Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel in Tai O has a small
Catholic community in the peripheries of Hong Kong. A 45 minutes bus drive
either from Tung Chung or from Mui Wo in Lantau Island would take one to the
Chapel in this fishing village. The chapel belongs to the Epiphany Parish, Mui
Wo and has a weekly mass at 10 am on Saturdays.
Although few in numbers and in their old age, Catholics in
Tai O did something extraordinary in this Christmas for the people living in
the vicinity and for hundreds of visitors who come from far and near. They
recreated the nativity scene, utilizing the entire premises of the chapel.
A huge Christmas crib was set up at the entrance with
life-size statues at the manger, giving a photo op even for the passers by.
Hundreds of flowerpots decorated the premises, giving the chapel a face-lift
and festive ambience. A large collection of religious articles such as holy
medals, rosaries, statues of saints, t-shirts with religious themes and
spiritual books are on display for grab. The small chapel in the first floor
hosts the main crib, complete with angel flying down on the manger!
A curious addition to the elaborate decorations this year
was a display of enlarged images of Christmas postal stamps from around the
world. Numerous counties in the past
have issued postal stamps with the nativity theme. Explaining the display,
Claretian Father Jojo Ancheril said that one of their priests had a large
collection of Christmas stamps and the idea was to display how the nations
around the world celebrated Christmas in the history. Hundreds of tourists,
especially those from around the world who visit Tai O every day during the
Christmas holidays found it amusing to see these rare stamps on display, he
added.
The Community organised two Christmas gatherings during the
season, one for the people of the locality – especially the elderly of Tai O
and the second one for the alumni of Wing Cho primary school which was closed
down in 2003 after serving the community for over six decades.
Other than the weekly Mass on every Saturdays, the Chapel
organises overnight Eucharistic adorations on the first Fridays of every month.
Although the Catholic presence in the region is very nominal, various prayer
groups and religious organisations frequent to the chapel for a day of seminars
and recollections.
