HONG KONG (SE): Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, joined by over 40 priests, celebrated a Mass concluding the Jubilee Year at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on 28 December 2025, the feast of the Holy Family.
Cardinal Stephen affirmed that the mission to inspire hope extends beyond the Jubilee Year and encouraged attendees to remain messengers of hope. He highlighted love as fundamental to family, elder care, and community, enabling individuals to find hope during difficult times.
In his homily, delivered in Cantonese and Mandarin, the cardinal reflected on the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt to discuss family and community values. He noted their adaptation to a foreign land while preserving their cultural identity, drawing parallels to the sacrifices parents make for their children’s future, such as relocation and education. He pointed out that these actions demonstrate a deep concern for children’s well-being.
Cardinal Stephen also emphasised the essence of filial piety, stating that true respect for elders comes from genuine gratitude, rather than mere obligation or policy. “For the younger generation, this serves as a wonderful example, far more impactful than a thousand words of wisdom,” he said.
He appealed for renewed community connections, especially following the Tai Po fire tragedy, where neighbours and foreign domestic workers risked their lives to help others. He expressed concern about elderly individuals who are relocated away from their communities, leading to loneliness and increased reliance on smartphones.
He called for the development of long-term companionship and supportive neighbourhood relationships to reduce isolation. He also encouraged forming basic Christian communities and small faith groups to provide strength and hope during adversity.
In his English homily, the cardinal focused on nurturing relationships within families and communities, emphasising that inner peace is essential for facing life’s challenges.
He asked, “Love and respect are the basics for binding and bonding. Can we envisage relationships that grow with these basics, instead of negative criticism, avoidance and distancing, control and manipulation?”
The cardinal encouraged the congregation to continue serving as messengers of hope, noting that while the Jubilee Year is ending, the 80th anniversary of the Diocese of Hong Kong calls for ongoing dedication to this mission.
Bishop Ha reflected on the Jubilee Year celebrations, inspired by Pope Francis’s call for hope and the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Highlights included placing sculptures of Jesus depicted as the marginalised in nine designated churches, involving about 900 groups and 50,000 participants, to raise awareness of vulnerable communities.
Youth initiatives introduced an “Ambassadors of Hope” programme involving over 200 children from more than 30 parishes. Other significant events were a four-day Taizé youth prayer meeting in May, a relic pilgrimage in July with about 5,000 attendees, and a hymnal exchange with six overseas dioceses in December.
The diocese promoted outreach and service to support the less fortunate, marking the Jubilee and its 80th anniversary by distributing the “Light of Hope” oil lantern as a symbol of hope. Since December 2024, the lantern has been passed to over 20 parishes, encouraging prayer meetings and activities centred on hope.
At St. Andrew’s Church in Tseung Kwan O, St. Joseph’s Church in Fanling, and Our Lady of Fatima Church in Cheung Chau, social concern groups partnered with the Diocesan Commission for Labour Affairs to organise a jubilee rest station for outdoor workers during the summer.
The Mass was attended by representatives from various parishes, MercyHK, Home of Love, religious orders, and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for the Disabled.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Cardinal Stephen mourned the loss of Pope Francis during the Jubilee Year and urged everyone to be messengers of hope for their families, Hong Kong, the nation, and the world, guided by Pope Leo XIV.
