Hong Kong Bishop’s Manchester Visit enriches Catholic Communities
On 19th July the Diocese of Salford played host to Bishop Joseph Ha, the Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong who was on a pastoral visit to the UK.
The Bishop began his UK visit with his arrival at Manchester Airport on the morning of 19th July 2024, where he was warmly received by members of the Provisional Committee of the Manchester Chinese Catholic Community.
During the day the bishop met with Bishop John Arnold of Salford, the Rt. Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Vicars General of Salford and the Cantonese Chaplain of the diocese, Fr Phil Sumner. After sharing a meal together, Bishop Ha was given a tour of the Laudato Si Centre, showcasing how the Diocese of Salford works to engender care for the environment.
The activities with the wider Chinese community commenced the next day at St. Mary’s Church in Eccles with reports from representatives of several districts across Northern England.
Bishop Ha then delivered a talk titled “On Discipleship”, attended by 132 participants from Northern England, Glasgow, and as far as Ireland. He engaged interactively with the audience, clearly outlining the five key characteristics of a disciple of Christ.
Following the talk, Bishop Ha celebrated Mass for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, attended by 347 individuals.
In his homily, he emphasised the importance of rest, explaining that moments of respite allow God to enter our minds and spirits, guiding us back to our origin — God, who in His mercy nurtures our spiritual growth.
The day concluded with a delightful dinner attended by 95 Chinese Catholics, during which Bishop Ha offered a final blessing, marking the end of a truly inspiring and spiritually fulfilling day.
Pic: At Wardley Hall the bishop met with Bishop John Arnold of Salford, the Rt. Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Vicars General of Salford and the Cantonese Chaplain of the diocese, Fr Phil Sumner.
Report by Simon Kwong and Anny Luk of the Manchester Chinese Catholic Community (MCCC) for the Diocese of Salford.
https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/