HONG KONG (SE): A survey by the Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development has found broad support among Hong Kong parishes for foreign domestic workers who spend their Sundays and public holidays on church grounds. The survey also found significant practical challenges. The commission released the results on September 27, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
The commission asked Catholic parishes across the city how they provide rest space for migrant Catholics on their days off. Forty-two parishes responded, with questionnaires completed by parish priests, assistant priests and parish office staff.
More than 70 per cent of responding parishes said foreign domestic workers stayed on church grounds after Sunday Mass to rest, socialise and build community. The same proportion said domestic workers took an active part in parish life as lectors, collectors or choir members.
Most parishes celebrate Masses in English or other foreign languages. In 33 of them, migrant communities occupy between a third and a half of the parish premises. Facilities offered include parish halls, activity rooms, playgrounds, kitchens, drinking water, microwave ovens, toilets and storage lockers.
Most parishes celebrate Masses in English or other foreign languages. In 33 of them, migrant communities occupy between a third and a half of the parish premises
However, parishes face considerable practical difficulties. More than half share their grounds with schools, which complicates arrangements for security, cleaning and property management. More than 30 per cent named a lack of storage space as their main problem, followed by safety concerns, crowd control, a shortage of volunteers and utility costs.
A model at St. Joseph’s
St. Joseph’s Church, Garden Road, shows how one parish has responded to many of these challenges. Its parish priest, Divine Word Father Joseph Tan Leitao, told the Sunday Examiner how the parish welcomes thousands of Filipino domestic workers every Sunday. The parish celebrates 10 Masses in English and Tagalog between 7.00am and 6.00pm.
To make the best use of limited space, the parish renovated its indoor rooms with movable partitions that allow groups some privacy. Outdoors, three large folding tents fitted with electricity, fans and air-conditioning shelter visitors from Hong Kong’s fierce summer heat. Benches have been placed around tree trunks and near the grotto.
More than 200 volunteer ushers, who attend regular briefings, help keep order. The parish also holds monthly health checks and safety workshops. Father Tan said these efforts aim to make the church grounds a safe and welcoming home that nurtures spiritual growth and mutual care.
Recommendations
Jackie Hung Ling-yu, a project officer with the commission, said opening parish spaces brought real benefits to foreign domestic workers.
St. Joseph’s Church, Garden Road, shows how one parish has responded to many of these challenges. Its parish priest, Divine Word Father Joseph Tan Leitao, told the Sunday Examiner how the parish welcomes thousands of Filipino domestic workers every Sunday. The parish celebrates 10 Masses in English and Tagalog between 7.00am and 6.00pm
“While gathering on public streets lacks dignity and comfort, offering church grounds protects their privacy and safety from severe weather while ensuring they feel valued as genuine parishioners,” she said.
Hung said that, beyond providing shelter, parishes could become vital support networks. Workers facing financial hardship, mistreatment by employers or fraud could find emotional and practical guidance there, rather than struggling alone. Opening parish spaces could also encourage domestic workers to take part in church life, she said, helping them feel they belong as members of the Church rather than as outsiders.
She also recommended that parishes build referral networks with social workers and healthcare providers to help with the everyday problems domestic workers face. Such initiatives, she said, would be a concrete witness to the Church’s care for those who live far from their families.
