HONG KONG (SE): During the Easter Vigil Mass on April 19 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Caine Road, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., called for a renewed commitment to the culture of life, encouraging all the faithful to embrace the hope and transformation made possible through Christ’s resurrection.
This Easter, approximately 2,470 adults and children were baptised across the diocese. At the cathedral, Cardinal Stephen, together with Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, cathedral parish priest, presided over the baptism of 64 candidates, who also received the Sacrament of Confirmation during the liturgy.
The vigil began with the traditional blessing of the fire outside followed by a candlelit procession into the church. Cardinal Stephen lit the Paschal candle at the altar, symbolising the triumph of life over death.
In his homily, the cardinal reflected on the spiritual significance of Easter and the need for believers to be attentive to God’s word and the action of the Holy Spirit. He described God as a “diamond,” reflecting truth and beauty from many facets, and reminded the faithful that each day bears witness to divine love and the wonder of creation, if seen through the eyes of faith.
He recalled the deliverance of the Israelites as they passed through the Red Sea as a reminder of God’s response to human suffering and urged the faithful to deepen their understanding of scripture and to live renewed lives grounded in the resurrection of Christ.
The cardinal also offered a pastoral exhortation on the importance of cultivating a “culture of life,” warning against the influences of a “culture of death” marked by hatred, revenge, oppression, greed, and violence.
“We can be misled by a culture of death, which promotes negative thoughts and actions in which we cannot find the way to eternal life,” he said. “Truly, the way to eternal life can only be found in the culture of life—which means appreciation, gratitude, tolerance, forgiveness, empathy, co-operation and communion.”
Following the homily, Cardinal Stephen blessed the baptismal water in the cathedral’s two fonts. The catechumens renounced sin and professed their faith, before receiving the Sacrament of Baptism from the cardinal and Father Chan. They were then clothed in white garments, symbolising new life in Christ, and received lighted candles from their godparents. The rite continued with the sprinkling of holy water over the congregation and the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation through the anointing with chrism oil.
The congregation welcomed the newly-baptised with joy, singing hymns and waving candles.
Among the newly-baptised was Lazarus Tsang, who shared his journey to the faith with the Sunday Examiner. Influenced by his wife and sons, all practising Catholics, he attended catechism classes for two years. “As I approach this new chapter in my life, I feel both nervous and happy—and joyful at gaining new life through faith,” he said.
