On April 11, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong will mark the 80th anniversary of its founding—an occasion that calls for celebration, remembrance, gratitude, and renewed commitment. Under the theme, “Messengers of Hope,” the Jubilee year invites the faithful to rediscover their mission in a city that continues to search for solidarity and light.
Since its establishment as a mission prefecture in 1841, the Church has journeyed with the people of this city, shaping its moral, educational, and social landscape over the past 185 years.
When the diocese was formally erected in 1946, Hong Kong was emerging from the shadows of war. Into this landscape came a generation of missionaries who were builders not only of structures, but of hope. They brought with them a faith that was both practical and prophetic. They built communities and schools, established clinics and organised social services—not merely as institutions, but as living expressions of the gospel.
Over time, these institutions have become synonymous with quality and integrity, serving more than 135,000 students across 240 schools today. In classrooms across the city, the Church continues to shape not only minds, but hearts. The healing ministry of the Church found expression in hospitals and clinics that cared for the sick, affirming the sacredness of every human life and offering care that recognised both physical and spiritual needs.
This same spirit of service is embodied in Caritas-Hong Kong, which has become a cornerstone of the city’s social welfare network. Its mission transcends religious boundaries, reflecting a Church that exists not for itself, but for the good of all.
Today, the diocese’s vitality is evident in its 51 parishes and 95 centres of worship, creating a strong network of faith communities where faith is nurtured and hope is renewed. These communities are led by more than 300 members of the clergy, supported by over 430 religious men and women, and a dynamic body of lay faithful. Together, they serve a Catholic population of over 600,000, both the Chinese and overseas [as of 31 August 2025].
Over 50 religious congregations and institutes of consecrated life, with their diverse charisms, continue to enrich the Church’s mission in education, healthcare, and pastoral care, bearing witness to a life of service rooted in faith.
A central symbol of the Jubilee celebrations is the “Light of Hope” oil lamp, blessed during the opening Eucharistic celebration on 29 December 2024. Since then, this lamp has been travelling from parish to parish, remaining in each community for two weeks until the end of 2026. In hosting the lamp, parishes gather in prayer, to share faith, and to reach out in acts of service—becoming, in a tangible way, messengers of hope to one another.
As the diocese looks back on 80 years, it does so with gratitude for the seeds sown by the pioneers, and it looks ahead with confidence, as the mission remains unchanged: to witness to the Gospel through lives of service, compassion and faith. Eighty years on, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong continues its journey, as both messenger and light of hope for the city it serves. jose, CMF
