HONG KONG (SE): Our Lady of Perpetual Help chapel in Tai O, Lantau, is a small Catholic community on the periphery of Hong Kong. A 45 minute bus ride from either Tung Chung or Mui Wo would bring one to the chapel in this fishing village which is part of Epiphany Parish, and has a weekly Mass at 10.00am on Saturdays.
Although few in number and elderly, the Catholics in Tai O did something extraordinary this Christmas for the people living in the vicinity and for the hundreds of visitors who came from far and near: they recreated the Nativity scene utilising the entire premises.
A huge Christmas crib was set up at the entrance with life-sized statues at the manger, affording a photo op for passers-by. Hundreds of flowerpots adorned the premises, giving the chapel a face-lift and festive ambience. A large collection of religious articles such as holy medals, rosaries, statues of saints, T-shirts with religious themes and spiritual books were on display for grab. The small chapel on the first floor hosted the main crib, complete with angel flying over the manger!
A curious addition to the elaborate decorations this year, was a display of enlarged images of Christmas postage stamps from around the world. Numerous counties in the past issued postal stamps showing the Nativity.
Explaining the display, Claretian Father Jojo Ancheril said that one of their priests had a large collection of Christmas stamps and the idea was to show how nations around the world celebrated Christmas in history.
Hundreds of tourists, especially those from around the world who visit Tai O every day during the Christmas holidays found it amusing to see these rare stamps on display, he added.
The community organised two Christmas gatherings during the season, one for the local people—especially the elderly of Tai O, and the second one for the alumni of Wing Cho primary school which closed in 2003 after serving the community for over six decades.
Other than a Mass each Saturday, the chapel organises overnight Eucharistic adorations on the first Friday of every month.
Although the Catholic presence in the area is very nominal, various prayer groups and religious organisations frequent the chapel for a day of seminars and recollections.
