HONG KONG (SE): Our Lady of Fatima Church, Cheung Chau, celebrated the 104th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima on May 9. Father Joseph Yim Tak-lung, the chief executive of Caritas-Hong Kong concelebrated Mass with Claretian Missionaries: Father Alberto Rossa, Father Jojo Ancheril and Father Josekutty Mathew, parish priest. The Mass began at 11.30am after the recitation of 20 decades of the Rosary.
“Although we do not understand the meaning of everything that happens in life, let us not lose hope, but be convinced of God’s divine plan for our lives,” Father Yim said in his homily on the faith and example of the Blessed Mother.
May 9 was also the International Mothers’ Day. He exhorted the faithful to follow the message of Our Lady of Fatima to spend time in prayer, pray the Rosary and do penance for peace in the world.
Although we do not understand the meaning of everything that happens in life, let us not lose hope, but be convinced of God’s divine plan for our lives
Father Joseph Yim
Greeting all the mothers, Father Yim remarked that a triple celebration was being marked: the parish feast day, Mothers’ Day, and May as the month dedicated to the special veneration of Mary.
Responding to the invitation of Pope Francis to pray the Rosary in the month of May for divine assistance in our fight against the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and in preparation for the feast day celebration, the parish organised a nine-day recitation of the Rosary from May 1 to 8.
Tang Wai-cheung, the chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council, thanked Father Yim, the concelebrating priests and the pilgrims for their participation and prayers. In her words of gratitude, Tang announced the start of preparations for the celebration of 70th anniversary of the parish next year. She invited all the faithful to pray for the upcoming celebrations and hoped that the activities would be carried out smoothly.
With the diocesan regulations in place for religious gatherings due to the pandemic situation, the feast day celebration was held under virus prevention measures.
