HONG KONG (SE): In their social media posts, Hong Kong’s participants and volunteers at World Youth Day (WYD) expressed that participating in various events in Lisbon, Portugal, was a chance for them to step outside their comfort zones and rekindle their faith.
Nicholas Lee Ming-yau from the Hong Kong delegation wants to communicate WYD’s messages to people who were unable to attend because of work or studies, so that their experiences can make a difference. He was also a volunteer during the pilgrimage working for the media.
“I am going to study with team members to see what more can be done. Creating a culture of WYD that is not for just young people, not only for one place; it is for the whole world, the whole world to celebrate a festival together,” he told Boiling Point, the social media platform of the Diocesan Youth Commission.
Over 350 delegates from Hong Kong joined the World Youth Day. While over 60 of them were diocesan delegates, there were also participants from parishes, religious institutes and schools.
In an interview with Boiling Point, Catholic media from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan shared about their efforts to present the events from the point of view of young people for those who could not take part in the event.
They recounted how their work as pastoral workers and Catholic media practitioners renewed their commitment to bringing Jesus’ love and peace to people worldwide. “In front of so many young people, we can see that they really need our services… As a staff of the Catholic media, we feel that spreading the gospel to people around us is an important mission, but our strength is always from God,” said Teresa Tse Ting-ting, a youth pastoral officer of the Diocesan Youth Commission who was also responsible for reporting.
She appreciated that for the efficiency of passing information, there was no printing of leaflets or notices, and details were conveniently passed through a WYD app or email. However, she admitted that crowd control and distribution of facilities were a big challenge for the organisers because it was the largest event organised by the Church since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Terry Leung Tsui-shan, another pastoral worker on the pilgrimage, said she was impressed by the openness and readiness of participants to share their views with other participants from around the world. As she watched the event, she realised that it was a reunion of like-minded Catholics across the globe who had been separated by the pandemic.
But she said unexpected changes always require a swift response from the media. She was happy that she could record it in time when the vehicle of Pope Francis suddenly passed by during the welcome ceremony on August 3.
In front of so many young people, we can see that they really need our services… As a staff of the Catholic media, we feel that spreading the gospel to people around us is an important mission, but our strength is always from God
Teresa Tse Ting-ting
After pilgrimages in France, Essen, and Spain, the diocesan delegates attended a two-day retreat at Viseu before arriving in Lisbon at the end of July. Vicar general, Father Paul Kam Po-wai, who held talks during the retreat, told the Boiling point that it was important for the delegates to keep up their communication with God and listen to his words before the activities of WYD.
The retreat reflected on Mary’s determination to follow God’s call, as demonstrated by the theme, Mary arose and went with haste [Luke 1:39]. “We hope that the 300 young people will be like Mary and become a living monstrance of the Eucharist who bring the peace, joy and love of Jesus to others through their sharings,” Father Kam said.
Father Tito Lopez Martin, the chairperson of the Diocesan Youth Commission, who led the diocesan delegation, thanked the people in Hong Kong who prayed for the WYD participants.
Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, went to Lisbon to concelebrate the opening Mass on August 1, held catechism talks from August 2 to 4 and celebrated Mass in Cantonese.
Under the theme, Rise Up Encounter, Bishop Chow talked about communion and ecology and the role of the Church in the modern world in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli tutti. He also encouraged young people to experience the Lord’s mercy and loving forgiveness through the sacrament of Reconciliation.
In a video on the Boiling Point Facebook page, he called on all delegates from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and mainland China to work together for the unity of the Church.
As the event came to an end on August 6, the delegation had dinner with Bishop Chow to celebrate his birthday, which fell on the next day. The delegates left Lisbon for Hong Kong on August 7 after attending a thanksgiving Mass for priests and volunteers serving in the delegation.
