HONG KONG (SE): The Jubilee Hymnal Exchange Concert, held on December 6 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Shek Kip Mei, was organised to celebrate the Jubilee Year and the 80th anniversary of the Diocese of Hong Kong.
The event—streamed online—brought together choirs from across the region, including Daegu, South Korea; Hong Kong; Macau; Mongolia; San Jose, US; Taipei, and Tokyo, Japan; helping faithful from around the world to connect with each other through sacred music.
Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., the bishop of Hong Kong, commenced the event by expressing his sincere gratitude to the diverse choirs that had gathered to share their hymns. He articulated the concert’s objective of promoting unity in a world often characterised by division.
Furthermore, he expressed his conviction that the music would act as a bridge, effectively uniting a varied community through the universal language of song, fostering a spirit of togetherness and collaboration.
Cardinal Stephen expressed his sadness over the recent tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. He invited a moment of solidarity for all those affected by this devastating event. He acknowledged the presence of Immaculate Heart of Mary Father Jean Sylvere Mbuela Pfuti, the parish priest of Tai Po Parish, along with the parishioners who gathered in support during this difficult time.
The concert’s objective is to promote unity in a world often characterised by division
Cardinal Stephen Chow
The concert was graced by the presence of leaders from different dioceses, including Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose; Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen; Auxiliary Bishop Peter Chao Yung-chi of Taipei; Father Dido Mukadi from Mongolia; and Father Joseph Hyunsip Kim, secretary of Daegu.
Father Kim told the Sunday Examiner that the invitation had been extended during Cardinal Stephen’s visit to Daegu in June. Following this, Archbishop Thaddeus Cho Hwan-kil selected the Pueri Cantores—a talented children’s choir—to represent the archdiocese at this special event. Under the direction of Sister Catharina Kim Jeung-seun, the choir specialises in a cappella [without instruments] singing.
Father Kim described the concert as a significant opportunity for the choir to perform internationally, especially as live performances had been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that their offering, like those of other choirs, would be a prayerful remembrance of the victims of the recent Hong Kong fire tragedy.
A distinctive highlight of the concert was the participation of the choir from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Father Paul Leung Kon-chiu, a Hong Kong missionary there, said the occasion was particularly meaningful for the choir members, marking their first trip abroad and the Mongolian Church’s engagement with other countries through music.
Their offering, like those of other choirs, would be a prayerful remembrance of the victims of the recent Hong Kong fire tragedy
Father Kim
Their performance featured a selection of Mongolian musical compositions, including the theme song from Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia in 2023 and a piece commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Mongolian Catholic Church.
Their programme culminated with a hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Father Leung noted that the choir members communicate solely in Mongolian. However, the shared bond of faith created a profound understanding among them, transcending language barriers.
Wataru Matsumoto, coordinator of the JHEP–Tokyo Choir from St. Ignatius Church, said the group felt great joy in participating, even with the language barriers. Music served as their shared medium of connection. He added that the members were deeply moved by the recent fire tragedy and offered the Lord’s Prayer as a gesture of support and remembrance.
Music served as their shared medium of connection
Wataru Matsumoto, coordinator of the JHEP–Tokyo Choir
The diocesan choir from San Jose participated with great enthusiasm, featuring musicians from St. Simon and St. Clare parishes. Coordinator, Stan Chow, emphasised their eagerness to be part of this significant celebration. He also highlighted the friendships that developed among the diverse choirs, who exchanged cultural items such as snacks and souvenirs, thereby enriching their connections beyond the realm of music.
The event was further enhanced by the contributions of two choirs from Macau—the Diocesan Children’s Choir and Coro Perosi—alongside the St. Gabriel Catholic Choir from Taipei and the festive choir from the Hong Kong Hymnos Festival. Their performances contributed beautifully to the concert’s spirit of unity.
The finale, the theme song of the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope, conducted by Andrew Leung, brought all participating choirs together in a moving celebration of their shared commitment to hope.
Father Timothy Wan Kwok-kwong, who oversaw the organisation of the event, acknowledged the challenges faced by communities following the recent fire tragedy. In an online message posted on December 4, he expressed a deep sense of purpose and the need for gathering in times of sorrow, using music as a source of healing.
He underscored the importance of unity in facing difficulties and expressed gratitude for the heartfelt messages of support exchanged among the participating choirs.
