HONG KONG (SE): Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., assured migrants that the Church would walk alongside them and help ensure their voices are heard, as around 700 people gathered for a diocesan Migrants’ Day Mass at Christ the King Chapel, Causeway Bay, on October 19.
“The Church may not be able to help you solve many of your problems, but we promise you that we will walk with you … and you will not be voiceless. Together as a family and a synodal people, we certainly are messengers of hope!” the cardinal said.
Organised by the Diocesan Commission for Pastoral Services to Migrant Workers under the theme “Migrants’ Family: Messengers of Hope,” the annual celebration brought together communities of different nationalities from across Hong Kong. It also marked the diocese’s 80th anniversary.
More than 10 priests concelebrated, including the Filipino chaplain, Father Jay Francis Flandez; the Indonesian chaplain, Father Natalius Suryanto; the Vietnamese chaplain, Father James Ho; the German-speaking community’s chaplain, Father Franz Gassner; and Father James Cooray, who serves the Sri Lankan community.
Welcoming the congregation, Cardinal Stephen thanked migrant workers for their contribution to Hong Kong, saying their presence enriched the city and made it more colourful.
In his homily, he emphasised that spiritual richness matters more to God than material wealth, and that relationships lie at the heart of Christian life.
He linked the mistreatment and unfair dismissal of migrant workers to a failure to recognise their God-given dignity and to live in right relationship with God and others.
Warning against self-centredness and worldly desires, the cardinal encouraged the faithful to remain close to God amid suffering. Through the power of the resurrection, he said, alienation can give way to intimacy with God.
Acknowledging the hardships faced by migrant workers, he assured them that God remains close to the vulnerable and encouraged them to place their hope in his faithfulness.
Many languages, one community
The multilingual prayers of the faithful reflected the diversity of the congregation. Representatives offered petitions in Italian, Korean, Spanish, Burmese, French, German and Putonghua, as well as an African language.
They prayed for the universal Church, migrants and refugees, young people, world leaders, religious vocations, peace, the sick, prisoners and those who had died.
Cardinal Stephen thanked migrant workers for their contribution to Hong Kong, saying their presence enriched the city and made it more colourful
Filipino, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan choirs contributed to the liturgy, expressing the communities’ shared faith through their distinct musical traditions.
Speaking to the Sunday Examiner, Jonathan Frichot, who offered a prayer in French, described the gathering as a celebration of cultural diversity and unity in Christ.
Tobi Döringer of the German-speaking community, attending the annual Mass for the first time, said he particularly appreciated the choirs and the strong sense of community throughout the celebration.
Following the liturgy, Sister Victoria Victorino of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, the new director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos, offered thanks on behalf of the commission to the cardinal, concelebrants and everyone who had helped with the Mass.
She highlighted the celebration’s importance in fostering unity and shared joy among migrants of different nationalities.
Tobi Döringer of the German-speaking community, attending the annual Mass for the first time, said he particularly appreciated the choirs and the strong sense of community throughout the celebration
Presence as an expression of care
The Philippine consul general, Romulo Victor Manzano Israel Jr., and his wife presented the offertory gifts during the Mass.
In an interview at the event, Israel emphasised the importance of being present among Filipino migrants, describing participation in community gatherings as one way of expressing care and solidarity.
He also outlined plans to work with local organisations to convert underused spaces into a multipurpose hub for migrant workers. The proposed facility would include dormitory accommodation, educational and training facilities, and recreational areas.
Israel expressed hope that government and civil society partners would support the initiative and help bring it to fruition before the end of his tenure.
After Mass, participants gathered for photographs in their national groups before continuing the celebration with cultural performances and traditional dishes in the school grounds. The gathering offered an opportunity to strengthen friendships across communities and share a sense of home away from home.
