HONG KONG (SE): Pope Francis named Jesuit Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan, provincial of the Chinese province of the Society of Jesus, to be the new bishop of Hong Kong on May 17. The 62-year-old bishop-elect was ordained a priest 27 years ago by John Baptist Cardinal Wu Cheng-chung on 16 July 1994, the feast of Mount Carmel.
“It took months of discernment, consultation and prayer to accept this appointment,” Father Chow wrote on his Facebook page, after his appointment was announced at 6.00pm Hong Kong time on May 17.
In view of the arrangements being made by the Society of Jesus for the appointment of a new provincial superior, the episcopal consecration of Father Chow will be held on December 4.
The Catholic Social Communications Office announced that John Cardinal Tong Hon, apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, will continue in office until Father Chow takes canonical possession of the diocese after his installation as bishop in December.
While addressing the media on May 18 at the Catholic Diocese Centre, Caine Road, Father Chow answered an array of questions regarding his vision for the diocese, its relationship and integration the Hong Kong society and relationship with the Church in China.
The bishop-elect said that he believed that “the bishop of the diocese should better come from among the diocesan priests,” responding to a question from the Sunday Examiner on what his fears or concerns might be and the difficulty that he had in accepting the appointment.
‘Do you know how a bridge works? A bridge must be stepped over by people, so that it can bring people to the other side. Being a bridge, in a sense, entails bearing the burden’
Bishop-elect Stephen Chow
He added, “Anyway, the decision is not mine. I have discussed and discerned with my Father General in Rome. At the end—as a Jesuit, I owe my obedience to the Holy Father.” The bishop-elect recounted, “The Holy Father wrote something—in his handwriting—that he ‘agrees that I should be the bishop.’ I read the letter—in Italian, I don’t know Italian—but it was translated for me. For me, that was a sign that I should take it up. And Hong Kong is a place I really love, my birthplace and the place where I grew up.”
Bishop-elect Chow has been supervisor of both the Wah Yan colleges in Hong Kong, two prestigious Jesuit educational institutions in the city, since 2006. He described his role of supervisor as that of being a ‘bridge.”
In an article titled, A Wahyanite becomes the school supervisor–to be bridge for students, published on 14 December 2020 in the website of the Jesuits of the China province (www.amdgchinese.org/en), he asks: “Do you know how a bridge works? A bridge must be stepped over by people, so that it can bring people to the other side. Being a bridge, in a sense, entails bearing the burden. My words may not cater to both sides, but at least, it brings people from the two sides to come together in the middle. Otherwise, there is no future for society. My role is to act as a bridge.”
Maybe Wah Yan was a preparatory ground for Father Chow to hone his proficiencies for the tougher job of heading the Catholic Church in Hong Kong. He has a clear grasp of the ground realities of the Hong Kong society.
“But I do believe that there is a God who wants us to be united! Unity is not the same as uniformity. I always mentioned in my schools, we must respect unity in plurality. It is something that we must learn to respect—plurality,”
When the Sunday Examiner quizzed him on his role of being a bridge in the larger perspective of the diocese, Father Chow said, “Two years ago, Hong Kong and even my school community was much divided. The question was how to bring healing. It takes a long process—and I am not saying I was successful, but I am doing my best. Listening with empathy is very important and this is the fundamental point.” Being a bridge is what the Church in Hong Kong needs at this time, to bring the scattered flock together from their polarities. This role of a bridge is more relevant and appropriate for Father Stephen in his new office.
Responding question about accompanying young people in the future, especially on occasions like observing June 4 (Tiananmen vigil), Father Chow responded: “There are different ways of commemoration. Sometimes in the past I had joined the event in the public arena, but there were times I could not go. So I pray, I pray for China, pray for all those who have passed away in 1989. Whether it is possible this year depends on the legal requirements.”
On the relationship with Beijing, Father Chow opined that we must start with a sense of faith; that we don’t assume Beijing as enemy. We hope to have dialogue and develop better understanding. “It is not that I am afraid to talk about controversial or political issues. Rather, we believe prudence is a virtue,” he said.
A journalist asked Father Chow what advice would he give for Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor, the chief executive of Hong Kong, who is also a Catholic, as criticisms have been levelled against her government for losing touch with the people and refusing to listen to their views. He responded that he has not yet met the chief executive and it is not proper for him to advise her through a press meet.
Responding to a query on how he hopes to bring about unity in the Church community, which has been highly polarised in the recent past, Father Chow noted that he has just been appointed as the bishop and he has no big plans. “But I do believe that there is a God who wants us to be united! Unity is not the same as uniformity. I always mentioned in my schools, we must respect unity in plurality. It is something that we must learn to respect—plurality,” he said.
Father Chow sounded convinced and categorical when he said, “Religious freedom is our basic right. We want to really talk to the government not to forget that. It is important to allow religious freedom, matters of faith—not just Catholic, but any religion should be free.”
Marc Cardinal Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, in an interview with Vatican News, on April 26, explained the typical profile of a candidate for the ministry of bishop, saying, “The criterion is not to seek perfection- ‘saints’ to put on a pedestal—but men who certainly possess human and spiritual virtues. The first of these is prudence … balance between action and reflection while exercising a responsibility that requires great dedication and courage.”
Father Chow’s clarity of vision and commitment to the mission entrusted to him during his over a decade-long service as an educator must have served as a vital indicator for the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong and the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples in the process of identifying the right man with human and spiritual virtues.
The fact that the process has taken over two years to complete indicates the complexities involved. It would also be a pointer for the bishop-elect towards the tough task at hand.
