Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., pledged that the Church would walk alongside migrant workers in Hong Kong and help ensure their voices are heard as he spoke against their mistreatment and unfair dismissal.
“The Church may not be able to help you solve many of your problems, but we promise you that we will walk with you … and you will not be voiceless. Together as a family and a synodal people, we certainly are messengers of hope!” Chow said.
The prelate spoke during the diocesan Migrants’ Day Mass at Christ the King Chapel in Causeway Bay last week, which drew around 700 people from migrant communities across Hong Kong.
In his homily, Chow linked the mistreatment and unfair dismissal of migrant workers to a failure to recognize their God-given dignity and to live in right relationship with God and others.
He acknowledged the hardships faced by migrant workers and assured them that God remains close to the vulnerable, encouraging them to place their hope in his faithfulness.
Chow also thanked migrant workers for their contribution to Hong Kong, saying their presence enriched the city and made it more colorful.
The Diocesan Commission for Pastoral Services to Migrant Workers organized the annual celebration under the theme “Migrants’ Family: Messengers of Hope.” The gathering also marked the diocese’s 80th anniversary.
More than 10 priests concelebrated the Mass, including Filipino chaplain Father Jay Francis Flandez, Indonesian chaplain Father Natalius Suryanto, Vietnamese chaplain Father James Ho, German-speaking community chaplain Father Franz Gassner, and Father James Cooray, who serves the Sri Lankan community.
Prayers were offered in Italian, Korean, Spanish, Burmese, French, German, and Putonghua, as well as an African language. Filipino, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan choirs also took part in the liturgy.
Sister Victoria Victorino of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, the new director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos, highlighted the celebration’s role in fostering unity and shared joy among migrants of different nationalities.
Philippine Consul General Romulo Victor Manzano Israel Jr., who attended the Mass with his wife, emphasized the importance of being present among Filipino migrants as an expression of care and solidarity.
Israel also outlined plans to work with local organizations to convert underused spaces into a multipurpose hub for migrant workers.
The proposed facility would include dormitory accommodation, educational and training facilities, and recreational areas.
Israel expressed hope that government and civil society partners would support the initiative and help bring it to fruition before the end of his tenure.
After the Mass, participants gathered for cultural performances and traditional dishes at the school grounds.
