HONG KONG (SE): The completion of the “Together We Build Our Home” campaign at St Joseph’s Church in Fanling stands as a moving testament to what a community can achieve when united by love and shared purpose. The campaign invited local families to leave a lasting mark of devotion within their spiritual home by engraving the names of their family members, departed loved ones, and patron saints onto the wooden pews, serving as a heartwarming reminder that every soul in the diocese contributed to rebuilding the place where they gather to pray.
To give thanks for this remarkable milestone, benefactors and parishioners gathered in the newly built annex on August 8 for a special thanksgiving Mass. The liturgy was celebrated by Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, chairperson of the Diocesan Fundraising Commission for Church Building and Development, alongside parish priest Father Pietro Paolo Dossi of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, with assistance from Deacon Patrick Leung Pak-wai.
The occasion allowed the community to celebrate the deep unity demonstrated by the diocesan initiative to support the comprehensive reconstruction of St Joseph’s Church—a major undertaking with a total cost of HK$350 million—while also assisting wider development needs across the diocese.
Through the scheme, donors making a single contribution of HK$30,000 or more received a custom-engraved brass plaque mounted permanently on the pews in the new annex, which was officially consecrated in January 2024 by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
The campaign’s first phase launched in August 2024 with 294 plaque allocations across 147 pews, raising over HK$4.5 million. Strong demand quickly filled the initial quota, prompting a second phase in July 2025 that added plaque locations in the choir area and raised a further HK$5.5 million. Altogether, over HK$11 million was raised from 313 individual donors.
Reflecting on this journey, Father Chan observed that the commission ultimately raised over HK$260 million for the Fanling church project despite economic headwinds and the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that the endeavour clearly manifested God’s grace, while embodying synodality by uniting faithful from diverse districts.
Father Dossi added that the names inscribed on the pews deepened the sense of unity in the diocese, drawing believers closer to the spirit of the Communion of Saints. He also observed that donations offered in loving memory of deceased relatives have filled the project with prayers for the souls of the departed.
The occasion allowed the community to celebrate the deep unity demonstrated by the diocesan initiative to support the comprehensive reconstruction of St Joseph’s Church—a major undertaking with a total cost of HK$350 million—while also assisting wider development needs across the diocese
The parish priest shared that, since returning to the rebuilt church, Sunday Mass attendance has grown steadily from around 600 to over 800 worshippers across four weekend services. He also believes that moving into a permanent home has given the parish the freedom to expand its pastoral activities.
The parish has also used its expanded space to care for its diverse community. The office of the late former parish priest, Father Francesco Conte, located in the original building, was designated for the English-speaking migrant worker community for Sunday gatherings. Father Dossi shared that the move had been wholeheartedly supported by the parish council and local church members, and this arrangement has provided the English-speaking community—particularly the Filipino domestic workers—with a stable, welcoming space to meet one another.
Looking to the future, Father Chan expressed hope that the spirit of generosity shown in Fanling will extend to the new Visitation Church in Tung Chung, where the foundation works are nearing completion.
To maintain momentum, the commission plans to host a pet dog walkathon and a concert in November, followed by a further walkathon in early 2028.
Father Chan said that, alongside regular collections, these events aim to nurture a continuous sense of shared responsibility and serve as a gentle reminder of the spiritual duty under the Fifth Precept of the Church to provide for the pastoral, maintenance, and educational missions of the wider diocese.
