WANCHAI (SE): On the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Wan Chai, marked its 75th anniversary with heartfelt gratitude. The Chinese-speaking community celebrated this milestone on July 12 with a concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, followed by a joyful family meal. Over 700 faithful—including priests, religious, and parishioners—joined in the celebrations.
Father Thomas Law Kwok-fai warmly welcomed all the religious present, particularly the sisters from the Congregation of St. Paul de Chartres and the Canossian Daughters of Charity. These religious communities have faithfully served and shaped the Catholic presence in Wan Chai for more than a century, especially through their hospitals and schools for the poor.
In his homily, Bishop Ha reflected on the gospel reading of the Wedding at Cana, drawing a powerful parallel between Mary’s attentiveness to the needs of the wedding couple and the Church’s mission throughout history.
That is our call today, to do what Jesus tells us—to fill the jars of others with kindness, service, and love. Even the simplest acts can become moments of grace when done in obedience to the Lord
Just as Our Lady noticed the family’s need—“they have no wine”—so too did the Church in Wan Chai respond to the needs of society 100 years ago, through the dedicated work of the sisters who ministered to the sick and educated the poor.
Bishop Ha emphasised that the Church’s mission remains the same today: to see the needs of those around us and respond with love and action. At Cana, the servants did something simple—filling jars with water and drawing it out again—but it became miraculous because they obeyed Mary’s words: “Do whatever he tells you.”
The bishop said, “That is our call today, to do what Jesus tells us—to fill the jars of others with kindness, service, and love. Even the simplest acts can become moments of grace when done in obedience to the Lord.”
He praised Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish for continuing this mission faithfully. Each week, parishioners prepare care packages and reach out to the needy on the streets, especially on Fridays—quietly filling the jars of others, just as at Cana.
“The miracle of water turning into wine happens again,” Bishop Ha said, “when we respond to Mary’s invitation and love the Lord through our love for his people.”
