by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
I have recently completed my pastoral visit to the Hong Kong Catholic migrants residing in the United Kingdom. This trip brought me to Edinburgh, London, Cambridge, and Birmingham. It covered eight nights and nine days during the third heat wave in England this year. I am not a lover of heat, and I had just completed a couple of long-haul trips prior to this pastoral visit. Yet, I must say that I thank the Lord for having made this trip and for the loving hospitality that I have received throughout the visit.
Of the four cities, I have only been to London a few times in the past. Hence, I was definitely not familiar with the other three cities or the Chinese Catholic communities there, except for a few friends and past students of mine. But the friendly faces of Hong Kong Catholics assured me that I was with friends, my sisters and brothers from the same cultural cradle. They welcomed me as the bishop from their hometown.
No matter in which city we met, their expressed sentiments were those of joy, sadness, worry, longing, faith, and hope. Though not everyone carried an equal mix of these feelings, some were more positive, and some were less so. And I must say that although I did not meet anyone harbouring much resentment or anger, perhaps it was just because they were not the ones who chose to meet with me during this visit. Yet, I have prayed for their inner peace all the same. And we need ours in Hong Kong.
Their joy was clear to me when they expressed their gratitude and appreciation for their pastors and spiritual mentors who visited them from the Diocese of Hong Kong. They had made special trips to be with them, and minister to them in Cantonese. The joy of not being forgotten, but of being remembered and being cared for, was clear.
Some were sad for having to leave their homeland for different reasons, resulting in a sense of disconnection and loss. Some loved their good old Hong Kong and were saddened by the developments in Hong Kong in recent years. But some simply missed Hong Kong, especially their loved ones and friends. They left Hong Kong for the opportunities they perceived, a wider horizon, and hopefully, a promising future.
Some were worried about whether they would ever adapt to their new environment and the unexpected challenges they would face. Maybe this new ‘homeland’ was not as secure or promising as they had hoped. But some were worried about Hong Kong, having read reports and watched images in the media concerning restrictions on freedoms and civil rights that they used to enjoy while they were residents in Hong Kong.
While many who came to meet with me were enthusiastic in contributing to the development of their local faith communities, their contributions were much appreciated by the local Church leaders I met. However, some found their faith development wanting, so much so that they were longing for support in their mother tongue. It is interesting to know that some were not used to the relatively sedentary lifestyle in their parishes, and they have taken the initiative to enrich it with their lay ministries, which are appreciated by their own parish communities.
A growing appetite for religious faith and spirituality, as well as increases in loneliness and quests for the meaning of life in this hostile world with dwindling external reasons to stay hopeful, are possible contributing factors to the increase in the number of neophytes over the past couple of years. Some of the local pastors had gone out of their way to welcome them and minister to them using their newly acquired Cantonese, albeit somewhat limited. They spoke to them about the communion of our faith and the love of the Mother Church, which has reflected to them the love that is of God.
With faith, they can have hope. They are hopeful that they can make home in their new faith communities in the UK. They are also hopeful that they and their children can thrive, though not without difficulties and challenges in the UK. And some of them can even see hope in Hong Kong, which is clearly not as ‘bad’ as they have feared for a few years ago.
Maybe Hong Kong can also thrive in ways that are beyond their expectations because of the ever-faithful God and the resilience of the people of Hong Kong. We love working, being productive, not accepting prescribed fate, respect for freedom, internationality as well as our love for Hong Kong and the country. On top of these, we understand the importance of the “rule of law,” which is essentially different from the “rule by law.” Without these, Hong Kong will lose its charm and good value.
+ Stephen Cardinal Chow, S.J
