For more than 180 years, the Catholic Church has played a crucial role in education in Hong Kong. Missionaries established the first Chinese boys’ school in 1843, and in 1848, the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres arrived from France. They dedicated themselves to caring for abandoned infants in Wan Chai and later established the Holy Children’s Home to care for more children.
In 1860, the Canossian Sisters followed, starting a rich tradition of Catholic religious congregations contributing not only to education, but also to social services in Hong Kong. These efforts have provided countless children with access to education, empowering them to take charge of their futures.
Education is not just about knowledge but also about transforming lives. Recognising the profound impact of learning, the diocese has designated the fourth Sunday of September as Education Sunday—a day to celebrate the essential role that education plays in our society. Today, the Catholic Church operates 249 kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and tertiary institutions across Hong Kong. These are run by various religious congregatrions and lay organisations, including Caritas-Hong Kong.
Catholic schools have long been recognised for contributing to nurturing the moral and academic growth of Hong Kong’s youth. The Catholic Education Office oversees many of these schools, ensuring they uphold the Church’s mission of education and service to the community.
The schools are guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ, which include love, forgiveness, and service. They offer a strong academic education, covering core subjects such as Chinese, English, and mathematics. However, their mission goes beyond academics. They emphasise the development of students’ moral and spiritual dimensions, instilling core values such as truth, justice, love, life, and family.
Students are taught to discern right from wrong, develop empathy, and understand their responsibility to the marginalised. This holistic approach to education ensures that Catholic schools are not only cultivating the intellect but also nurturing the soul.
The theme for this year’s Education Sunday is “What were you arguing about on the road?” [Mark 9:33], from the gospel story where Jesus tells his disciples about his upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection. However, the disciples did not understand and even argued about who among them was the greatest. Their confusion arose from their inability to reconcile Jesus’ kingship with his impending suffering.
In today’s society, it’s important to help students understand that the glory of Christ as King goes beyond material wealth or power. The essence of Catholic education is to teach students to live according to Christ’s spirit, embracing truth, goodness, beauty, and love. In school, teachers should first recognize the real needs of students and listen to them patiently, avoiding division based on their grades. With guidance from such teachers, students can help and encourage each other, becoming good partners who treat others as they would want to be treated.
We hope that all educators will make schools truly a Garden of Eden where children can grow up happily. SE
