HONG KONG / KENYA — Deacon Benedict Shum Hin-ho, a diocesan seminarian of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, was ordained to the diaconate a year ago by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, on 14 September 2024 at Christ the King Chapel, St. Paul’s Convent, Causeway Bay.
As part of his formation for the priesthood, Deacon Benedict was sent by the diocese to Kenya in December 2024 for a one-year pastoral immersion. He was assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, under the care of the Guadalupe Missionaries, where he has been actively engaged in pastoral and community life.
On 17 July 2025, Cardinal Chow paid a pastoral visit to the parish and was warmly received by the local community. At the time of the visit, the parish priest—a Guadalupe missionary—was on vacation, and Deacon Benedict, together with the assistant, was helping oversee both the parish and the school.
“A lot of work, but he is doing well and is very happy here,” Cardinal Stephen remarked after the visit. The cardinal expressed joy and admiration at witnessing how Deacon Benedict has “grown and thrived in his character and personality” in this new environment. During his time in Kenya, the cardinal also met with the regional superior of the Guadalupe Missionaries to express gratitude for their collaboration in pastoral formation.
He had some Ethiopian coffee and had a comment: “Ethiopian coffee. A different taste. There is frankincense offered before us” [不同的味道。有乳香供奉在我們前面].
