HONG KONG (SE): More than 5,000 people participated in a special relic pilgrimage titled, “Pilgrims of Hope, Walk with the Saints”, held from July 1 to 13, as part of the celebrations for the Jubilee Year.
The event concluded with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on July 13.
Standing before the relic of the True Cross during the liturgy, Cardinal Stephen reflected, “Today, the relics—and this little piece of wood from the cross of our Lord—remind us that the saints and we ourselves are truly embraced by the great love of Christ and also by his death and resurrection.”
The pilgrimage, jointly organised by the Diocesan Commission for Marriage and the Family and the Catholic Education Office, in collaboration with various religious congregations, featured 26 sessions of veneration of the sacred relics, held at Caritas Community Hall and Raimondi College.
A total of 120 relics of saints and martyrs were on display, offering the faithful an opportunity to draw inspiration from the lives of those who bore witness to Christ through love, sacrifice, and perseverance.
In his homily, Cardinal Stephen reminded the faithful that the path to holiness is not reserved for the perfect. “The difference between saints and sinners is not always obvious,” he noted. “Sinners can turn back to God, and lives can change.”
He critiqued today’s results-driven culture that measures a person’s worth by achievements and performance indicators, warning against the trap of “being by doing.” Instead, he urged believers to focus on “the state of our hearts and how we love God.”
The difference between saints and sinners is not always obvious. Sinners can turn back to God, and lives can change
Cardinal Stephen
He stressed the Christian imperative to love not only God but also one’s neighbours—especially those often overlooked: the voiceless, the marginalised, the unborn, and the oppressed. “That is the true measure of our witness,” he said.
Before each veneration session, participants viewed a short video in which Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha explained the Catholic understanding of venerating saints and relics. Bishop Ha emphasised that veneration is not superstition but a reminder of the saints as role models of courage and faith.
“Relics—whether bones or personal items—symbolise our closeness to the saints. They don’t solve problems, but they inspire us to pray and draw closer to God,” he said. “Miracles, if they occur, are signs of God’s love, not magical powers of the saints.”
The pilgrimage also included contributions from various religious congregations, who shared stories of the saints and the founders of their orders. Among the special participants was the St. Thomas Coptic Church, whose involvement added a powerful ecumenical dimension to the event.
Relics—whether bones or personal items—symbolise our closeness to the saints. They don’t solve problems, but they inspire us to pray and draw closer to God. Miracles, if they occur, are signs of God’s love, not magical powers of the saints.
Bishop Joseph Ha
At a sharing session on July 11, Father Dawoud Hanna of the Coptic Church spoke on the meaning of martyrdom in Christian life. Citing the 21 Coptic Christian construction workers martyred in Libya in 2015, Father Hanna said, “Martyrs embody true faith and love for Christ. Their witness encourages us to believe that heaven is worth any sacrifice.”
He explained that saints are not extraordinary beings but ordinary people who loved God with extraordinary devotion. “Pope Tawadros II encourages us to follow their example, while Pope Francis reminded us that sainthood is for all—even the imperfect.”
Father Hanna expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share in the pilgrimage, noting that while some in the Coptic community might miss the relics during their own liturgies, they viewed the sharing of these spiritual treasures with other Christian communities as a blessing.
“It’s a temporary sacrifice,” he said, “but one that brings a lasting gift. By letting others venerate the relics, we share our joy and spiritual richness. That is a powerful way to spread the light of Christ.”
The concluding liturgy ended with a solemn Benediction, with Cardinal Stephen blessing the congregation with the relic of the True Cross, drawing the faithful together in hope, unity, and deeper communion with the Church’s saints—past and present.
