The Diocese of Hong Kong recently launched the Connect 同行 mobile app, which is more than just a new digital tool. It reminds us that the Church needs to share the gospel in every era, using the resources we have to bring people together. As more of our conversations happen through digital devices, the Church cannot stand aside. Still, we must remember that technology should help us share our faith, not take its place.
The name of the app, Connect 同行 [Walking Together], reflects what the Church is all about. Walking together means listening, making decisions together, and supporting each other in faith. When used wisely, digital tools can help by making prayer resources easier to find, improving communication between parishes and members, and helping people stay involved with the Church beyond Sunday Mass.
Connecting online isn’t the same as true Christian community. The Church grows through personal relationships. Jesus called his disciples by name, spent time with them, ate with them, listened, and built community. The Incarnation shows God chooses to be present, not distant. Sacraments like the Eucharist remind us that faith is lived in real life. We gather in person because communion means sharing life in Christ, not just information.
Pope Francis has often said that digital media should help us meet each other, not feel alone. He encourages us to use technology to build “a culture of encounter” that brings people together in real relationships filled with compassion, conversation, and friendship. Digital platforms should help people join parish life, not replace it.
Pope Leo XIV envisions the Church as a unifying, missionary sign that reaches out digitally to those distant from the Church—such as youth, busy families, and the elderly. Digital evangelisation isn’t an end but a means to invite greater participation in sacraments and community life.
The success of Connect 同行 isn’t measured by download numbers or notification counts. Instead, it’s about whether it inspires someone to attend Sunday Mass again, invites families to pray together, introduces individuals to the faith, supports parishioners in serving each other more, or helps lonely people find a warm Christian community.
Digital technology offers valuable methods to share faith, teach, and connect. However, no app, however sophisticated, can replace a heartfelt welcome, communal prayer, a visit from a pastor, or the grace found in the sacraments. The Church’s mission remains profoundly human because it centres on the mystery of God becoming human.
As Hong Kong explores new ways to connect people in the Church, our true goal is not merely to build larger digital networks but to foster stronger Christian communities. Technology can assist us in walking together, yet only hearts transformed by Christ can genuinely journey in faith, hope, and love. Ultimately, the Church’s greatest “connection” is not wireless. It is the communion that derives from Christ, who unites us as one and sends us out to share his love. Josekutty Mathew, CMF
