HONG KONG (SE): The Guadalupe Missioners in East Asia gathered in thanksgiving on October 1 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their presence in Hong Kong.
The thanksgiving Mass, coinciding with the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, patron of missions, was presided over by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, and concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus John Cardinal Tong Hon; Father Peter Choi Wai-man, vicar general; together with over 30 priests, including Guadalupe missionaries from Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and Indonesia.
The call to mission
Preaching in both English and Chinese, Cardinal Stephen drew from the day’s readings—St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans and the Gospel of Matthew—to highlight the essence of Christian mission: to bear witness through both word and life.
“Faith becomes credible when lived with integrity, when one’s words and actions reflect the unity of heart and mind,” he said. Evangelisation, he added, “is life touching life,” reconciling what sin has broken and making new life in Christ possible.
The cardinal underlined that the mandate Jesus entrusted to his disciples—to go and make disciples of all nations—remains the mission of the Church today. This call transcends divisions of race, class, or status. “In the gospel there is no place for barriers,” he reminded the congregation. “Evangelisation is never exclusive—it is an invitation for every person to encounter the saving love of Christ.”
Faith becomes credible when lived with integrity, when one’s words and actions reflect the unity of heart and mind
Cardinal Stephen
Reflecting on the 50 years of Guadalupe Missioners’ presence in Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen encouraged them not to be discouraged by moments of confusion or doubt. Such moments, he said, “can be a call to re-examine our mission, to discern how the Lord is inviting us to better serve his greater glory in a constantly changing environment.”
He connected this missionary journey with the call to a synodal Church. “As we commit ourselves to the realisation of a Synodal Church with the local Church, we must ask: how are we called to conversion, personally and corporately, and how can we contribute to diocesan renewal?”
Cardinal Stephen affirmed that with the Lord’s abiding presence, “we can certainly move on together as fellow pilgrims of hope.”
A legacy of service
At the end of the Mass, Father Tito Martin Lopez, superior of the Guadalupe Missionaries in Hong Kong, and Father Arturo De la Torre, first councillor, expressed words of gratitude. They recalled the humble beginnings of the mission in 1975, when the first five missionaries arrived from Mexico to serve the local Church.
“Fifty years ago, a dream came true,” Father Tito said, recalling Bishop Alonso Manuel Escalante, a Maryknoll missionary in China and the founding superior of the Guadalupe Missioners, whose vision of a missionary presence in China was realised in Hong Kong.
As we commit ourselves to the realisation of a Synodal Church with the local Church, we must ask: how are we called to conversion, personally and corporately, and how can we contribute to diocesan renewal?
Cardinal Stephen
Father Tito drew attention to an inscription on one of the cathedral’s pillars: “with the help of the Mexican benefactors.” He noted that this small detail reflects a long history of solidarity between the Church in Mexico and Hong Kong. “Our presence here is part of that same humble and ongoing effort of the Mexican Church to contribute to the Mission ad gentes of the universal Church.”
He paid tribute to generations of Guadalupe missionaries who served faithfully in Hong Kong over the past five decades through parish work, education, healthcare, prison ministry, and spiritual guidance. “Your strong commitment has helped transform and inspire countless individuals and communities,” he said.
Gratitude and communion
The superior also expressed gratitude to the bishops of Hong Kong, to the diocesan clergy and religious communities, and to parishioners who welcomed the missionaries with open arms. “Together, diocesan, religious, and missionary priests, we have created a tapestry of shared experiences and mutual respect,” he said.
He also acknowledged the presence of Guadalupe missionaries working across Asia and members of the general council who travelled to Hong Kong for the anniversary celebrations. Their presence, he said, was “a sign of communion in the same mission of the universal Church.”
Our presence here is part of that same humble and ongoing effort of the Mexican Church to contribute to the Mission ad gentes of the universal Church
Father Tito
Looking to the future, Father Tito entrusted the missionaries’ work to Our Lady of Guadalupe, “model of inculturation and tangible sign of the presence and love of Jesus to the poor.” He invited the faithful to continue supporting and praying for the Guadalupe Missioners: “Let us give thanks to God for the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future filled with hope and purpose.”
The celebration concluded with a reception at Caritas Hall, where clergy, religious, and lay faithful gathered to continue sharing the joy of this milestone in the life of the diocese.
