This year 246 people from Hong Kong who now live in the United Kingdom [UK] were formally welcomed into the Catholic Church across 11 locations, receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. The Easter Vigil included a moving moment as godparents passed the light from the Paschal Candle to the neophytes, symbolising a lifelong commitment to sharing the faith.
Generational patterns show two main trends. First, many of the new Catholics are children, highlighting Hong Kong parents’ emphasis on early spiritual formation in a new country. Second, adults aged 36 to 45 have become a key group for baptism. For many in this age range, moving to the UK created chances to meet new friends and explore faith, leading them to become members of the Church alongside their children.
Personal stories illustrate different paths to conversion. A neophyte from Sheffield said living in the UK helped him meet Catholic friends, rekindle his relationship with God. Another neophyte from Woking explained that, even though he attended Christian schools and knew the scriptures, a busy life had pulled him away from faith. Moving to the UK and seeing a friend’s baptism inspired a sense of rebirth. He said prayer and Mass became essential to staying close to God, and he now prays and attends Mass regularly.
Geographically, the Hong Kong Catholic community in the UK spans 10 cities. Cantonese-speaking Masses and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults [RCIA] programmes are now common in dioceses such as Westminster and Southwark in London, as well as Salford and Glasgow. Local priests have learned Cantonese to better serve the community, with examples including Father Philip Sumner in Manchester, Canon John Minh in Cambridge, and Father Hugh Donleavy at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral who celebrated a Cantonese Mass for about 120 Catholics in Lent.
In Manchester, the Cantonese RCIA program drew strong interest. Kwok, a catechist, recalled roughly 50 applications at registration and praised a wide network of substitute catechists, sponsors, and Sunday School tutors who helped manage the numbers. In the end, 148 candidates were baptised. He reminded the new Catholics to seek faith personally, using the Samaritan woman’s example of belief from experience.
The UK Hong Kong Catholic Migrants Pastoral Coordination Group, formed in 2024, works to coordinate pastoral activities, arrange priest visitations, connect Cantonese catechists, and create materials to help integration into local parishes. The community’s growth across more than 25 cities shows a continued commitment to pastoral care and outreach.
— Hong Kong Catholic Migrants Pastoral Coordination Group
