HONG KONG (SE): During Mass on May 24, the Day of Prayer for the Church in China as well as the feast of Mary Help of Christians, Cardinal Stephen Chow S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, called for prayers for further inculturation and the continuation of the Church’s mission in the spirit of synodality, invoking Mary, Help of Christians, for guidance.
The Mass was held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Caine Road, and concelebrated by John Cardinal Tong Hon, Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, the former bishops of Hong Kong; Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing; vicar general, Father Peter Choy Wai-man, and about 10 other priests of the diocese.
The liturgy began with Cardinal Stephen incensing the image of Our Lady of Sheshan, after which he led everyone in veneration of Our Lady and prayed for her intercession for the Church to have more strength to face its trials.
The cardinal delivered his homily in Chinese and English. He said the day was set aside to pray and show care and support for the Church in China. “In prayer, we show understanding for each other’s needs. Spiritually, we stand with them. We pray to our wise God for the good of the other person. We don’t have to agree with everything to pray for someone, as his heart is also turned towards God. We will ask God to give the best…” he said.
On May 27, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a letter to the Catholic Church in China expressing his desire for Catholics worldwide to unite in prayer with them. He asked that May 24, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai, be designated as a day of prayer for the Church in China. With this letter, Pope Benedict wanted to convey to the Church in China that they are particularly close to the heart of the Holy Father.
In prayer, we show understanding for each other’s needs. Spiritually, we stand with them. We pray to our wise God for the good of the other person
Refering to the gospel reading [Luke 1:39-45] about the Blessed Virgin who travelled a long distance through hills to visit her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, Cardinal Chow highlighted the proactive spirit and faith of Our Lady as a role model for the Church in China and all over the world.
The cardinal then talked about the mission of the Church in China and the significance of the Concilium Sinense held in Shanghai in May and June 1924, the first Council of the Chinese Catholic Church led by Archbishop Celso Constantini, who was appointed by Pope Pius XI.
During the council, crucial decisions were made to ordain Chinese clergy as bishops for Chinese Church. Participants of the historic council then went on pilgrimage to the shrine in Sheshan.
“Archbishop Celso Constantini was reported to have said at the first ever Concilium Sinense held in Shanghai a century ago, that the mission of the Church was to evangelise, not colonise. And this was reiterated by Pope Francis and his predecessors, that the mission of the Church should not be a political one, but evangelisation,” he said.
“And there should be no inherent contradiction for one to be a good Christian and a good citizen. So thanks be to God that we have great missionary models who went before us in the great Apostle Paul and Father Matteo Ricci, showing us how to become all things to all,” he continued.
“The inculturation of the Chinese Church started a century ago, and that must continue,” the cardinal concluded.
During the prayer of the faithful, the congregation expressed their good wishes and concern for the health and wisdom of the Holy Father and all pastors, the faith of people in China, the Church in Hong Kong and its mission as a bridging Church, and the vocation of young people to serve the Church.
At the end of the Mass, a prayer by His Holiness Benedict XVI, “To Our Lady of Sheshan on the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China”, was recited by Precious Blood Sister Agnes Au, before the image of Our Lady to honour her perseverance in the face of trials.
