The Guadalupe Missioners marked five decades of missionary presence in Hong Kong with a thanksgiving Mass that celebrated their enduring commitment to evangelization, service, and solidarity with the local Church.
Held on October 1 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the celebration coincided with the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, patron saint of missions, according to a report by Sunday Examiner.
Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong presided over the liturgy, joined by Bishop Emeritus John Cardinal Tong Hon, Father Peter Choi Wai-man, vicar general, and more than 30 priests, including Guadalupe missionaries from across East Asia.
‘Faith becomes credible when lived with integrity’
In his bilingual homily, Cardinal Chow reflected on the meaning of mission in light of Scripture. “Faith becomes credible when lived with integrity, when one’s words and actions reflect the unity of heart and mind,” he said.
Evangelization, he added, “is life touching life,” reconciling what sin has broken and making new life in Christ possible.
The cardinal reminded the faithful that the mandate “to go and make disciples of all nations” remains at the heart of the Church’s calling. “In the gospel there is no place for barriers,” he said. “Evangelisation is never exclusive—it is an invitation for every person to encounter the saving love of Christ.”
Encouraging the missionaries to persevere in their mission, he said moments of confusion or doubt can serve “as a call to re-examine our mission, to discern how the Lord is inviting us to better serve his greater glory in a constantly changing environment.”
“As we commit ourselves to the realisation of a Synodal Church,” he added, “we must ask: how are we called to conversion, personally and corporately, and how can we contribute to diocesan renewal?”
“With the Lord’s abiding presence,” he said, “we can certainly move on together as fellow pilgrims of hope.”
‘A dream came true’
Father Tito Martin Lopez, superior of the Guadalupe Missionaries in Hong Kong, recalled the mission’s beginnings in 1975, when the first five missionaries arrived from Mexico.
“Fifty years ago, a dream came true,” he said, remembering Bishop Alonso Manuel Escalante, a Maryknoll missionary and founding superior whose vision of a missionary presence in China was realized in Hong Kong.
He pointed to an inscription in the cathedral reading “with the help of the Mexican benefactors,” saying it reflects a long history of solidarity between the Churches of Mexico and Hong Kong.
“Our presence here is part of that same humble and ongoing effort of the Mexican Church to contribute to the Mission ad gentes of the universal Church,” he said.
Father Tito also honored generations of missionaries who have served through parish work, education, healthcare, prison ministry, and pastoral care. “Your strong commitment has helped transform and inspire countless individuals and communities,” he said.
Communion and gratitude
Expressing gratitude to the local Church, Father Tito said, “Together, diocesan, religious, and missionary priests, we have created a tapestry of shared experiences and mutual respect.”
He also recognized Guadalupe missionaries from across Asia and members of the general council who joined the golden jubilee celebration, describing their presence as “a sign of communion in the same mission of the universal Church.”
Entrusting their future to Our Lady of Guadalupe, he said she remains “a model of inculturation and tangible sign of the presence and love of Jesus to the poor.”
“Let us give thanks to God for the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future filled with hope and purpose,” he said.
The celebration concluded with a reception at Caritas Hall, where clergy, religious, and lay faithful gathered to honor half a century of missionary witness rooted in faith and friendship.
