Members of the Serra Club of Hong Kong joined young altar servers on Sept. 13 for the Hong Kong Diocese Altar Servers’ Association Annual General Meeting and Mass at the Church of St. Benedict in Sha Tin.
The gathering brought together members of the association and the Serra Club for a day of fellowship, support, and spiritual renewal.
Founded in 1986 under the spiritual guidance of the late Fr. Alfred Deignan, S.J., the Hong Kong Diocese Altar Servers’ Association operates under the HK Central Council of Catholic Laity and links parish altar server guilds with the wider diocese.
The association also coordinates young people who serve during major liturgical celebrations.
Beyond its liturgical role, the association described altar service as a “cradle of vocations.” Statistically, over 60 to 70 percent of newly ordained priests and seminarians worldwide served at the altar in their youth.
By placing young people close to the liturgy, altar service gives them familiarity with the Eucharist and the priesthood while fostering reverence, discipline, and prayer.
“Serving closely at the altar allows young people to experience the Holy Mass from the inside, making the mystery of the Eucharist tangible and inspiring dreams of dedicated service,” observed Niphon Saengpradab, president of the Thailand Serra Council.
Serra International is a global lay apostolate dedicated to fostering vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
The Serra Club of Hong Kong was established in the region in 1963 by former Serra International President R.W. Hauenstein, who was also instrumental in expanding the apostolate into Macau, Taiwan and Thailand.
The gathering came after Serra International’s 83rd convention in July in Indianapolis, U.S., where delegates formally expanded the organization’s canonical mandate to include support and promotion of the permanent diaconate.
During the gathering, the association welcomed incoming Chairperson Stephen Anthony Wong and the 2026-27 Executive Committee.
Outgoing Chairperson Andrew and incoming Chairperson Stephen also led attending Serrans on a guided tour of the Church of St. Benedict.
Completed in 1993, the five-story church stands in the Sha Tin neighborhood and reflects the Benedictine motto Ora et Labora — prayer and work.
Serra Club President John Wong later presented the Serra Cup, also known as the Pui Shing Cup, and championship medallions to the team from St. Margaret’s Church, which won the Inter-Parish Football Match.
Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., presided over the Eucharistic celebration that concluded the gathering.
The event highlighted the continuing involvement of young altar servers in the life of the diocese and the Serra Club’s work in supporting vocations to Church ministry.
