HONG KONG (SE): In an online Mass marking the solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19 at St. Joseph’s Church, Garden Road, Father Joseph Tan Leitao, parish priest, said St. Joseph set a good example by showing an open spirit to serve, which the parish has adopted as its motto.
The Mass was concelebrated with Father Paul Chen Zhongxue, assistant parish priest.
After the prayers of the faithful, Father Tan also prayed for fast relief from the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, for the parishioners and overseas Filipino workers who endure numerous difficulties and regard the parish as their home away from home.
In his homily, Father Tan said the parish plans to organise activities to celebrate the Year of St. Joseph, to help people to learn from the saint’s openness to serve God.
Enumerating the virtue of Joseph marrying Mary who was already pregnant, in obeying the messages of the angel as he protected her and the Child Jesus, Father Tan encouraged people to read the apostolic letter of Pope Francis, Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart) in which the pope expounds on the virtues of the beloved, merciful, obedient, accepting and creatively brave earthly father of Jesus.
“St. Joseph’s parish also serves with an open spirit,” said Father Tan, noting that it serves parishioners from all walks of life, responding to the demands and changes in history. “In 1871 when it was built, the majority of its parishioners were foreign soldiers. Later, it mainly served British people. Starting from 1980s, most parishioners have been Filipinos working overseas. So the church has served its people with a spirit of openness to all their needs.”
He told the Sunday Examiner that the parish gave out a total of 170,000 facemasks for foreign domestic workers in 2020, as there was a shortage of masks at the time
Father Tan recalled that the parish found it necessary to offer a Mass in Cantonese, as there was a need to serve the Chinese-speaking people as well, so services have offered each Saturday Cantonese Mass since 2019.
The parish will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its establishment next year and a committee has been planning activities for the event.
‘We can learn from St. Joseph. Even though we do not understand, we have a trust in God. We believe God is always with us. We believe God is always protecting us and is walking with us in all situations of our lives,’
Father Paul Chen
.Father Chen said the life of St. Joseph presents to us many virtues from which we can learn. What inspires him most is the saint’s deep trust in God, which enabled him to accept Mary and to protect the Holy Family amid trials.
“In our lives, there are many times when we have no clue about why something is happening, like the Covid-19 (pandemic) which has been going on for more than a year,” he said.
“We can learn from St. Joseph. Even though we do not understand, we have a trust in God. We believe God is always with us. We believe God is always protecting us and is walking with us in all situations of our lives,” Father Chen said.
A novena to St. Joseph—on nine consecutive Sundays—began on February. Another unique activity is the introduction of the life of 10 saints named Joseph to parishioners starting from March until December. In March, the first saint honoured was St. Joseph Moscati, a doctor for the poor who took care of their medical as well as spiritual needs.
On April 5, a 12.5 metre high and three metre wide mural marking the Year of St. Joseph will be blessed at 1:15pm, outside the parish’s new lift. It will be followed by a retreat. The event will be livestreamed as well.
On May 1, a special Mass marking the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker will be celebrated and prayers will also be offered for people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
