With Pope Leo XIV closing the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on January 6, the Jubilee Year themed “Pilgrims of Hope” officially came to an end and the pilgrimage activities of crossing the Holy Door also reached a perfect conclusion. However, the end of the Jubilee does not mean the end of everything. For the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, it is simply an elegant transition into a new phase: the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese.
This year also marks the 185th anniversary of the arrival of Catholicism in Hong Kong. As early as 1841, the Holy See established the Apostolic Vicariate of Hong Kong and appointed Father Théodore Joset as the first prefect apostolic.
The following year, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples [then called the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith] moved its general office to Hong Kong, enabling greater freedom in organising missionary work.
Since then, missionaries from overseas have crossed oceans to come to Hong Kong and begin their evangelising mission.
During last year’s Jubilee, many faithful inspired by the spirit of “Pilgrims of Hope” participated in pilgrimages both overseas and at local churches. Through these experiences, they rediscovered the true meaning of pilgrimage. After formation gatherings held before and after the pilgrimages and follow-up meetings, they came to understand and experience that true hope comes from God, and it is within his love that we find hope.
We are called to step out of our parishes, to “go out into the whole world,” to walk alongside the marginalised and vulnerable, and to share the love and hope that God has given us with the elderly, prisoners, children and families, young people, the sick and healthcare workers, creation itself, migrants, refugees, and the poor—interacting with them and uniting our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Building upon the 2025 Jubilee, the diocese is now embracing the mission of “messengers of hope” in 2026 as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the diocese.
All of us have transformed from pilgrims to messengers—continuing the spirit of walking side by side with society, and continuing to pass on the hope and blessings that God gives us in daily life, especially to those who have not yet come to know him.
The first major celebration of the year is the music prayer service “Love – A Spring of Hope” taking place in Chater Garden, Central, this Sunday. The programme will include the Liturgy of the Word, choir performances, dance, drama, and presentations by various Catholic groups. Together they will showcase how Christians and the people of Hong Kong courageously face all kinds of difficulties and challenges, walking forward hand in hand in the love of God.
Following this, thee will be a series of celebratory events, including youth gatherings and historical exhibitions. The most distinctive feature of these events is their continuity. It allows the deeper meaning of these activities to be gradually revealed to participants toward a universal vision, and helps them truly become messengers of hope.
No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, we will not be afraid, because Hong Kong is blessed in God’s love. SE
