged that the mentally and physically disadvantaged participants might face challenges in synchronizing with the rhythms of the music, but she believed these challenges could be overcome, given the group’s shared interest in the performing arts.
Young people need opportunities to contribute to the parish and feel a sense of belonging
Wilson Lee
She expressed her gratitude for the dedication shown by both the participants and their parents, who consistently attended weekly training sessions despite any difficulties they faced.
The same day, another bazaar was held at Tuen Mun Cultural Square in the New Territories.
This year, many of the bazaars are returning to larger public spaces, with the number of stalls rising back up to pre-pandemic levels. On November 10, there will be more than 200 booths at the bazaar on in Fa Hui Park, Boundary Street, Kowloon, while the bazaar in Cheung Chau will also resume at Pak Tai Temple Playground.
A number of small charity bazaars were also held by other parishes on different dates, such as the ones organised by Holy Cross Parish, Shau Kei Wan, on October 20, St. Jude’s parish, North Point on October 27, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Tai Po on November 3.
Cardinal Stephen Chow S.J. is scheduled to officiate at the opening ceremony at the bazaar in Fa Hui Park on November 10.
