The ordination was presided over yesterday by Bishop Stephen Chow. The first deacons received the imposition of hands from Card. Wu in July 1997, just days after Hong Kong returned to Beijing’s control; At this moment there are about thirty in activity. An important sign for all of Asia, the continent with the fewest permanent deacons.
Hong Kong () – The diocese of Hong Kong has eight new permanent deacons since yesterday. They were ordained by Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan in a solemn celebration held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. They join the other 22 men, mostly married, who already exercise this ordained ministry in the Church of Hong Kong, which was restored by the Second Vatican Council to help priests in serving their brothers and sisters, as It was done in the first Christian communities.
The Hong Kong diocese was the first to ordain permanent deacons in Asia. The Card. Juan Bautista Wu, who was bishop of the metropolis at the time, called the first candidates in the early 1990s, overcoming initial resistance from much of the local clergy. And, very significantly, the ordination of the first permanent deacons took place in July 1997, a few days after the handover, that is, the return of the former British colony to the sovereignty of Beijing.
Since those first steps, the ecclesial context has changed profoundly. Today the Permanent Deacons are a welcome presence to virtually everyone in Hong Kong, as was evident last year when their 25th anniversary was officially celebrated. They carry out their ministry in the parishes, but also in works of solidarity with prisoners, the sick and the homeless. Of that first group, five have already died and the other five are retired due to their advanced age, but along with the newly ordained there are also other people who are taking the formation course.
The eight new deacons are Gamaliel Cheng, Paul Lui, Thomas Lam, Vincent Chan, Paul Wat, Francis Tang, Stephen Yau and Patrick Leung. They all reached the diaconate through experiences of service to those most in need, but in their past there is particular stories: Lui, for example, was born into a non-Catholic family and came to faith through the Canossian Sisters; Tang was a district councilor twenty years ago and worked on the city’s administrative problems; Leung was a karate champion and even participated in international competitions. Chan is serving at the international airport, Yau is experiencing the painful experience of his wife’s illness, but it was precisely her who encouraged him to continue on this path anyway.
Bishop Chow also spoke to the wives, encouraging them to be united and support their husbands with prayer, assuring them that the diocese will be close to them in case the deacons encounter difficulties.
The presence of permanent deacons in Hong Kong is very significant in relation to the general panorama of the Asian Catholic Churches. According to the most up-to-date data from the Vatican Statistical Yearbook, of the 48,635 permanent deacons in the world at the moment, only 281 live in Asia, the continent with the fewest consecrated of this type. The experience of the permanent diaconate in Hong Kong is also being closely watched by the churches in mainland China which are now grappling with an aging clergy and declining vocations to the priesthood.
In 2016, the Council of Chinese Bishops, the collegiate body not recognized by the Holy See, for its part, organized a special study meeting at the national seminary in Beijing to discuss the issue, to which Mons. Dominic was invited to present his experience. Chan Chi-Ming, Chairman of the Commission for the Permanent Diaconate in Hong Kong and Deacons Edwin Ng and Louis Wong. The meeting was also attended by 50 people representing 14 Chinese provinces, including Hebei, Sichuan, Shandong and Beijing. However, in mainland China there are still no permanent deacons.
“ECCLESIA IN ASIA” IS THE ASIANNEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE CHURCH IN ASIA
DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY IN YOUR MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT THIS LINK
