Grand Finale for the Year of Faith

Hong Kong 
Hong Kong concluded the Year of Faith with a solemn outdoor celebration and Mass at the Hong Kong Stadium on November 24, the feast of Christ the King.

Over 10000 Catholics from over 50 parishes of the Diocese of Hong Kong gathered together on the Sunday afternoon for a sharing of the faith experiences and a concelebrated Holy Eucharist.

 

John Cardinal Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by around 100 priests.

Even as the proceedings of the day went much beyond the scheduled time, the gala event ended abruptly as an autumn shower forced the faithful and the priests to rush for covers!

Taiwan

The theme of the celebration in Taipei is: “Lord, I believe.” The Closing Ceremony was held in the Taipei Sport Stadium on Saturday, 23 November 2013. Over 15000 people attended the grand finale to the Year of Faith Celebrations.

The closing ceremony was in two parts. The first part was a program participated by kindergarten children, the youth and Catholic aborigines, all vested in their colorful costumes. There were various presentations from the pastoral life of every diocese in Taiwan togethr with some life testimonies on how the Christian faith is lived.

The second part was the solemn Eucharistic Celebration, that marked the closing of the Year of Faith. It was presided by the Most Rev. John Hung Shan-Chuan, President of the Chinese Regional Bishop’s Conference and Archbishop of Taipei. All bishops of Taiwan, the Vatican Charge of Affairs Msgr. Paul Russell, and hundreds of priests from all over the island concelebrated in the Eucharist.

Everything in the entire celebration was a proclamation: “LORD, I BELIEVE! CREDO DOMINE!”