Pope Francis APPOINTED the Jesuit Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan as the next bishop of Hong Kong on May 17. This is indeed good news for the local Church, which has been awaiting a new bishop for over two years.
The bishop-elect, who met with the media on May 18, shared his thoughts and feelings about accepting the appointment and revealed some of his pastoral concerns about the days ahead.
Father Chow went through a discernment process, initially declining, as he felt the bishop should be a diocesan priest. However, noting that his obedience it to the pope, he recounted that Pope Francis wrote him a letter agreeing that he should be the bishop. So in full obedience and loyalty, Father Chow finally accepted the appointment.
At the start of the press conference, the bishop-elect clearly expressed his hope to help neglected communities such as those who suffer from domestic abuse and job loss. He understands that to achieve these aims, the Church needs to work with other religious groups, charities and the government to help improve livelihoods in Hong Kong
In this process, the issues of religion and politics cannot be avoided in the broadest sense, politics is everyone’s business and involves every aspect of life. Religion emphasises the salvation of human souls and empowers everyone to lead a better life with human dignity being respected. The Church gives mission the priority and mission can enhance the quality of human souls and people’s livelihoods.
The bishop-elect also touched on that fact that the Church must accompany young people, a big part of which must be empathetic listening. Empathy is conducive to understanding another person’s situations and views. It does not necessarily require full agreement. However, understanding and sensitivity to the feelings expressed is a good beginning. Father Chow expressed a hope to help diverse young people to develop empathy so that all of us can walk together.
The Church needs to understand their different views and to find an opportunity to invite them to dialogue instead of engaging in debates to determine wins and who loses. There should be an expectation for all parties to have real dialogue, in which they listen to each other.
Starting in May, the Society of Jesus launched the Ignatian Year, commemorating of the 500th anniversary of the conversion of its founder, St Ignatius of Loyola, with the theme: To see all things new in Christ,.
This primary aim is the celebration of the great work God has done through Ignatius, transforming a soldier and courtier to a humble and great pilgrim who did God’s will. During a battle, he suffered severe leg wounds and nearly died. This destroyed all his aspirations. However, it was during this experience that he saw all things new.
This transformation is an inspiration to the local Church and to the Catholics in Hong Kong to do God’s will.
Let us pray for the diocese and Hong Kong, especially for Bishop-elect Stephen Chow. As John Cardinal Tong longed for, under the leadership of the bishop-elect, the diocese can serve the Church and society with wisdom and love. SE
