I write this message from Hong Kong where I am preaching the annual retreat to the bishops and priests of Hong Kong and Macau. When I was assigned to Saint John the Evangelist Church in 1991, I began to work with the young people of Chinatown. I taught religion at Holy Redeemer School (I still do, every Wednesday); I began a youth group; eventually I became president of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation; and I cared for the pastoral needs of Philadelphia’s Chinese Catholic community. In my first year of priesthood and my first year in Philadelphia, I fell in love with everything Chinese—the people, the culture—and I desired to help Chinese people to belong to Christ and His Church. Holy Redeemer is Saint John’s Chinese mission, founded from Saint John’s and still served by Saint John’s friars.

In 2020, I published a book in Chinese and this book was and is popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan (It was not published in English). Because of the book, I was asked to preach the annual retreat for the priests and bishops of Hong Kong. The retreat is from November 4-8 and I am writing this message to you from Hong Kong.

Being here is an amazing privilege. After three decades of ministry to Asian Catholics in the United States, this is my first opportunity to minister in a meaningful way in Asia. I am now working to publish the book and distribute it in Mainland China. It is my dream. It looks possible at this moment.

Hong Kong is a unique place. It is China. But because of its British colonial history, it is international, especially comfortable for westerners who visit or live here. The Catholic Church is small relative to the vast population, but the Catholic Church has had and still has a remarkable impact on Hong Kong through its schools, hospitals and social service agencies. In some ways, I see Hong Kong as what the western world will be: a small community of believers in a vast population of religiously indifferent people. However, if the Catholic Church is of service to the population, it can remain relevant and vibrant. As the Catholic Church thrives in a vast Asian non Christian population, so the Church will need to adapt as the United States becomes less Christian, less religious.

In 1997, Hong Kong was returned to the governance of China and this was necessary and is right. However, it has been an uneasy transition and there are great differences of political opinions in Hong Kong. As in the USA, differences of political opinion also affect the Church and the priests of Hong Kong and China. After the Communist revolution of the late 1940s many missionary priests and religious left China and came to Hong Kong. They founded the amazing educational and charitable infrastructure that is the Hong Kong Catholic Church.

For a long time, Hong Kong had plenty of priests and religious men and women. But native vocations have not been plentiful in Hong Kong and they are not abundant now. Still missionaries come from India, Europe and other places, but the clergy and religious are decreasing in number and increasing in age.

I have met good priests, Chinese and missionary, during this retreat. Hong Kong is a hard place to be a priest, but I am honored to be spending this week doing my best to animate these good men and the Catholic Church here.

The word “catholic” means universal and a Catholic must love the Church everywhere. I look forward to getting back to Saint John’s, but I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to preach in Hong Kong. I will be back at Saint John’s on November 14.

Jack’s Yacs dinner and lecture event

On this Sunday, November 17, after the 6 PM Mass, all young adults, people in their 20s and 30s, are invited to the parish center for dinner and a presentation. The talk will be given by Sophia Van Horn, of Christ in the City. Christ in the City Catholic missionaries are young adults who spend one or two years befriending homeless people. We are blessed to have 17 missionaries in Philadelphia; about 7 of them tend to our homeless neighbors who are in the vicinity of Saint John Church. Sophia’s talk will be about how we should respond to the homeless people we meet on the street. We are all asked often for money. Should we give it? Should be buy them food? If we don’t give food or money, how should we respond to them, in light of the Gospel. Join us to hear about and discuss our Christian response to homelessness in Philadelphia.

Coffee and Donuts after Mass this weekend

All are invited to the parish center after the 10:30 Mass this Sunday, November 17, for coffee and donuts. Please join us.

Gospel of Luke Zoom Class

Begins December 4, 7- 8:30 PM. Last year, retired Villanova Scripture Professor Paul Danove, offered a weekly class on the Gospel of Mark. The class was well received. This year, beginning December 4, he will teach the Gospel of Luke. If you wish to receive zoom invitations each week to the class, please email Fr. Tom below.

Saint Charles Seminary Collection

On the weekend of November 23-24, we will have the annual collection to support seminary education at Saint Charles Seminary. Our future diocesan priests are trained at Saint Charles. Future permanent deacons and lay leaders also study for graduate theology degrees. Saint Charles is an important institution which trains many people for various forms of service to the Church and it deserves our support.

Over the past few years, the Archdiocese made a courageous and wise decision to leave its beautiful campus in Wynnewood with its massive buildings and beautiful chapel, to downsize and relocate to the campus of Gwynedd Mercy University in Lower Gwynedd. The seminary is dedicated to the prudent use of resources.

On November 23-24, a seminarian will speak at all Masses and you are encouraged to make a generous donation to support training of our future leaders.

This week ...

From the Pastor' Desk