On Completing one year, hopes and challenges...
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| File Photo from the inauguration of the new Parish on 1 November 2015 |
On 1 of November is the first anniversary of the inauguration of Epiphany Parish of Mui Wo in South Lantau Island. This is also the anniversary of establishing the Claretian Community in Hong Kong. During the past one year, Frs. Alberto Rossa and Jose were living in the residence provided by the diocese. Fr. Ezakias who has been serving in the Rosary Church in Tsim Sha Tsui will join the Epiphany Parish by the last week of October.
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| Eucharistic Adorations are held on every Friday from 6 - 8 pm |
We look back with gratitude for the numerous graces the Lord has blessed us with. As we came in, we set our priorities in the formation of the community in the parish. Hence, Weekly Bible Study programme were initiated in both in Mui Wo and Pengchau. Daily Eucharistic celebrations, weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and monthly adoration for the Extraordinary Ministers of the Blessed Sacrament are some of the regular events of the new parish.
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| Session on Neuro Linguistic Programming in progress in Mui Wo |
The parish had also conducted special lecture series on Nativity narratives, Marian devotions and Neuro Linguistic Programming. We have also noticed that there are increasing number of participants in the monthly Eucharistic celebration in Tai O Chapel. With the addition of the new priest to the parish, we would consider of having more number of Eucharistic celebrations and other activities in Tai O. The parish is associating with the Caritas Home for the Aged in Tai O to be of service to the needy.
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| First Communicants during the feast of Corpus Christi |
Realising the significance of new media in the evangelization ministry of the Church, the parish has created its web page, providing a platform for finding liturgical and pastoral aids online for the faithful at large. Daily liturgy aids and commentaries for daily readings are available both in Chinese and English languages. Our parish web page can be accessed here: http://epiphany.catholic.org.hk
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| 1000 km2 territory of Hong Kong is home for over seven million people |
With Fr. Ezakias scheduled to join the community and the parish by the last week of October, the diocese helped us rent a studio type apartment, good enough for one person's stay. The new apartment is very close to the parish and Fr. Rossa has already moved into the new place, making room for Ezakias to join!
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| "Asia's World City" |
In Hong Kong which is illustrated as "Asia's World City", accommodation is always very costly. The 30m2 apartment which is newly rented comes at a price of HK$8000 per month. It's always portrayed as the city of the affluent, with high-rising skyscrapers and busy streets. In many international surveys, the cost of living in Hong Kong is consistently among the highest in the world.
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Large number of Hong Kong's poor cannot afford
anything better than "cage homes"
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But the disparity between rich and poor is very high too. It has the largest concentration of millionaires in Asia. It has plenty of luxurious establishments and luxury cars. But the disparity between rich and poor is very high too. The Hong Kong statutory minimum wage for non-domestic workers is HK$32.5 (US$4.19) per hour, effective from 1 May 2015.
The biggest challenge of the Church in Hong Kong is to be a poor Church in a rich world. The teachings and homilies of Pope Francis to find solidarity with the poor and those in the peripheries seem to be directly addressing the Hong Kong society. And this is our challenge too in South Lantau, and we strive to make a difference, how ever small it might be!
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